Ostara - the Spring Equinox

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Today, March 20th, is the day of the Spring Equinox, when day and night are equally long. Tomorrow, day is longer than night, which is a great relief to all us with SAD. This particular day is called Ostara in the Neopagan calendar and is a spring festival, named after the goddess Eostre, or Eastre, which indeed is where we get the name "Easter" from, not to mention the curiously un-Christian Easter traditions of eggs and bunnies.

You could say Ostara the Neopagan Easter, and both the eggs and the hares or rabbits are symbols of fertility. With the light and warmth of spring, nature is reborn and both flora and fauna get their groove on.

In the Wiccan Wheel of the Year story of the Godess and the God, Ostara is when the Goddess wakes up properly from her winter sleep and dresses the world in green. In nature, trees start to become green, spring flowers are blossoming and we can finally enjoy the first warm days of the year. I think the reason for remembering this holiday fairly clearly is because it's so closely connected with Easter that it's hard to forget, no matter how secular you become.

Currently, in Nottingham, the sakura trees have started to blossom in their whites and pinks. Daffodils are shining like little yellow suns on the side of the road and in people's gardens, and we walked around yesterday without needing a jacket, because the sun was nice and warm and it was a beautiful day. Hopefully today will be the same.

Madam, you're looking dashing as usual!

The other thing about this particular equinox is the moon. Last night, it was the brightest and biggest of the year apparently, being closest it's been to the Earth for almost two decades. Saw the topic #supermoon trending on Twitter last night? This is why. The skies over our abode were ruefully cloud-covered, however, so no luck there. :( For more info on the "super moon" phenomenon, have a look at Wikipedia. The next one is due 14 November 2016, and the picture above was not taken tonight, but a few years ago when the skies were delightfully clear.


Dear Reader, I wish you a most wonderful Spring Equinox!

Comments

  1. MillyMe20 March 2011 at 10:01

    In Norway the huge piles of snow that have been lying everywhere since the middle of November are finally starting to melt. The sun is so bright that we need sunglasses outside. You can notice how people's spirits are lifting after a long cold winter! Spring in on its way, hurrah!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Traxy20 March 2011 at 11:57

    Hurrah! :D

    I've been out sorting out the birdtable and pots of strawberries (removing dead leaves) so I'm feeling full of spring too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. TitusL20 March 2011 at 11:58

    Nice Post thank you,
    thought you may enjoy my Eostre/Equinox machinima film
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lZ-YKIeXww
    Happy Ostara ~

    ReplyDelete
  4. hedgeypig20 March 2011 at 15:21

    My daughter is always fascinated when I tell her about the pagan festivals that 'coincidentally' happen at the same time as the Christian ones as they only get taught the latter at school. paganism and humanism (my belief of choice) don't get a look in.

    ReplyDelete
  5. joanna20 March 2011 at 19:40

    Very nice post. In south Poland is still very white :/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Charlotte H.23 March 2011 at 06:23

    Great post! I was at the hardware store today, looking at birdbaths and trying to choose which one to get. I love spring!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Phylly328 March 2011 at 08:45

    Still hoping for some temperatures above zero here. It was nice to escape winter for awhile on a Hawaiian holiday but we came back to a driveway that needed plowing. At least we get lots of sun where I am and I know the snow will soon start melting.

    ReplyDelete

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