Editing Lughnasadh (section)

==Today==
In Ireland some of the mountain pilgrimages have survived. By far the most popular is the Reek Sunday pilgrimage at Croagh Patrick, which attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims each year.

[[File:Puck Fair, Killorglin, Co. Kerry.jpg|thumb|The Puck Fair ''circa'' 1900, showing the feral goat (King Puck) atop his "throne"]]

The [[Puck Fair]] is held each year in early August in the town of [[Killorglin]], [[County Kerry]]. It has been traced as far back as the 16th century but is believed to be a survival of a Lughnasadh festival.<ref name="monaghan297" /> At the beginning of the three-day festival, a [[feral goat]] is brought into the town and crowned "king", while a local girl is crowned "queen". The festival includes traditional music and dancing, a parade, [[handicraft|arts and crafts]] workshops, a horse and cattle fair, and a market. It draws a great number of tourists each year.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-33769921 "Puck Fair festival asked to leave goat out of it"]. BBC News, 4 August 2015.</ref>

In recent years, other towns in Ireland have begun holding yearly Lughnasa Festivals and Lughnasa Fairs. Like the Puck Fair, these often include traditional music and dancing, arts and crafts workshops, traditional storytelling, and markets. Such festivals have been held in [[Gweedore]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://loinneoglunasa.com/ |title=Loinneog Lúnasa |access-date=1 August 2013}}</ref> [[Sligo]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sligotourism.ie/event/sligo-lunasa-festival/ |title=Sligo Lúnasa Festival |publisher=Sligo Tourism |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515151101/http://www.sligotourism.ie/event/sligo-lunasa-festival/ |archive-date=15 May 2013 |access-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref> [[Brandon, County Kerry|Brandon]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.irelandview.com/festivals/kerry-feilenalughnasa.php |title=Festival of Lughnasa – Cloghane & Brandon |access-date=1 August 2013}}</ref> [[Rathangan, County Kildare|Rathangan]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kildare.tv/rathangan-lughnasa-festival/ |title=Rathangan Lughnasa Festival |publisher=Kildare.tv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029213454/http://kildare.tv/rathangan-lughnasa-festival/ |archive-date=29 October 2013 |access-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref> and a number of other places. [[Craggaunowen]], an open-air museum in [[County Clare]], hosts a yearly Lughnasa Festival at which historical re-enactors demonstrate elements of daily life in [[Gaelic Ireland]]. It includes displays of replica clothing, artefacts, weapons and jewellery.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shannonheritage.com/Events/AnnualEvents/LughnasaFestival/ |title=Lughnasa Festival at Craggaunowen |publisher=Shannon Heritage |access-date=1 August 2013}}</ref> A similar event has been held each year at [[Carrickfergus Castle]] in [[County Antrim]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.carrickadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/34999/lughnasa-fair-returns-to-carrickfergus-castle/ |title=Lughnasa Fair returns to Carrickfergus Castle |date=25 July 2013 |website=[[Carrickfergus Advertiser]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907161821/http://www.carrickadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/34999/lughnasa-fair-returns-to-carrickfergus-castle/ |archive-date=7 September 2013 |access-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref> In 2011 [[RTÉ]] broadcast a ''Lughnasa Live'' television program from Craggaunowen.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/lughnasa.html |title=Lughnasa Live |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809050409/http://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/lughnasa.html |archive-date=9 August 2013 |access-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref>

In the Irish diaspora survivals of the Lughnasadh festivities are often seen by some families still choosing August as the traditional time for family reunions and parties, though due to modern work schedules these events have sometimes been moved to adjacent secular holidays, such as the [[Fourth of July]] in the United States.<ref name="McNeill" /><ref name="Danaher" />

The festival is referenced in the 1990 play ''[[Dancing at Lughnasa]]'' by [[Brian Friel]], which was adapted into a [[Dancing at Lughnasa (film)|1998 film of the same name]].<ref>McGrath, F. C.. ''Brian Friel's (Post) Colonial Drama: Language, Illusion, and Politics''. Syracuse University Press, 1999. pp.234–236</ref>

===Neopaganism===
Lughnasadh, or similar festivities based on it, is observed by some [[Modern Paganism|modern Pagans]] in general and [[Celtic neopaganism|Celtic neopagans]] in particular. Despite their common name, such Lughnasadh celebrations can differ widely. Some attempt to emulate the historic festival as much as possible,<ref name="Gallagher">{{Cite book |last1=Gallagher |first1=Eugene V. |title=Introduction to new and alternative religions in America |last2=Ashcraft |first2=W. Michael |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=2006 |isbn=0-275-98713-2 |location=[[Westport, Connecticut]] |page=178}}</ref> while others (such as [[Wicca]]ns) base their celebrations on various festivals, the Gaelic festival being only one of them.<ref name="Adler1">{{Cite book |last=Adler |first=Margot |title=Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today |publisher=Beacon Press |year=1979 |isbn=0-8070-3237-9 |location=[[Boston]] |page=397}} – Excerpts from Manhattan Pagan Way Beltane ritual script, 1978</ref><ref name="McColman1">{{Cite book |last=McColman |first=Carl |title=Complete Idiot's Guide to Celtic Wisdom |publisher=Alpha Press |year=2003 |isbn=0-02-864417-4 |page=51}}</ref>

Neopagans usually celebrate Lughnasadh on 1 August in the Northern Hemisphere and 1 February in the Southern Hemisphere, often beginning their festivities at sunset the evening before.<ref name="SpiralDance">{{Cite book |last=Starhawk |url=https://archive.org/details/spiraldancerebir00star |title=The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess |publisher=Harper and Row |year=1989 |isbn=0-06-250814-8 |edition=Revised |pages=[https://archive.org/details/spiraldancerebir00star/page/191 191–2] |orig-year=1979 |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Drury |first=Nevill |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rwzttsI9-NwC&pg=PA63 |title=Handbook of Contemporary Paganism |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |year=2009 |isbn=9789004163737 |editor-last=Pizza |editor-first=Murphy |location=[[Leiden]], [[Netherlands]] |pages=63–67 |chapter=The Modern Magical Revival: Esbats and Sabbats |editor-last2=Lewis |editor-first2=James R}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hume |first=Lynne |title=Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia |publisher=Melbourne University Press |year=1997 |isbn=9780522847826 |location=Melbourne}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Vos |first=Donna |title=Dancing Under an African Moon: Paganism and Wicca in South Africa |publisher=Zebra Press |year=2002 |isbn=9781868726530 |location=[[Cape Town]] |pages=79–86}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bodsworth |first=Roxanne T. |title=Sunwyse: Celebrating the Sacred Wheel of the Year in Australia |publisher=Hihorse Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=9780909223038 |location=Victoria, Australia}}</ref> Some neopagans celebrate it at the astronomical midpoint between the summer solstice and autumn equinox, or the full moon nearest this point.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/seasons.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030304154421/http://archaeoastronomy.com/seasons.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=4 March 2003 |title=Equinoxes, Solstice, Cross Quarters shown as seasonal cusps, worshipped by pagans and later religious holidays |publisher=Archaeoastronomy.com |access-date=5 March 2013}}</ref> In 2022, this astronomical midpoint falls on 7 August (Northern hemisphere) or 4 February (Southern hemisphere).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.archaeoastronomy.com/2022.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706105725/http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/2022.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=6 July 2018 |title=2022 Equinox, Solstice & Cross-Quarter Moments |publisher=archaeoastronomy |access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref>

====Celtic Reconstructionist====
[[Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism|Celtic Reconstructionist pagans]] strive to [[Polytheistic reconstructionism|reconstruct]] [[ancient Celtic religion]]. Their practices are based on research and historical accounts,<ref name="Gallagher" /> but may be modified slightly to suit modern life. They avoid [[Religious syncretism|syncretic]] or [[Eclectic paganism|eclectic]] approaches that combine traditions from different cultures.<ref name="McColman2">McColman (2003) pp. 12, 51</ref>

Celtic Reconstructionists who follow Gaelic traditions tend to celebrate {{lang|ga|Lughnasadh|italic=no}} at the time of "first fruits", or on the full moon nearest this time. In the [[Northeastern United States]], this is often the time of the [[blueberry]] harvest, while in the [[Pacific Northwest]] the [[blackberries]] are often the festival fruit.<ref name="Danaher" /><ref name="McColman2" /> In Celtic Reconstructionism, {{lang|ga|Lughnasadh|italic=no}} is seen as a time to give thanks to the spirits and deities for the beginning of the harvest season, and to propitiate them with offerings and prayers not to harm the still-ripening crops. The god {{lang|ga|[[Lugh]]|italic=no}} is honoured by many at this time, and gentle rain on the day of the festival is seen as his presence and his bestowing of blessings. Many Celtic Reconstructionists also honour the goddess [[Tailtiu]] at {{lang|ga|Lughnasadh|italic=no}}, and may seek to keep the {{lang|ga|[[Cailleach]]an}} from damaging the crops, much in the way appeals are made to {{lang|ga|Lugh|italic=no}}.<ref name="Danaher" /><ref name="McColman2" /><ref name="Bonewits">{{Cite book |last=Bonewits |first=Isaac |title=Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism |publisher=Kensington Publishing Group |year=2006 |isbn=0-8065-2710-2 |location=New York |pages=186–7, 128–140}}</ref><ref name="McNeill2">{{Cite book |last=McNeill |first=F. Marian |title=The Silver Bough |publisher=William MacLellan |year=1957 |isbn=0-85335-161-9 |volume=1 |location=[[Glasgow]] |page=119}}</ref>

====Wicca====
[[Wicca]]ns use the names "Lughnasadh" or "[[Lammas]]" for the first of their autumn harvest festivals. It is one of the eight yearly "Sabbats" of their [[Wheel of the Year]], following Midsummer and preceding Mabon. It is seen as one of the two most auspicious times for [[handfasting (Neopaganism)|handfasting]], the other being at Beltane.<ref name="Farrar">{{Cite book |last=Farrar |first=Janet & Stewart |title=Eight Sabbats for Witches |publisher=Phoenix Publishing |year=198 |isbn=0-919345-26-3 |pages=102–3, 106}}</ref> Some Wiccans mark the holiday by baking a figure of the "corn god" in bread, and then symbolically sacrificing and eating it.<ref name="SpiralDance" />