The Spring Equinox falls on March 20 this year. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, daylight hours will be lengthening until Summer Solstice in June.
The Spring Equinox has been named after the Germanic goddess, Ostara, on the Wheel of the Year. Ostara is inspired by various pagan cultures throughout history and around the globe. Ostara is just one of the names of the celebration of the Spring Equinox. Whatever you call this annual cosmic alignment, the coming of spring is a time for new beginnings.
We have been in hibernation for the last several months. The dark half of the year is for resting, and that’s what we’ve been doing. With less daylight, we can feel as if there is just less day for doing things and we spend less time outside. We see fewer people and do most of our existing at home.
It’s easy to become disconnected and out of alignment, especially during this time. The world around us can help us to get on track! Seasonal celebrations bring us closer to nature. It can impact the way that you feel physically and emotionally. Our ancestors were more connected to the Sun than most people are today. We can connect on a deeper level just by paying attention to the seasonal energy and using it to guide you.
We welcome the Spring Equinox because it means that the time has come for life in full to begin again. Light has triumphed over dark. Day has overtaken night. Things are growing. This is a great time to start taking action on the ideas and goals that you thought about during Yule and Imbolc, or those New Year's resolutions and goals.
Celebrate the balance of light and dark as the sun begins to stay longer in the sky and the return of new growth is near. It’s a good time of the year to start your literal and metaphorical seedlings. What you plant during Ostara will be ready to be harvested during the coming summer months and celebrations of Beltane, Litha and Lughnasadh.
It's a great time to freshen up your home and life. Take time to do spring cleaning. Declutter your home, car, computer or work office.
History of the Spring Equinox
For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season. The Celts didn’t celebrate Ostara as a holiday, but were in tune with the changing of the seasons.
In Ancient Rome, followers of Cybele believed that their goddess had a partner named Atticus who was born via a virgin birth. Atticus died and was resurrected each year during the time of the Spring Equinox on the Julian Calendar. The story of the Roman god, Mithras, is similar to the tale of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Born at winter solstice and resurrected at spring, Mithras helped his followers ascend to the realm of light after death.
The Achaemenians celebrated the Spring Equinox with the festival of ‘No Ruz’ which means ‘New Day’. It’s a celebration of hope and renewal that is still observed in many Persian countries. In Iran, there is a festival that takes place before No Ruz where people purify their homes and leap over fire to welcome the celebration.
Many Indigenous Mayan people have celebrated the Spring Equinox festival for centuries called The Return of the Serpent Sun. As the sun sets on the day of the Equinox, the great ceremonial pyramid El Castillo’s shadow appears to run from the top of the staircase to the bottom, giving the illusion of a snake. Crowds still gather to watch as the afternoon sun creates this shadow.
The goddess Ostara, which Wiccans named this holiday after, is the Germanic Goddess of spring and dawn. Eostre was the Saxon version of the Germanic goddess Ostara. The name Eostre is related to Eos, the Greek Goddess of dawn and can be traced back to this. Some have decided that Ostara is a form of Freya. Her feast was held on the full moon following the Equinox (almost the same calculation for Christian Easter in the west). It's a popular legend that Eostre found a wounded bird on the ground in late winter. To save it, she transformed it into a hare. The bird appeared to be a hare, but was still able to lay eggs. The hare decorated them and left them as gifts for Eostre.
How to Celebrate
Decorate your home or altar for Ostara or Spring
Symbols: Rabbits, hares, eggs, lambs, spring flowers, clover, baskets
Colors: Green, pink, blue Stones: Aquamarine, amethyst, rose quartz Flowers & Plants: clover, daffodils, crocus, tulips, lemongrass, spearmint
Bring inside freshly cut flowers from outside. Find those cute spring decorations and turn them into something witchy!
Spring clean. This equinox is a time to cleanse and release physically and spiritually. Clear away grime and clutter. Open your windows (or shades if there’s still a winter chill hanging around) and let the light of spring illuminate those dark corners. Infuse your cleaning with protections and blessings that pave your way for success.
Metaphorically spring clean by considering what plans, relationships, efforts or fixations are taking up unneeded room in your life. See if you can cut ties with the things that are no longer serving you.
Consider places in your home that are not working or need new energy. Paint an accent wall, invest in some storage. Rearrange some furniture if it’s helpful.
Plant a vegetable, herb or flower garden. Make room to sew in new energies and intentions. One way of doing this is to plant them into your garden right along with your plants. Write your intentions, goals or plans on small scraps of paper. Make sure it’s compostable! Roll them up and bury them with your seedlings. This way you can watch your manifestations grow strong and tall over the months.
Take time to celebrate the new life around you by walking in nature, laying in the grass or hiking through the forest. Observe new beginnings of plants, flowers, insects, birds. Celebrate the changing of the seasons.
Have a themed meal or host a brunch or party!
Foods associated with Ostara include eggs, honey, sprouted greens, baked goods and asparagus. Make these on your own, or host a celebration.
Make an egg based dish like deviled eggs, quiche or frittata with asparagus.
Hot Cross Buns were traditionally made by early European Pagans. Symbolically woven and braided, they were offerings for the Spring fertility goddess, Eostre.
Lemon and Lavender Shortbread.
Brew tea with intention, spring herbs and add honey.
Take time to meditate or journal to think about your intentions for the next few weeks as it relates to the goal you want to achieve.
Draw tarot cards and use the insight to plan for the next few months.
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