Ostara

[meridian_rose]

~Magickal Graphics~
Ostara is the Spring or Vernal equinox when days and nights are once again equal in length. It is a time of renewal and rebirth. The name Ostara is believed to be derived from Eostre - the Teutonic lunar Goddess. Her chief symbols are the hare, which represents fertility, and the egg, which is a symbol of rebirth.
This year a solar eclipse will be totally or partially visible in some regions.


Traditionally this day marks the start of Spring, and is a good time for cleaning in the physical, emotional, and spiritual sense. It is a good time to plant seeds.

Ostara is close in timing and symbolism to the Church festival of Easter, but Ostara is fixed at the equinox (usually occurring on the 20/21/22 of March) while Easter is a moveable feast decided by the phases of the moon; the Jewish holiday of Passover also falls during March or April, depending on the moon phases of each year.
Ostara also falls close to St Patrick's Day amongst other festivals – there's more detail in this article: Spring Traditions around the World.

Also of interest is an article that looks at the myth of St Patrick clearing Ireland of snakes and that the story is meant to refer to him converting/banishing pagans . Why I Still Celebrate All Snakes' Day reports that "Celebrating “All Snakes’ Day” March 17 as a protest against St. Patrick’s Day has become a sort of tradition among many of us Neo-Pagans." The article goes on to refute most of the myths but asks

what does all this have to do with modern-day Pagans and All Snakes’ Day? It has to do with power: specifically, the power of myths and symbols. As commenter Crossing the Abyss states on Daimler’s blog, “mythological histories are far more significant psychologically than actual historical events.”

The article concludes that "For me, then, I will continue to celebrate All Snakes’ Day. Why? To fight myth with myth, symbol with symbol."

Correspondences: green, yellow, pink, black/white, pastel colours, eggs, hares, spring cleaning, balance, light/dark, crocus, daffodils, ducklings and chicks, lambs, honey, aquamarine. Planting. Recipes and foods involving duck, rabbit, eggs, milk, cheese, fresh spring greens.
This site has a recipe for an Ostara Frittata and there's a list of dishes from savoury to sweet here
You can read more about Ostara correspondences, food and rituals and Ostara Customs, Traditions and Folklore; the disputed origins of Eostre and, finally, Easter Eggs: Pagan or Not? (as usual the answer is "it's complicated" :D)

Happy Spring Equinox has some background about and ideas for celebrating and includes a section all about the Autumn Equinox, because in the Southern Hemisphere, it is Mabon that this being celebrated, with the balance of daylight about to go in the opposite direction; winter is drawing in, rather than summer approaching.

Previous Ostara posts