The Festival of Ostara, also known as the Spring Equinox, is a pagan holiday that celebrates the arrival of spring and the awakening of new life. It usually falls around March 20th or 21st in the Northern Hemisphere and September 20th or 21st in the Southern Hemisphere, depending on the astronomical timing of the equinox.
The name Ostara is derived from the Germanic goddess Eostre or Ostara, who was associated with the spring season and new beginnings. The holiday is also sometimes referred to as Eostre or the Vernal Equinox.
The Festival of Ostara is a time to honour the balance between light and dark, as the days and nights become equal in length. It is also a time to celebrate the return of warmth and light, the awakening of new life in nature, and the renewal of the earth's fertility.
Some common traditions and practices associated with the Festival of Ostara include:
- Decorating eggs, which are a symbol of new life and fertility.
- Planting seeds and bulbs to honour the rebirth of nature and new beginnings.
- Lighting candles or holding bonfires to represent the return of warmth and light.
- Holding feasts or gatherings to celebrate the arrival of spring and the renewal of life.
- Honouring the balance between light and dark by meditating on the themes of balance and harmony.
The Festival of Ostara is a time to embrace the energy of new beginnings, renewal, and growth, and to honour the balance between light and dark in nature and in ourselves. What are some of your favourite Ostara Traditions? I would love to hear about them! Please leave a comment below!