For some people, Lammas Day is a day of celebration. In the olden days, it is traditionally, observed on August 1, which marked the beginning of the harvest. Specifically, it celebrated the harvest of the first wheat crop, or of corn. It derives from the ancient English festival the Gule of August. On this day, the first fruits of the land were blessed. Loaves of bread were baked from the first grains and brought to the churches to be consecrated.
Interestingly, according to almanac.com, “To the Celts, this was Lugnasad, the feast of the wedding of the Sun god and the Earth goddess, and also a harvest festival. In Ireland, baskets of blueberries are still offered to a sweetheart in commemoration of the original fertility festival. In Scotland, the Lammastide fairs became famous for trial marriages that could be ended without question after a year. Much lore is associated with this day, including the proverb: After Lammas Day, corn ripens as much by night as by day.”
OMG! I don’t think too many people of my generation would be too happy about this practice of trial marriages. Well, like it or not, it has actually been happening for many decades now. Time marches on and so do some values.
Suffice it to say though, that we really ought to take time from our busy lives to be thankful and celebrate the harvest of the land, of nature. Be it food, or clothes, or shelter – they are the wonderful gifts of nature. They may not be free, but then, nothing is free in this life. There is always some form of exchange. You either exchange $4 for the lettuce in the grocery or you grow it yourself in your backyard with your time, your work and the seeds. Not to forget the sun, the soil, the water, which in some ways, one still has to harness.
Many times, I have to remind myself to stop having this “free” consciousness. It does not breed a good life. Nor an enviable character. And this endless search for sales and discounts. As one slogan of a store says , “More for less”. Of course, in the world, it seems to make sense. I say that it seems. The underlying principle here being that one wants to receive more than what he gives. Just think about that.
It implies that you do not want a fair exchange. “Gusto mo maka-isa ka sa kapwa mo”. In English, you want to pull one over another. On the surface, It may seem to be harmless, and even a welcome advantage, but a lifetime of this kind of thinking (even just half a lifetime) will take its toll in your life. Many times, you may not even be aware of the connection.
All I am saying is that it bears some thought on anyone’s part to examine your life and most of all, your thoughts, which translates to words, then action, then your character which now determines the quality of your life.
Life is not willy-nilly. Although it seems to be that way, especially with the crazy things happening everywhere now.
A SAFE CALMING SPACE IN THIS CRAZY WORLD
What is your safe space? I really would like to know from all of you. Mine is my bedroom, for one. Literally. Watching my beloved k-dramas and C-dramas is another. Travelling is another one of them. I like travelling because you are just a stranger among hundreds of people milling around you – in the train or plane, in the airports or stations, in new, undiscovered (or familiar) places.
It also reminds me of WQXR, the wonderfully calming public radio station for classical music (and others) of New York. They play incredibly well-curated classical music. And they are hardly ever political unlike some other public broadcast stations I used to support. If you like classical music, or would like a good introduction to it, check them out on the internet.
I am seriously interested in finding out how you keep calm in this insanely crazy world now. Just email me. I have a feeling it will be an enlightening adventure.
However you keep calm though, take note of being thankful for what you have today. Your harvest so to speak. There are many things we take for granted like being alive. Although Alain Delon will not agree. Search him up. But even with Monseiur Delon, I am certain he has something or somethings to be thankful for..
With this, I leave you with the thought that there is more to life than what is seen by the naked eye.
Tessie O. Taylor
Let me know your safe space —taylorteresita@gmail.com