Lammas Day – August 1, 2023

History of Lammas Day

Due to superstitions and religious beliefs of people, harvest festivals such as Lammas Day have been a part of ancient history. In the early times, sacrifices were often made to the gods to yield a fruitful harvest. In fact, according to Greek mythology, Adonis was the god of grain and rebirth. Although the religious aspect may be less apparent today, the spirit of gratitude and sharing the harvest with the whole community exists even today. One of the harvesting festivals that are celebrated across the world is Lammas Day – an occasion that marks the day of the first harvest. It also serves as a warning of the arrival of the fall season and is considered a time when communities start gathering food for the winter.

As mentioned in a book published in 1838 by William Hone, the celebrations on this day included the building of towers and the competition of breaking down the towers of others. According to historical records, some of these competitions proved to be dangerous and often lead to serious injuries and even cases of death. Another ancient Lammas tradition in Scotland included a Burryman marching around town with a crown of roses and a staff. This was known as the Burryman ritual. By the 20th century, the celebrations evolved into Lammas fairs that included market stalls, food, and drinks. One of the largest and most remembered Lammas fairs was held at Kirkwall in Orkney. According to the rules of the festival, couples could enter into a year-long temporary union and then later decide if they want to delve further into the commitment.