Editing Lughnasadh (section)

{{Short description|Irish holiday and Gaelic harvest festival}}
{{Redirect|Lúnasa}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name  = Lughnasadh
| type          = Pagan
| longtype      = Cultural,<br />Pagan ([[Celtic polytheism]], [[Celtic neopaganism]])
| image         = Contemporary male Corn dolly.jpg
| caption       = A [[cereal|corn]] [[poppet|dolly]] representing the God [[Lugh]]
| nickname      = ''Lúnasa'' ([[Irish language|Modern Irish]])<br />''Lùnastal'' ([[Scottish Gaelic]])<br />''Luanistyn'' ([[Manx language|Manx Gaelic]])
| observedby    = Historically: [[Gaels]]<br />Today: [[Irish people]], [[Scottish people]], [[Manx people]], [[Celtic Neopaganism|Celtic neopagans]], [[Wicca]]ns
| significance  = beginning of the harvest season
| date          = 1 August
| celebrations  = [[First Fruits|Offering of First Fruits]], feasting, [[handfasting (Neopaganism)|handfasting]], fairs, athletic contests
| relatedto     = [[Gathering Day|Calan Awst]], [[Lammas]]
}}
'''Lughnasadh''', '''Lughnasa''' or '''Lúnasa''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|uː|n|@|s|@}} {{respell|LOO|nə|sə}}, {{IPA|ga|ˈl̪ˠuːnˠəsˠə|lang}}) is a [[Gaels|Gaelic]] festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the [[Isle of Man]]. Traditionally, it is held on 1 August, or about halfway between the [[summer solstice]] and [[september equinox|autumn equinox]]. In recent centuries, some celebrations have shifted to Sundays near this date. Lughnasadh is one of [[Quarter days|the four]] Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with [[Samhain]], [[Imbolc]], and [[Beltane]]. It corresponds to the Welsh {{lang|cy|Gŵyl Awst}} and the English [[Lammas]]. 

Lughnasadh is mentioned in [[early Irish literature]] and has [[Celtic polytheism|pagan]] origins. The festival is named after the god [[Lugh]]. In the Middle Ages, it involved great gatherings that included ceremonies, athletic contests (most notably the [[Tailteann Games (ancient)|Tailteann Games]]), [[horse racing]], feasting, matchmaking, and trading. According to folklorist [[Máire MacNeill]], evidence suggests that the religious rites included an offering of the [[First Fruits]], a feast of the new food, the sacrifice of [[sacred bull|a bull]], and a ritual dance-play. In recent centuries, Lughnasadh gatherings have typically been held atop hills and mountains, including many of the same activities.

The festival persisted widely until the 20th century, with the event called ''Garland Sunday'', ''Bilberry Sunday'', ''Mountain Sunday'', and ''[[Crom Dubh]] Sunday''. The tradition of climbing hills and mountains at Lughnasadh has survived in some areas and is recast as a Christian pilgrimage. The best known is the [[Reek Sunday]] pilgrimage to the top of [[Croagh Patrick]] on the last Sunday in July. Several fairs are also believed to be survivors of Lughnasadh, such as the [[Puck Fair]]. Since the late 20th century, [[Celtic Neopaganism|Celtic neopagans]] have observed Lughnasadh, or something based on it, as a religious holiday. In some places, festival elements have been revived as a cultural event.{{TOC limit|3}}