The Vernal Equinox: Spring Is Here!

As February faded into March, we began to approach a time when the bitter bite of the wind dies down and is replaced with warmer, sunnier days.

The ice is melting over everything and new life is breathed into the world, and it’s a clean, fresh start for a lot of things. The human race sees its fresh start on January 1st, but Mother Nature is on her own agenda. Spring officially made its debut on March 20th, and while the temperature is still deciding what it wants to be, we can likely count on a little more rain that’s going to help everything eventually grow. Welcome to the Vernal Equinox!

To honor the Vernal Equinox, many Pagans partake in Ostara (Eostre) celebrations. Named for the Germanic goddess, Ostara is traditionally celebrated in April with festivals that honor fertility and rebirth. It was this celebration that the Christian holiday Easter evolved and even the fertility hormone estrogen is derived from the name!

The hare – which symbolizes fertility – and the egg – which symbolizes rebirth – are the symbols for Ostara.

Traditional stories say that once upon a time, the Animal Kingdom was to be graced with the presence of the Goddess herself. They were all buzzing with excitement as they all set out to find the perfect gift to present the Goddess once she arrived. Some of the animals were rich and could afford more lavish gifts, and some of the animals were poor and couldn’t afford much at all, but they were all very determined to find the best gift they could. The Hare, who loved the Goddess a great deal, rushed home to find the perfect offering for her, but he had nothing except for a single egg. As it was the only thing he had left to give, he took care with the egg and decorated it before taking it to the party being held for the Goddess. As all the other animals gave their gifts, the Hare began to worry; everyone else was giving her gold, silver, and jewels, and all he had was an egg he’d decorated himself. He was the last to present his gift and he offered it shyly to the Goddess, who looked upon him and saw his true spirit. He had given her the very last thing he’d had, selflessly! For this, the Goddess appointed the Hare as her very special animal.

Egg hunts are very traditional for an Ostara celebration!

You can paint them, write wishes on them, and hide them for children – and adults! – to find. For color pallet ideas, the Ostara colors are bright green, purple, and yellow. Colored eggs are also good altar pieces, along with seeds, feathers, and spring flowers such as daffodils, violets, and crocuses. Burying a raw egg near the entrance of your home can ensure a fertile garden and abundance for the coming year.

While everyone celebrates this time of year in different ways, we feel that you can all benefit from letting go of bad habits and toxic relationships and letting go of grievances from the past. The future is bright, but you’ll never see just how bright if you let those rain clouds hang over you all the time. Remember, this time is all about rebirth. Rise like a phoenix from the ashes, dust yourself off, and slay.

If you celebrate Ostara, we’d love to hear about it! Tell us about your traditions in the comments below.