Summer Harvest Time

It’s getting to that time of the year in Australia where the summer fatigue starts to hit, parents eagerly await the return of school and routines for the year will be in the forefront of everyone’s mind.

However, it also marks the turn of the pagan wheel as February the 1st marks the pagan sabbat known as “LAMMAS/LUGHNASAD”.

Lammas/Lughnasad is the summer harvest of grain, corn, wheat and rye crops. Farmers wouldn’t harvest their crops prior to Lammas.

Traditionally bread is baked on this holiday and shared amongst families in honour of the seasons bountiful reward.

LUGHNASAD pronounced “Loo NAS ah” honours the Celtic god of craftsmanship known as Lugh. I’m not one to celebrate Lammas, although any excuse to perform some kitchen magic is right up my alley. There’s nothing more satisfying than freshly baked bread with home made butter. Harvesting herbs and vegetables from my garden gives me a sense of pride and achievement. Knowing the work put in to nurture and grow something that feeds my family is truly magical, you feel it in your very core.

I personally start to feel restless this time of year, summer is not my season, I’m not a fan of the heat in Australia. Some may be more active and enjoy the hot summers however, I’m not one. I prefer the colder months where I can snug up, wear my Ugg boots, sit around the bonfire under the stars whilst sipping on a hot cup of tea.

I don’t know whether it’s because I’ve packed on extra pounds over the years and dislike the feeling of sweat in all the nether regions or it gives me an excuse to pause and enjoy my craft.

When Lammas arrives I know it’s nearly pumpkin season and I get excited to pick the pumpkins from the garden. You never know how they will turn out until you get to cook one up.

What are some favourite things you like to do this time of year? Or during Autumn? How does this time of the year impact you?

On another note worth mentioning,

Chinese New year of the wood snake is on the 28th of January this year. My grandfather is Singapore Chinese who migrated to Australia to study during his youth so naturally my family celebrates Chinese new year. This usually entails a family banquet and the exchange of red packets to the children or those who are unmarried in the family. Within the red envelopes is a gift of money and is symbolic of luck, prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead.

As a child this was one of my fondest memories, especially getting to see the lion dances. Now that my grandfather is old and the passing away of my grandmother, the family doesn’t come together like it did, nor do I have the finances to take us all into the city to enjoy the celebrations. I feel a sense of loss this time of year yet, a sense of duty to continue the holiday for my children and cook a Chinese banquet at home or go out for dinner at a Chinese restaurant and gift them their red packets.

I love the energy that this year brings forth. The snake in all its transformative energy. It embodies renewal, a time to shed our old skin and birthing something new into existence. It feels like universal support to create a new beginning and embrace change. You can’t sit and wait on this energy expecting that things will come to you, instead take the reigns of your own destiny, make steps and move forward. You don’t want to miss out on some amazing opportunities that this may bring.