by Steven McKinnon, Mindful Mum, July 25th 2012

• What is Lughnasadh?
• How did people celebrate Lughnasadh?
• How to celebrate Lughnasadh with your child
• Blueberry pie recipe

What is Lughnasadh?

Sometimes known as Lammas, Lughnasadh (pronounced ‘loo-nass-ah’) is a harvest festival of Celtic origin which commemorates the death of Tailtiu, the foster mum of the Irish god Lugh, whom the festival is named after.

It is believed that Tailtiu died after clearing the lands for cultivation and agriculture and requested, on her deathbed, that games be held in her memory.

Lughnasadh is celebrated on the first of August.

How did people celebrate Lughnasadh?

Celebrations vary by region, but in the early days of Teltown in County Meath (which takes its name from Tailtiu), celebrations included sporting events, music, singing and art. Traders would travel to Teltown and sell their wares, and clan leaders would meet to debate politics.

One of the customs which is still popular today is to go hill walking and pick blueberries, which were fashioned into garlands, or taken home for jam and pies.

A traditional Scottish poem that commemorates Lughnasadh and the harvest season goes:

Then let us toast John Barleycorn,
Each man a glass in hand;
And may his great posterity
Ne’er fail in old Scotland!

How to celebrate Lughnasadh with your child

If you would like to celebrate Lughnasadh with your little one, why not go hill walking and pick blueberries? Or, if you’re nowhere near the countryside, feel free to buy your own blueberries and make your very own blueberry pie, using our recipe!

Blueberry pie recipe

Ingredients:

• 20 inch pastry case, ready baked
• 700 grams of fresh blueberries
• 1 tablespoon of plain flour
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 100 grams of caster sugar

Method:

1. Pour half of the blueberries into your pastry case
2. In a saucepan, over a medium heat, combine the butter, sugar, flour, and lemon juice, and mix thoroughly.
3. Add the rest of the blueberries to the saucepan and bring to the boil. This will make your blueberries begin to pop open.
4. Pour the mixture on top of the berries already in your pastry case, then chill your pie. When you’re ready, serve with whipped cream, custard or vanilla ice cream. Voila!

Photography: Keith McDuffee @Flickr