Lammas, Grain Harvest, Lughnasad, Laa Lhuanys
Celebration of Lughnasadh, the Grain Harvest
What is Lughnasadh?
Between Midsummer and the Autumn Equinox lies the magical time of one of the first Harvest Festivals. For modern pagans this is often called Lammas or Lughnasadh and celebrated in the start of August. But! There used to be a period of celebration spanning from half july to half august. Celebrations have been held by the Germanic, Slavic and Scandinavian people.
The grain harvest was very closely connected to the local communities and was paired up with a lot of rituals. This year's harvest is connected to both last and next years harvest and as it is so closely connected to the food supply it still is of importance in modern times.
Grain holds life, it holds energy, it holds potential and is one of the strong symbols connected to this feast.
It is with great joy and gratitude we can announce that Stange Kommune once again is supporting one of our events, which makes it possible to host these celebrations! Tusen takk!
What to bring:
1. Ritual & Community Elements
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A Dish for the Potluck: A prepared dish to share for our communal evening feast.
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A Small Offering: A natural item (a flower, a special stone, or a pinch of herbs) to leave at the Labyrinth or Gjellberget.
2. Clothing & Footwear
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Sturdy Walking Shoes: We will be hiking for 30 minutes to Gjellberget over uneven terrain. Flip-flops are not suitable for this portion.
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Layers for All Seasons: Even in August, the breeze from Mjøsa can be cool, and the temperature drops once the sun sets. Bring a warm sweater or windproof jacket.
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Rain Gear: Our ceremonies held outdoors continue in light rain. A waterproof shell or poncho is highly recommended.
3. Lake & Sun Protection
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Swimwear & Towel: For those participating in the purification dip/swim in Lake Mjøsa.
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Sun Protection: Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Please use sunscreen that's not harmfull to aquatic life if you wish to bathe.
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Sit-mat (Sitteunderlag): Essential for comfort during our lectures and ceremonies on the ground or stone.
4. Personal Essentials
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Water Bottle: Sufficient water for the 30-minute walk to the fort and back.
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Bug Spray: For the woodland and lakeside areas.
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A Notebook & Pen: If you wish to record insights from the lectures or rituals.
Children:
- You have the responsibility for your own children.
- Children are accompanied by an adult at all times
Obon
Obon Matsuri(お盆), or simply (O)Bon is a fusion of Shintoism and Buddhism, influencedby the Chinese Zhongyuan festival. With evolving throughout the years, Japanese Obon has unique features, incorporating a lot of elements of local Shinto rituals and customs. All in honor of the spirits and typically hold in mid-August - early September.
Customs are tightly knitted to ancestral worship, light and fire.
Gefjun in Norrøn Mythology
The Goddess
We don't have to look far to find more local Gods/Goddesses and Spirits connected to grain, wheat and barley. Norrøn mythology has the goddess Gefjun and in local folklore "nisser" to watch the harvest.
Unfortunately, during Medieval times, a lot of harvest rituals and practices were either forbidden or christened into the church. If it couldn't be connect to the virgin Mary it was the work of the devil, but through fairytales, superstitions and folklore some of the "ways" were still present.
The harvest is in essence a heathen ritual, as humans have we been closely connected to it since day and age. Even today you can find grain dolls (corn dollies). In Norway Lughnasadh was better known as Freyfaxi, a feast dedicated to the God Freyr. We do a combination of the Irish traditions as Lughnasadh is still celebrated and the history of our own lands.
What are we actually going to celebrate?
Program for Lughnasadh 2026. Program might be subject to change and is currently still taking form!
12:00 - 12:30 Arrival/Welcome
Host will provide a light lunch and there will be an opening ceremony to open the day.
12:30 - 14:00 The Living Labyrinth
You can walk the labyrinth and consider your own first harvest of this season. Children can leave natural objects as an offering to the land spirits, making a wish in the center for themselves.
14:00 - 16:30 Sojourn to Gjellberget
There will be a Shinto inspired ceremony to honor the spirits of the land, the mountain, the air and a ritual concerning protection as we slowly begin to move from Summer to Autumn.
16:30 - 18:30 Mjøsa Purification
We'll take a dip or use the water of lake Mjøsa as a form of symbolic purification. Depending on the weather we can use the actual lake or there will be some water from the lake available in the Stone Circle.
18:30 - 19:00 The Feast
We'll light the fire in the Stone circle as we share our homemade dishes.
19:00 - 20:00 Closing Fire Ceremony
We'll share our talents, stories of success or overcoming. Everyone will have the possibility to cast some grain into the bonfire. It releases the energy of the day and gives it back into the community and the cosmos.
Tickets Lughnasadh
350kr p.p. (20 spots)
When:
Saturday 1.8.2026
Get in touch
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