As the winter fades away and the days grow longer, many people around the world celebrate the arrival of spring. One such celebration is the Pagan festival known as the Spring Equinox. The Spring Equinox, also known as Ostara, is a time when day and night are equal in length. It marks the official beginning of spring and is a time of rebirth and renewal. Pagan traditions and beliefs surrounding this festival vary, but they often involve honoring the return of life and the fertility of the Earth. One common symbol associated with the Spring Equinox is the egg.
Persephone: Greek, Queen of the Underworld. Goddess of Fertility, her abduction by Hades is often seen as a reason for the seasons. She is allowed up from the underworld to bring to Spring and returns in the Fall.
Be spacious enough to hold it all as you offer these blessings May there be peace on earth, May the hearts of all people be open to themselves and to each other, May all people awaken to the light of their own true nature, May all creation be blessed and be a blessing to All That Is. Ostara makes the hopes and intentions of Imbolc manifest into action with new signs of life and fertility including new green growth and flowers blossoming.
One common symbol associated with the Spring Equinox is the egg. Eggs have long been seen as a symbol of fertility and new beginnings, making them a fitting representation of the season. In some Pagan rituals, people will decorate eggs and offer them as gifts or use them in ceremonies and spells.
The Wiccan Calendar: Ostara (Spring Equinox)
When is Ostara: March 19-23
Ostara pronunciation: OH-star-ah
Themes: balance, renewal, action, beginnings, hope, new possibilities
Also known as: Alban Eiler, Rites of Spring, Eostra’s Day, Vernal Equinox, March Equinox, Spring Equinox, Lady Day, Bacchanalia
Ostara is the second of three spring festivals on the Wheel of the Year. Coming in between Imbolc and Beltane, this is a time for celebrating the balance between extremes that is found amid the seasons. Although it may still be chilly in many regions, this is the official beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere—it is the Vernal (Spring) Equinox, the moment of exact balance between the light and the dark.
Though it’s typically celebrated on March 20, the exact moment of the Equinox varies from year to year. This is due to a slight misalignment between the Gregorian calendar and the actual rate of the Earth’s rotation around the Sun. The Equinox also occurs at differing local times, so depending on where you live, it may fall the day before or the day after the date listed on any given calendar. For this reason, a date range of March 19-21 is often cited in sources on the Wheel of the Year.
In the Wiccan mythology, the growing daylight is evidence of the God moving from infancy toward maturity. Likewise, the Earth becomes warmer and more fertile as the Goddess is coming into the full power of her Maiden aspect. The promise of greener, warmer, more bountiful times is becoming apparent as buds and blossoms emerge from the trees and shrubs, bees return to begin the pollination cycle, and fields of grass wake up from their winter slumber. This is a time of innocence and child-like wonder as the end of Winter finally becomes a reality and being outdoors is pleasant again. We have not yet arrived at the passion and heat of Summer, but are instead enjoying the more balanced energies of this Equinox.
To honor the energies of this time of year, you can decorate your altar with fresh flowers and a young, small potted plant or two. Use flower petals to mark the sacred circle, and fill your cauldron, if you have one, with fresh spring water to float petals upon. Images of hares, eggs and pastel colors are also traditional decorations. Foods appropriate for Ostara celebrations include eggs, sprouts, young greens, and other seasonal crops such as asparagus and fiddlehead ferns. Ostara rituals and spells often focus on balance. It is also not uncommon for Spring Equinox rituals to promote renewal.
As with Imbolc, this is a good time for purification of your home and even yourself—what habits or ruts have you still not shaken free from that you would like to let go of? This is also a good time to be planting seeds for what you’d like to manifest in the coming months—both literally, if you have a garden, and figuratively in terms of spellwork.
Before Christianity came to dominate the cultures of Europe, most pagans celebrated festivals on or near the Equinox, often honoring deities associated with fertility and abundance. One such deity was Ostara (also known as Eostre), a Northern European goddess of fertility who was worshipped in many areas populated by Germanic tribes. As part of the strategy to absorb and therefore eliminate the pagan religions, the Christians eventually adopted the name Easter for their own Spring holiday, and the Equinox festivals gradually declined over time.
However, as we know, the Old Religion never fully disappeared—just as with Yule, some traditions that are now associated with Easter actually have Pagan roots. For example, painting eggs was a custom among Druids and ancient Eastern European cultures, and the rabbit has always been a symbol of fertility. So if you grew up with these typical Easter customs, you’ve already tapped in to the power of Ostara!
—Debra Hall © Mother Tongue Ink 2021
Another symbol of the Spring Equinox is the hare or rabbit. These animals are known for their fertility and are often associated with the goddess of spring and fertility. Some Pagan rituals may involve incorporating images or representations of hares or rabbits to honor this aspect of the season. Celebrations of the Spring Equinox can vary depending on the specific Pagan tradition or individual beliefs. Some may choose to gather in nature and hold ceremonies to welcome the return of the sun and the awakening of the Earth. Others may choose to perform rituals or spells to harness the energy of the season for personal growth and transformation. Regardless of the specific practices, the Spring Equinox is generally a time of joy and celebration within the Pagan community. It is a time to honor the cycles of nature, embrace the return of light, and celebrate the beauty and abundance of the natural world. In conclusion, the Pagan festival of the Spring Equinox is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the renewal of life. It is a time to honor the cycles of nature, embrace the energy of the season, and celebrate the beauty and abundance of the Earth. Whether through rituals, ceremonies, or personal practices, Pagan individuals and communities come together to welcome the return of light and the awakening of the natural world..
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