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PWB Peeps Open Thread: Dancing at Lughnasadh [1]
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Date: 2023-08-01
Lughnasadh is a festival of first fruits. (for me, that’s apricots and mulberries).
The ancient festival ran from mid-July to mid-August, and bits of it survive under many names, such as Bilberry Sunday,
did someone say berries?
Garland Sunday, when garlands of flowers are placed on all the holy wells,
and Crom Dubh Sunday. Crom Dubh was an ancient god and also folklore figure, suppressed by Saint Patrick according to legends.
Another location associated with Crom Dubh is Downpatrick Head in County Mayo. According to Irish legend, St. Patrick came to the headland to confront Crom Dubh, who is variously identified as a pagan chieftain, god, pirate, or robber. Crom Dubh attempted to throw St. Patrick into an eternal fire, but Patrick countered by drawing a cross on a stone and casting it into the fire, which became Poll a' Sean Tine (the hole of the old fire). Crom Dubh was then driven by St. Patrick into his home of Dun Briste, which Patrick separated from the mainland by driving his crozier into the ground. The site of Downpatrick Head became an important place of ritual and pilgrimage during the Festival of Lughnasadh - similar to Croagh Patrick. The alternate names associated with Crom Dubh at Downpatrick Head include Cormac Dubh, Geodrisg, Deodrisg and Leodrisg. In other stories St. Patrick banishes the snakes of Ireland to Dun Briste.[3] wikipedia
There is dancing
and athletic contests.
On this day, families held a feast of the first fruits that included new bacon, new cabbage, and new potatoes, and any man who could not provide food for his family was known as a "wind farmer." Crom Dubh was understood as a god of sacrifice, and in historic times celebrants left flowers on the Altóir na Greine or Altar of the Sun on Crom Dubh Sunday.[7] A festival or oenach called Buaile na Greine was also held for several days adjoining Crom Dubh Sunday on Mount Callan and included feasting, drinking, racing, hurling, singing and dancing;
PWBPeeps is a group that posts a daily diary and nightly open thread for animal lovers. We share photos, seek & give advice about pet health and behavior issues, support each other in times of sadness and stress, celebrate together when times are good, and on most days have an inordinate amount of fun.
You are welcome to join us!
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