Ostara | Spring Equinox

The Start of Spring

The March equinox occurs on Monday, March 20, 2023. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is known as the vernal, or spring, equinox and marks the start of the spring season. In the Southern Hemisphere, autumn begins.

At this time, the Sun crosses the celestial equator on its way north. Also on this day, the Sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west—a good thing to know if you get lost in the woods.

Ostara is a festival that celebrates the spring equinox, which occurs around March 20th in the Northern Hemisphere and September 22nd in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a time when day and night are of equal length and the earth begins to awaken from its winter slumber.

Ostara is a modern pagan holiday that is celebrated by various pagan and Wiccan communities. It is named after the Germanic goddess Ostara, who was associated with the coming of spring and the rebirth of the earth. The holiday is also sometimes called Eostre or Alban Eilir, depending on the tradition.

During Ostara, many people celebrate the return of the sun and the renewal of life that comes with spring. They may decorate eggs and hold egg hunts, symbolizing the fertility of the earth and new life emerging from within. They may also plant seeds or perform other rituals to honor the coming of spring and the growth that it brings.

Ostara is a time to celebrate the balance between light and dark, as well as the renewal and growth that come with the changing of the seasons. It is a time to connect with the natural world and to honor the cycles of life, death, and rebirth that are present in all aspects of nature.