Norwich.
_Lammas Day_.--Why was the 1st of August called "Lammas Day?" Two
definitions are commonly given to the word "Lammas." 1. That it may mean
_Loaf-mass_. 2. That it may be a word having some allusion to St. Peter,
as the patron of _Lambs_.
O'Halloran, however, in his _History of Ireland_, favours us with
another definition; upon the value of which I should be glad of the
opinion of some of your learned contributors. Speaking of Lughaidh, he
says:--
"From this prince the month of August was called Lughnas
(Lunas), from which the English adopted the name _Lammas_, for
the 1st day of August."