“After Lammas day, corn ripens as much by night as day”’ Lammas day has pagan roots, but it traditionally marks the start of the wheat harvest. A loaf is made from the first cut wheat and is taken to church to be blessed. (Some churches now concentrate on Harvest Festival later in the year). The Anglo Saxons would take four pieces of the first baked loaf and place them in the four corners of their barn to protect their harvested crop. The idea was to ask for st blessings for enough harvest to feed the community all through winter. Many 1 August traditions are associated with the day.
Lammas Day (Loaf Mass)
Ideas If you are in a rural area, ask a local farmer if you can have some wheat or barley to decorate your home. Top tip Traditionally the first cut wheat went to make the Lammas loaf, but the first cut barley went to make beer. Why not make it more of a celebration with a sample of their favourite drink to wash down the bread rolls. Idea A Lammas besom When you have made your besom, Traditionally, a besom would be made to “sweep Lammas gifts to my have some fun. You are supposed to door” sweep the floor clockwise turning slowly three times and then What you need sweeping towards the door whilst saying: A broom handle “1,2,3,4 sweep Lammas gifts to my Twigs from a silver birch tree or similar, cut to about 18 inches in door”! length Garden twine to tie the twigs on to the handle
Green and gold ribbon to symbolise abundance and prosperity (tie to the broom handle)
A sprig of mint tied in for good luck.
May abundance be a constant friend, by my hearth until winter’s end”.
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Lammas Day (Loaf Mass)
Make a grain mother
You can make these out of bundles of wheat, but I am suggesting you make them out of wool if you can’t get wheat.
What to do
Gather together 20-30 lengths of wool (approx. 8 inches in length) Lammas bread rolls Attach a piece of wool about 1 inch from 1 end and tie round. Repeat about another inch down. You now have the hair and the head
You will need: Place another 10 lengths of wool (approx. 4 inches in length) in the 500g strong bread flour middle of the strands below the head shape) These will be the arms.
1 sachet dried yeast Tie off another segment half way down the remaining long strands to form the body. 1.5 tsp caster sugar Tie off the ends of the arms to form hands. 2tsp salt You now have a grain mother as a lucky charm! 3 tbsp olive oil
300ml luke warm water How to make
Mix together the dry ingredients. Make a well in the centre and add the oil and warm water (the water must not be too hot or too cold or the yeast won’t work).
Mix in until you have a soft dough. Knead well for at least 10 minutes
Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and leave for an hour in a warm place to prove. (Most care homes are the perfect temperature for proving bread!)
Remove from bowl and “knock back” (knead well)
Form the dough into a sausage shape and cut into small portions
Place on a greased baking tray, cover and put back in a warm place for an hour. Visit www.dailysparkle.co.uk for more support, training and great Heat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius. resources
Bake for 10-15 minutes.
Best served warm!
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