The Mythology of Lugh, Tailtiu, & the First Harvest
“Help me search for a fairy cave on an August Moon and a low, low tide.”
Cross-quarter sabbats like Lughnasadh may not receive as much attention as equinoxes and solstices, but these dates mark key moments for the sowing, growing, and harvesting of plants. In agricultural communities, Lughnasadh is the first of three harvests, followed by Mabon and Samhain.
Arriving around August 1st in the Northern Hemisphere, Lughnasadh serves as a midway point between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox. If we tend to the mythical roots of this sabbat (also known as Llamas), we’ll encounter the Celtic god Lugh. Lugh presides over the start of harvest season when our gardens teem with abundance. Traditionally, people share their bounty with Lugh – the first ear of corn or a handful of berries. In return, the god would light on the grain mysteries, sacred partnerships, and the fruits of our labors ready for reaping.
Lugh is a master craftsman and god of heroes, but he’s also a poet, sun spirit, and descendant of fairies. As a young man, Lugh led the Tuatha de Danaan in battle and taught his kinfolk the strategies behind sowing and reaping their fields. Lugh personifies the grain harvest, and while he’s often compared to the Dying God, Lugh’s story also highlights the archetypal Mother.
In the myth of Lugh and Tailtiu, Tailtiu adopts a fairy child named Lugh. Tailtiu teaches her son about the earth and vows to share her knowledge with humans. Lugh helps his mother, and together, they clear trees, create boundaried fields, and plant grain. Unfortunately, just as they finish, Tailtiu collapses and dies. Heartbroken about his mother’s sudden passing, Lugh declares an annual feast day to remember his mother and the earth she loved dearly.
On Lughnasadh, Lugh celebrates Tailtiu's memory, her sacrifices, and her agricultural influence. In years past, these celebrations were called the Tailteann games, where feasting, merry-making, horse racing, and athletic feats were encouraged. Amidst friend and family, people toasted the Earth Mother and the Harvest God for stamina, abundance, and good days to come.
