Tomorrow is August 1st. This day is an important day for me. Later in life I learned the day actually has some historical significance, for it is Lammas Day, the end of summer/first day of autumn in ancient calendars. My Celtic blood bubbled long before I realized why.
August 1st is ‘Ancestors day’, for it is the birthday of my Grandfather. On this day I think on my ancestors in a sort of All Soul’s Day to commerate the dead; my dead. In honor of my Grandfather I have a dry martini, as was his wont. A few years ago I learned my cousin makes a manhattan for the same reason, to commerate her grandmother, my grandfather’s twin sister.
At an early age I started to associate August with the colour sky blue. I wear the appropriate shirt for the day.
August 1 or Lammas initiates the journey to Hallowe’en, or Samhain. Autumn is my favorite season; Spo fans know Hallowe’en is my favorite holiday. In August I used to start working on my brother’s costumes – not a moment to loose! Nowadays stores have unconsciously joined me for this early preparation, for the autumn props appear in Joann’s and its ilk.
August is the time of our annual trek to Canada to The Stratford and Shaw Festivals. We’ll stop in Toronto as well. This year we may meet some Canuck blogger buddies!?
My Tarot card for the month is The Tower. It warns me to be careful: there could be a major upheaval , or even a disaster. I must be on my toes apparently. (the card is reversed, which indicates this upheaval is more a nuisance than a major matter).
I wish all a good August. Happy Lammas and blessed be. Have a martini or a manhattan and say a prayer or a thought for those who came before you.
And if you are in Ontario in two weeks time, join me for a Tim Horton doughnut and a REAL cup of tea, no rubbish.
18 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 31, 2011 at 7:21 AM
Ron
I often think of them Dr. Spo. I have a hard time imagining how they managed without an iPhone.
July 31, 2011 at 6:10 PM
Tai
Haha oh my Ron!
July 31, 2011 at 7:26 AM
Will
We share autumn as our favorite season. For me it is followed by spring, winter and summer in that order.
July 31, 2011 at 8:05 AM
JimA
Happy lughnasadh (as I say/spell it). Blessed be to you and yours as well my good friend! I’ll lift a glass of Lambic tomorrow to toast the day.
July 31, 2011 at 8:10 AM
Shawn
Bottoms up!
July 31, 2011 at 9:26 AM
Raybob
And a Breugel border, evidently
July 31, 2011 at 9:27 AM
Raybob
Oops – “Bruegel”! Got my vowels in an uproar …
July 31, 2011 at 10:56 AM
truthspew
Halloween is, in so many words, “A BIG fucking deal” in the office in which i work. I have to start planning with my co-workers in my unit on what we’re going to do this year soon.
Yet it’s funny, our parent company was once in Atlanta now Texas and you would think being in the Bible belt like that, Christmas would be a big one. Well sure it, we get the week between Xmas and the New Year off.
But no decoration of the office like we do for Halloween. It’s bizarre.
July 31, 2011 at 10:57 AM
jason
I love how you’ve created your own rituals!
I do something similar on All Souls’ Day myself
July 31, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Aunt Barb
I liked the tradition of summer time get-together. Aka reunion to honor that which had been ritual: the families coming together at the cottage in honor of the twins’ birthday. I’m sorry the tradition has wavered. But I shall join you in lifting a glass to Aug 1 and remembering fore-relatives.
I’m not so ready for autumn. Too many years in MI and the too soon coming of a lllooonnnggg winter.
July 31, 2011 at 11:18 AM
celestial elf
Can be in Toronto,
but thought you might like my Lammas Wickerman
machinima film,
Bright Blessings,
Elf ~
July 31, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Urspo
I very much enjoyed this; thank you fir sharing it!
July 31, 2011 at 2:47 PM
tigeryogi
Blessed Lughnasadh!!!
July 31, 2011 at 4:44 PM
domanidave
“August 1st … Lammas Day … the first day of mature summer”
I like your way of describing August first as beginning ‘mature’ summer. I always called it ‘ripe’ summer, but I could never quite put my finger on why. There IS always something about the nature of the days from this point on, summer in decline. Thank you.
July 31, 2011 at 5:57 PM
Laurent
August 1 is also Ontario Day. So since you are coming to the Province of Ontario, Canada. Ontario was one of the four provinces in the creation of a United Canada in 1867. While you are in NOTL do have a look around you may notice a lot of historical sites about our war with the USA in 1812. I always find it funny how Americans in NOTL are described as brutes. Have a good vacation.
August 1, 2011 at 12:27 AM
Peter
Enjoy your Lammas Day !
August 1, 2011 at 4:08 AM
Richard Gabriel
Happy Lammas! One of the things I LOVE about my neighborhood is that they all do Halloween BIG TIME! I was amazed when I moved here. I’ve done posts on my blog around that time each year. Check them out when you’re bored sometime! Enjoy Lammas and August!
August 1, 2011 at 6:09 PM
Old Lurker
Oh Dr Spo. Every time you invite Ontario to visit you it breaks my heart.