The Story of…Lugh
Once upon a time there was a God…oh wait, that’s another story… The life of the Celtic deity Lugh (pronounced “Loo”, Welsh - Llew Llaw Gyffes) is an incredibly
interesting one. He is the Sun God, God of the Harvest, Smiths, Bards, and the
list continues. He had a few names one of which was Lugh Lawfanad (The long Arm),
his Welsh name meant “the boy with many skills”, known as the “Jack of all Trades” he was also the
Master of all. I now present to you the tale of Lugh.
In Celtic lore there were two tribes who were the gravest of enemies, the Formorians and the
Tuatha De Danaan. Balor, a Formorian, had a daughter by the name of Eithne (Ethlinn)
who was in love with Cian, a Tuatha De Danaan. To prevent the affair Balor placed
his daughter in a tower so tall that it could only be reached by flying (it is also said that the tower was of crystal). Cian enlisted the aid of a druidess. She
enabled him to fly to his Eithne. After a time two beautiful boys were birthed. Eithne’s father knew they were of Tuatha De Danaan blood since they were beautiful
and Formorians were known for being ugly. He then took both babies and tossed
them into the sea. One brother drowned, but the other swam and was found by the
sea God, Manannan mac Lir. The boy who survived was Lugh.
Manannan mac Lir then sent the
boy to be nursed by Taitliu, a warrior woman. Poor Taitliu had her work cut out
for her – Lugh was ingenious and energetic. She no sooner taught him a
skill then he become bored and trouble would start. She had to teach him
another skill or send him to learn from another. He learned everything that was
taught him – weaving, martial arts, bardic ways, and so much more. When
Taitliu had cleared a huge forest for men to use as farmland she was exhausted and eventually died, Lugh promised at her deathbed
that he would institute a festival in her honour (Lughnasad). The tale of the
Battle of Magh Tuiredh tells of when Lugh went to Tara to banquet. In
order to enter the keep the person in question had to have a unique trade. When
Lugh encountered the gatekeeper the question of his trade was put to him. After
naming a trade the gatekeeper would state that they already had one in the keep. Lugh
then cleverly told the gatekeeper – but do you have one with all trades. He
was permitted to enter. After Nuada, leader of the Tuatha De Danaan, lost his
arm in battle against the Formorians Lugh became the chief God.
In the Welsh version, Llew Llaw Gyffes’ mother is Arianrhod. When she jumped over Math son of Mathonwy’s staff, in order to prove her virtue, twin sons were birthed.
She was furious and drowned one while the other was carried away by Math. She
stated that she would not name him, give him arms, or allow him a wife. Math
conspired to get all these things for his foster-son, and disguised as cobblers, they entered the home of Arianrhod. When she saw how talented the boy was she explain that he was a boy of many skills. Math exclaimed that she had therefore named him and revealed who they were, from then
on the boy was known as Llew Llaw Gyffes. Before she could react, Arianrhod’s
keep was attacked and she gave Llew Llaw Gyffes arms, therefore the second part of her curse was ended. She swore she would not be fooled into giving him a wife. Math
then had a woman created from flowers for his foster son as wife and her name was Bloddeuwedd (girl of flowers). She, having a mind of her own, fell in love with another and conspired to kill her husband. Llew Llaw Gyffes could only be killed by specific means. Through
deception Bloddeuwedd and her lover completed the task, but they did not kill him. He
was turned into an eagle and months later was found by Math. Math transformed
back into his human form and punished Bloddeuwedd by changing her into an owl.
His wife is acknowledged as different Goddesses for different regions. Brigid, Rosmerta, Bloddeuwedd, Eire are only a few named but they all have something in common –
they are all variations of the Earth Goddess form. He does have a son Cuchulain,
his mother is said to be the maiden Deichtine. The tale placed here is but a
brief description due to space – but the tale of Lugh is so much more…
Anwen
All Information in this account comes from personal knowledge, with varification from the “Mabinogion”
by Lady Charlotte E. Guest, “Legends of the Celts” by Frank Delaney, Lugh’s Page (www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/3557/Lugh.html),
and nationmaster.com
