Spring Equinox (Ostara)

Here in the Northern hemisphere, we are celebrating the spring equinox and looking ahead to the warmer, sunnier months, whereas everyone living in the Southern hemisphere will be preparing for the Autumn Equinox and the colder months of winter.

All around the world, people celebrate the equinox with special festivals and customs:

Holi

India

Hindus in India celebrate the festival of Holi to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. This is most popularly connected to the story of Krishna and Rhada.

The festival begins with huge bonfires being lit and people celebrate by throwing brightly coloured powdered paints at each other. Holi is often called the Festival of Colours.

Israel

Jews celebrate the festival of Purim (the Festival of Lots) and is related to the Biblical book of Esther.

Synagogue

On the day before Purim, Jewish people fast, and then on the day itself, they visit the synagogue to hear the story of Esther, who saved the Jewish people from being killed. They also exchange gifts, give to charity, and eat hamantaschen (3 eared cookies).

Rabbits

A symbol of Ostara

Pagans/Wiccans/Druids

Those who connect to the land in a deep way honour the goddess of spring, called Ostara or Eostre. Ostara’s sacred animal was the hare (and the origin of ‘the Easter Bunny’).

The name Ostara or Eostre means ‘East’, where the sun rises. This is a time of cleansing – both physically and emotionally – and a time of renewal.

Shamrock

3-leaf clover

In pre-Christian Europe, the Druids particularly used the shamrock as the symbolic plant of the spring equinox.

The three leaves represented:

• the three dominions of the Earth (the land, the sky and the sea).
• the phases of the moon (half-moon, full moon and new moon)
• the three ages of man (birth, life and death).

However we know that a four-leafed clover was considered to be good luck, a sign of reincarnation (the fourth age of man), as well as a protection against evil.

St Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) used the shamrock to explain the Trinity of God (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and the church authorities took the name ‘Easter’ from the pagan godess  Eostre.

Christians

Easter focuses on the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The empty tomb

Christians give Easter eggs and Easter bunnies, all symbols of fertility and new beginnings.

Regardless of our culture and/or religion, celebrating the Equinox can be a way for us to connect to the earth and practice gratitude and thankfulness for all we have.

Some ideas might be:

• Spring clean your home – clean out the old and make space for the new.
• Decorate your home with flowers such as daffodils, tulips or hyacinths.
• Plant seeds or start a garden – this is a time of new growth and rebirth.
• Take a nature walk and look around you – appreciate the natural world.
• Paint/dye eggs and have an Easter egg hunt.

Ostara – a time of new beginnings