The end of the summer growing season and the beginning of the autumn harvest was marked by the Lughnasa festival on 1^st August. It was celebrated in honour of the Celtic god Lugh to ensure the year’s harvest would be a success.

Lughnasa was the time of year for gathering food for the winter months. The cycle of the seasons has not changed, and the same farming activities continue today. Corn was cut, berries gathered from the hedges and fruit picked from the orchards. Nuts from the trees were also collected and stored. Hazelnuts were considered to be particularly valuable as, according to Celtic tradition, they contained all ancient knowledge and wisdom within their protective shells.