First Harvest
August 1-2
Similar Celebrations: Lammas, Lughnasadh
ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY
First Harvest is the first of the three yearly harvest celebrations. Its traditional focus was the grain harvest and its yield. In today's world, we also include the bounty from our vegetable gardens, farmer's markets, and the wild berries in our area. It is a time when the faintest hint of movement nudges the seasons toward change, slowing nature's pace ever so slightly, allowing the harvest to mature and ripen.
It is a time to celebrate the beginnings of autumn's abundance and a time to celebrate achievements and progress. We celebrate, knowing there is still work to be done, that we must stay focused on the end goal just as we would the crops still ripening in the fields. It is a time to reconcile our hopes with our fears. We joyfully receive the first rewards of our efforts, yet we still await the outcome of the remaining crops.
The First Harvest Menu usually included some herbed bread in honor of the grain harvest, dishes made with grains like barley or corn, and garden vegetables. Carbonated drinks like mead or cider are great symbolically as they represent the energy needed to complete the season's work and the grounding energy needed to see clearly.
It is a time to celebrate the beginnings of autumn's abundance and a time to celebrate achievements and progress. We celebrate, knowing there is still work to be done, that we must stay focused on the end goal just as we would the crops still ripening in the fields. It is a time to reconcile our hopes with our fears. We joyfully receive the first rewards of our efforts, yet we still await the outcome of the remaining crops.
The First Harvest Menu usually included some herbed bread in honor of the grain harvest, dishes made with grains like barley or corn, and garden vegetables. Carbonated drinks like mead or cider are great symbolically as they represent the energy needed to complete the season's work and the grounding energy needed to see clearly.