Spring Equinox/Ostara/Easter

I have spring fever! How can one not? Of course it does not help that my mom keeps sending me pictures of her early blooming garden, which I am sharing here with you in this post. Mother Earth is stirring from her slumber, and we too feel the need to shake off the winter’s state of inertia to get up, get out and do something! As I watched two beautiful hummingbirds dance their way around my backyard this morning, the squirrels in the treetops, and birds searching for nesting material, I felt it was finally here. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it is rapidly approaching and will be marked by the spring/vernal equinox on 20 March. The following day is Ostara, Good Friday and a full moon, called The Seed Moon. Then on Sunday is Easter. What do all of these have in common? Let’s take a look.

Spring/vernal equinox (“equal night”) occurs when the sun is positioned above the equator and thus day and night stand in perfect balance, with light on the increase. It marks the beginning of spring, when light conquers darkness (also symbolized as life overtaking death). It appears to be the oldest celebration in the history of the world. The earliest reference to which comes from Babylon, 2400 BCE. Also, the early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising Sun on the day of the vernal equinox.

Ostara is the Pagan fertility celebration in honour of the Saxon Lunar Goddess of fertility, Eostre (from which we get the word estrogen, and most likely the word Easter). The young Sun God now celebrates a sacred marriage to the young Maiden Goddess, who now conceives, and in nine months will become the Great Mother. There are a few theories about how she became associated with the hare and eggs. The reference most commonly found is that her worshippers saw a hare in the full moon and the eggs symbolize her fertility. The legend I find sweet says that while entertaining a group of children, she turned a bird into a rabbit. To the amusement of the children, the bewitched animal laid colored eggs. (Ohh ho ho, you see how it’s all coming together now, right? It gets better!)

Setting Eostre’s story aside, let us take a quick look at the symbolism of eggs, which have been the symbols for rebirth and fertility for so long, it could easily date back to the beginning of time. It was certainly used by the Ancient Romans and Greeks. The egg white represents the all-encompassing nature of the Goddess, while the yolk symbolizes the virile qualities of the Sun god. The two are bound together by the symmetrical outer shell, sealing their fertility and perfect love for each other. Let us then take the symbolism one step further and suggest that seeds, being embryonic and shell-covered, are egg-like in nature. Pretty interesting considering that the full moon in March is called The Seed Moon.

It has been well documented that the Christian church incorporated Pagan practices into Christian festivals. Easter, which is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon, is one of those holidays. I know that some Christian groups have denounced Easter specifically because of its Pagan roots. I personally do not feel comfortable equating the rebirth of Jesus with the rebirth of Mother Earth alone. It is up to you readers to have your own interpretations. I will say that the concept of the Easter bunny was brought over to America from Germany. On the German celebration of Oschter Haws, a bunny brings colored eggs for all of the children to discover the following morning.

It is very rare that the equinox, full moon, Ostara, and Easter all fall together so closely. Whatever your religious beliefs, I hope that you will welcome spring by doing something special. Whether you choose to utilize this renewed energy by attending a church service which inspires your spiritual side, by plant seeds and new life into your garden, or expressing your creative energy in your favorite artistic endeavors, I hope that you focus upon an expression which betters your life and brings you more into harmony with nature and humankind. Many blessings to you all.