As the days grow longer and nature awakens from its winter slumber, the Spring Equinox
marks a time of balance, renewal, and fertility. Known as Ostara in the pagan tradition, this ancient festival celebrates the arrival of spring and the promise of new beginnings. In this blog post, we'll explore the history of this ancient pagan holiday and share ideas on how to honor and celebrate this magical time of year with our guide to celebrating Ostara.
A Guide to Celebrating Ostara
History of Ostara:
Ostara is a pagan festival that celebrates the vernal equinox when day and night are of equal length. It is named after the Germanic goddess Eostre, who symbolizes fertility, rebirth, and the returning light of spring. Traditionally, Ostara is a time to welcome the increasing sunlight, plant seeds in the earth, and celebrate the balance between light and dark.
Ways to Celebrate Ostara:
1. Spring Cleaning: Embrace the spirit of renewal by decluttering your home, clearing out old energy, and making space for fresh beginnings. Open windows to let in the fresh air and light, and consider a smoke cleanse or burning candles to cleanse the space.
2. Decorate with Symbols of Spring: Bring the energy of spring into your home by decorating with symbols of fertility and growth. Use fresh flowers, colored eggs, bunnies, and other spring-themed decorations to create a festive atmosphere.
3. Plant Seeds: Honor the earth's fertility by planting seeds or tending to your garden. Whether you have a green thumb or are new to gardening, connecting with the earth and nurturing new life can be a powerful way to celebrate Ostara.
4. Create an Altar: Set up a sacred space in your home or garden to honor the energies of Ostara. Include symbols of the season such as eggs, flowers, seeds, light-colored crystals, candles with fresh floral scents - like our Ostara candle, created specifically to pay homage to this turn of the wheel - and other items representing growth, renewal, and abundance.
5. Perform a Ritual: Consider crafting a ritual to mark the arrival of spring and celebrate the changing of the seasons. This could involve meditation, lighting candles, painting eggs, making an eggshell candle, making offerings to the earth, or simply spending time in nature to connect with the energy of Ostara.
6. Feast on Seasonal Foods: Embrace spring flavors by preparing a feast with seasonal ingredients such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Consider baking bread, making a salad with edible flowers, or brewing herbal teas to nourish your body and spirit.
Ostara is a time of balance, growth, and new beginnings, making it the perfect opportunity to embrace the magic of the spring season. Whether you choose to perform rituals, decorate your home, or simply spend time in nature, celebrating Ostara can help you connect with the earth, honor the changing of the seasons, and welcome the light and warmth of spring into your life.
After Ostara comes the next turn of the wheel, Beltane! Merry times are nigh! Get a jump on this fruitful and abundant season with our lush Beltane candle and get the party started.
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