The Wiccan holiday of Ostara is celebrated on the vernal equinox, which usually falls around March 21st. This holiday marks the arrival of spring and the balance between day and night. Ostara is named after a Germanic goddess who represents new beginnings, fertility, and the growth of plants. This is a time when the Earth is coming back to life after the cold winter months, and it is believed that the goddess's energy is responsible for this renewal. During Ostara, Wiccans honor this goddess and celebrate the return of light and warmth. They may perform rituals and spells to bring about growth and abundance in their lives.
Make a Flower Crown– Find flowers growing locally or make paper flowers. Create a flower crown and pick your Spring Queen(or King) for the day.
Celebrating with family helps to rekindle love and comfort after a winter bumping into each other in your home or not being able to visit due to inclement weather. Plan out your Garden Whether its a garden for your vegetables or you want to start a herb garden for medicines and teas; spending time preparing for the coming season is a good way to connect with what you want in life as well as tapping into your inner green and kitchen witch.
They may perform rituals and spells to bring about growth and abundance in their lives. This can include planting seeds, decorating eggs, and creating flower crowns or wreaths. Eggs are a symbol of new life and are often used to represent the rebirth and fertility associated with Ostara.
Wiccan holiday of Ostara
Ostara is the one of the eight pagan festivals throughout the Wheel of the Year. Each season is celebrated and regarded as equally important. It is also a way to understand the natural world and its changes and become more in-tune with the environment. This is one of my favourite times of the year – if I could choose!
The 21st March marks the Spring Equinox. The wondrous time of the year, parallel to Autumn Equinox. It is a time of balance – when the length of night and day are completely equal.
And it is the gateway into Spring! – the very first day of spring! The days will now get longer and the night shorter as we move into the summer season.
As well as the light and dark, other aspects come into balance – masculinity and femininity, inner and outer etc. But this festival marks the time of the year when light defeats the dark as we are coming out of the cold winter months. Where the world, which would have seemed like it was dying to our ancestors, begins to bloom again with life. It is a time of fertility, renewal and rebirth.
Ostara originally took its name from the Germanic goddess Eostre/Ostara, a representation of fertility and regrowth. And interestingly, the female fertility hormone has been influenced by the name of the goddess – “Eostrogen.” And this is where the Christian celebration of Easter evolved! – itself a celebration of rebirth.
And indeed, the things associated with modern day Easter are traditionally Ostara symbols – a Hare, Eggs and Hot cross buns!
The Goddess Ostara is most closely associated with a Hare – she is shown having the head and shoulders of a hare. The hare is particularly a symbol of fertility and abundance as in nature the hare is able to conceive even whilst pregnant! And over the centuries this hare symbol has become the Easter Bunny – who brings eggs to children on Easter morning, the Christian celebration.
Also, for many goddesses in Paganism, the Hare is a symbol of the moon. This also links to modern Easter celebrations as Christian Easter is determined by the phases of the moon.
The egg itself is very important! It represents potential and new life – symbolising fertility and all creation. It can optimise the masculine and feminine balance; light and dark in the yolk and egg white – the Sun God and White Goddess.
It is even seen by many traditions a symbol representing the entire universe.
It shows balance of all things for but a moment until the energy comes through bringing growth and rebirth to the world.
Finally, the hot cross bun too represents balance. The decoration of the cross on top can be seen as the Celtic Cross, the four armed cross within a circle. It represents the four seasons, the four directions of N, E, S, and W as well as the five sacred elements Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit in the centre.
And the circumference is the cycle of the year – the circle of life. Pretty cool right?!
And if you did decide to add a little pagan celebration to your home there are some traditional items and colour associated with the festival:
Flowers: Daffodils, primroses, violets, crocuses, celendine, catkins, pussy willow in profusion
Colours (for use with candles or simple decorations): bright green, yellow and purple
Altar/table top ideas: coloured eggs, seeds, feathers, all spring flowers, colours above, all foliage that is sprouting into leaf.
Plant seeds– If you have the space, create a gardening space for your child. Flowers such as sunflowers, forget me nots and wildflowers or their favorite veggie are all good ideas to grow. Set up eco-friendly planter pots with recycled containers and bottles or use egg shells or egg cartons to make compostable planters. You can also set up planters if you live in an apartment to save space. Let kids try out growing sprouts in a mason jar or something that fits on a windowsill.To make it extra magical, write down on a piece of paper what you want to “grow” over the next season. Put this paper in the bottom of your planter before adding the dirt and seeds. Some ideas you could use include, peace and happiness, good health, prosperity, abundance, less stress, luck and self love.
Wiccans may decorate eggs with colors and symbols that hold personal meaning to them. Some may even use natural dyes made from plants to create vibrant colors. Another important aspect of Ostara is the balance between light and dark. On the vernal equinox, day and night are of equal length. This represents the duality of life – the balance between masculine and feminine, light and dark, and yin and yang. Wiccans may focus on bringing balance into their lives during this time and may perform rituals to honor this harmony. Overall, the Wiccan holiday of Ostara is a celebration of new beginnings, fertility, and the return of light and warmth. It is a time to honor the goddess of spring, embrace the balance of life, and welcome the growth and abundance that comes with the season..
Reviews for "Exploring the mythology and folklore associated with Ostara"
1. Sarah - 1 star
I was really disappointed with the Wiccan holiday of Ostara. I had heard so much about it and was excited to attend, but it was nothing like what I expected. The event was disorganized, with no clear schedule or structure to the activities. The speakers were also quite dull and lacked enthusiasm, making it hard to stay engaged. Additionally, the whole event felt like a commercialized version of Wicca, with vendors selling all sorts of trinkets and merchandise. Overall, it was a letdown and did not live up to my expectations.
2. John - 2 stars
The Wiccan holiday of Ostara was okay, but it definitely wasn't my cup of tea. The event seemed more focused on promoting certain merchandise and products rather than genuinely celebrating the holiday. It felt more like a marketing opportunity than a spiritual gathering. The workshops and presentations were lackluster, lacking depth and substance. I was hoping for a more authentic experience and connection with others, but it felt forced and superficial. I left feeling underwhelmed and somewhat disillusioned about the event.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I attended the Wiccan holiday of Ostara with high hopes, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The event lacked a sense of community and inclusivity, making it difficult for newcomers like myself to feel welcome. The rituals and ceremonies felt rushed and lacked significance, with little explanation provided. The speakers seemed more interested in promoting their own brands and products than providing valuable insight or guidance. I left the event feeling disconnected and disenchanted, wanting more from the experience.