Lugh is the Celtic deity honored by the harvest festival Lughnasadh.
Lughnasadh, also spelled Lughnasa, was traditionally held around 1 August and marked the beginning of the grain harvest. The festival’s name is generally interpreted as referring to Lugh, a prominent figure in Irish mythology associated with skill, kingship, and light. Mythological tradition connects the festival with funeral games held by Lugh in honor of his foster mother, Tailtiu.
Historical observances included assemblies, athletic contests, trading, matchmaking, music, and the ceremonial eating of the first harvest produce. In Ireland, some related mountain gatherings survived into modern times.
Lughnasadh is sometimes casually labeled a Celtic “autumn festival,” but its traditional seasonal position is closer to the opening of the harvest period. It is also distinct from Samhain, which marked the later transition into winter.