Laa Luanys (Laa Lunys) – August 1 (August 12th Old Calendar) is the Day of Lammas, which was moved to the first Sunday in August by the Bishop of Mann in an attempt to eradicate the lewd festivities of its original pagan festival of Lughnasadh, the Festival of the God Lugh, Foster Son of Manannan.[1] Some interpret Laa Luanys as the ‘Day of Lugh’ substituting Luans or Lunys as Lug, Lleu, or Lugh. Academics and historians of Religion know that Christianity ‘borrowed’ many religious days and festivals from various religions and cultures including the elder Celtic Calendral Cycles in an attempt to obtain converts and destroy the Old Faiths and practices. For instance, St. Patrick replaced Lugh in Sunday Services. On Ellan Vannin, Lugh’s festival, rife with apparent lewd behaviour on the mountains, seemed to be one of the most pernicious practices to destroy, with Christian priests complaining of its remnants even up until the late 18th century.
“The curates and wardens represent to the court that there is a superstitious custom, which is yearly continued and practiced in this and the neighbouring parishes by many young people (and some of riper age) going to the top of Snaefell Mountain upon the first Sunday in August, where (as they are informed) they behave themselves very rudely and indecently for the greater part of that day.” Pg 70 Manx Calendar Customs
“First Sunday after Old Lammas: This was Lhuany’s Day, the day of a festival dedicated to the god Lugh. An orgy was held at the top of Snaefell.” ( http://www.isleofman.com/heritage/epedia/arts/calendars/customscalendar.aspx)
Now, to be clear here, the above quotes are as biased toward Christianity as the Manxwytch Tales are toward the Old Faith; so take it all with a grain of salt. However, it seemed to take many years for such an enjoyable tradition to die out… though I’ve heard the coals are still kept warm. The last reports of such open activities on Snaefell[2] were said to have occurred in 1870. More exclusive celebrations were whispered to have continued in homes, fields and keeils, away from the eyes of prudish priests and those who “spend more time on their knees in church than their backs in bed.”[3]
Various attempts were made by the Parish to end the “profane customs” practiced and handed down through generations of Manx families. One of the most outright offensive attempts was when the church sent Ministers[4] up to the top of Snaefell and South Barrule to collect alms for the Church and to read aloud both the Nicene Creed and the story of Jephthah and his Daughter from the Book of Judges in the Old Testament. Briefly the story of Jephthah is that the Israelites were no longer worshiping God again and he got angry and gave them to the Ammonites. Jephthah was born illegitimately and had only an un-named Daughter. He becomes a leader and defeats the Ammonites and makes some kind of vow to God that whoever exits the door of his house upon his return will be sacrificed as a burnt offering to God on the altar. And, since Jephthah’s wife is never mentioned, we can only assume that he might of known who would exit the door to greet him upon return home. He bewails meeting his Daughter, but must keep his vow to God and sacrifice her. She cries at the loss of her virginity (!?) (some scholars interpret this as that she mourns that she will never marry) and asks for a couple months leeway to prepare herself. Then Jephthah carries out the deed and sacrifices her on the fiery altar, burning her to a crisp and all the women remember her for four days each year. But pay close attention to the story and you might read how it fits what was going on at the top of Snaefell[5]. Worship of a god other than YHVH, sexual theme, sacrifice and mourning. This all appears to fit quite well with the Day of Lugh. Despite this dour story being read, I understand that the real killjoy was the demand for alms for the church. Nothing kills a good ale drinking, laughing, singing, frolicking orgy than some Priest expecting cash!
There are many stories of Lugh in both Welsh and Irish mythology but I will emphasise the Manx legends as they are scantily discussed. Lugh was the bright Solar Warrior God of the sun, corn and as mentioned earlier, Foster-Son to the great Wizard King Manannan. Lugh was said to have spent his youth with Manannan on Ellan Vannin and it was here that he was trained in poetry, philosophy, music, smith craft, skill in battle, love and war, sailing, craftsmanship skills and cunning magic, all tutored by the Wizard King. When his training was complete and Lugh was ready to fulfill his destiny as a warrior of epic renown, Manannan gave to Lugh his own great sword Fragarach, (the Answerer), whose power forced anyone at whose throat it was held, to speak only the truth when questioned.[6] Fragarach also bestowed command of the four winds to its owner and any piercing from its blade would deal a mortal wound that would never heal. Manannan also gave Lugh flashing armour that could not be penetrated and a helmet that could not be broken. For Lugh’s journey from the Isle, Manannan summoned from the depths of the underworld sea, a swift floating coracle called the Wave-Sweeper and lent to him his prized mare from his royal stables, the horse Aenbharr (Enbarr) whose hooves travelled as easily on water as on land.
As a corn (grain) and solar Deity, it is little wonder that the word lugh in Manx Gaelic means mouse. The mouse, as a totemic animal of Lugh makes obvious sense when one examines the Celtic Harvest Festival named after him, Lughnasadh.
As well, we can possibly see fragments of the relationship between the solar harvest god who dies and is reborn, Lugh’s magical spear and John Barlycorn, though this song is not particular to Mann, it was still sung in a few pubs… and may still be.
John Barleycorn: By Robert Burns
There was three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.
They took a plough and plough’d him down,
Put clods upon his head,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.
But the cheerful Spring came kindly on’
And show’rs began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surpris’d them all.
The sultry suns of Summer came,
And he grew thick and strong:
His head weel arm’d wi pointed spears,
That no one should him wrong.
The sober Autumn enter’d mild,
When he grew wan and pale;
His bendin joints and drooping head
Show’d he began to fail.
His colour sicken’d more and more,
He faded into age;
And then his enemies began
To show their deadly rage.
They’ve taen a weapon, long and sharp,
And cut him by the knee;
They ty’d him fast upon a cart,
Like a rogue for forgerie.
They laid him down upon his back,
And cudgell’d him full sore.
They hung him up before the storm,
And turn’d him o’er and o’er.
They filled up a darksome pit
With water to the brim,
They heav’d in John Barleycorn-
There, let him sink or swim!
They laid him upon the floor,
To work him farther woe;
And still, as signs of life appear’d,
They toss’d him to and fro.
They wasted o’er a scorching flame
The marrow of his bones;
But a miller us’d him worst of all,
For he crush’d him between two atones.
And they hae taen his very hero blood
And drank it round and round;
And still the more and more they drank,
Their joy did more abound.
John Barleycorn was a hero bold,
Of noble enterprise;
For if you do but taste his blood,
‘Twill make your courage rise.
‘Twill make a man forget his woe;
‘Twill heighten all his joy:
‘Twill make the widow’s heart to sing,
Tho the tear were in her eye.
Then let us toast John Barleycorn,
Each man a glass in hand;
And may his great posterity
Ne’er fail in old Scotland!
As has been noted, the pilgrimage to mountaintops was important on Mann to celebrate Lugh, light, the corn and the first harvest. But this was only one of two pilgrimages on Laa Luanys, the second of which was to the Holy Wells. For some reason, perhaps related to Manannan, it was important to visit the known healing wells, in particular Maughold[7], Laxey[8], and St. Patrick’s[9] though there were many others, these three appear prominent. It was said that the curative powers of the wells were more accessible at this time and offerings were made to the Genius Loci of the well and its particular power. This was often done by the exchange of a pin or a silver coin for its curative spirit. During the offering, a prayer was made invoking the healing property to cure whatever the ailment was. Once accomplished, the well was often circled three times and then dressed in ribbons, and flowers.[10]
There is so much that could be told of Lughnasadh, Lugh and his Harvest Festival but I will leave that for another time. What we can see, is that on a tellurian level, the celebration took place both in the heights and in the deeps. The very same locations where the spiritual celebration of this Great Sabbat is held for all witches.
If you are really interested in reading further I suggest obtaining a copy of Marie Mac Neill’s book, written in 1962, titled ‘The festival of Lughnasa: a study of the survival of the Celtic festival of the beginning of harvest‘ and published by Oxford University Press.
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FOOTNOTES
[1] There was for many years a harvest fair that continued in the Parish of Santon. Further there was a Laxey Fair, a Maughold Fair and a Fair at Ballasalla. Take note of this as you will see, it is important because these were also places of prominent healing wells.
[2] Snaefell is the Isle of Mann’s tallest mountain and therefore those who celebrated Laa Lunys on its summit were as close to the sun as possible. On a clear day you can see all seven kingdoms – meaning Ellan Vannin, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, the kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of the Sea. From here, it was easy to give thanks for the harvest and all that could be seen. Nowadays it’s tough to find a day without rain! The jaunt up the summit is made easier by the electric train which takes you easily to the top where there’s a good cafe house / tourist shop. As well, there is almost always someone flying off the peak in a chute. I prefer to climb the way my Elder taught me, which is by an old footpath straight up from the Mountain Road. It’s far more fulfilling for the spirit. Besides this, he was climbing that mountain until well over the age of 75 and I feel that his pilgrimages added to his longevity, happiness and wellbeing. I can only pray to reach his age and vigour!
[3] Perhaps you recognized it. An altered quote taken from the classic movie The Wickerman in the extended version. Apropos for this blog entry I would think.
[4] Ministers Parick Beg and William Giek in the mid 1800s.
[5] Also, there was said to be people who climbed South Barrule and other mountains on Mann but Snaefell seems to be the most prominent at this time.
[6] Magical items that force people to speak the truth are particularly emphasised in Manx folklore. More on this in another post.
[7] A legendary witches’ haunt.
[8] At the foot of Snaefell, as it is at the beginning of the electric tram.
[9] Obviously re-named from an older Celtic Deity. Possibly Lugh, as we know the Church replaced Lugh with Patrick during the festival.
[10] It is believed that as the bouquets fade, so too does the disease.
Manx Wytch 