Ostara; A celebration of the Spring Equinox

Ostara is a celebration of the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere and the Fall Equinox in the southern hemisphere.

What’s an equinox? I asked also, which is sad. Our modern society and culture has erased something that was such a huge part of our ancestor’s formulation of life and a massive cause for celebration.

The equinox occurs twice a year when the sun crosses the Earth’s equator and causes both day and night to be of equal length. It’s the marking of the changing of the seasons. A check point like in Super Mario where you had a hard level (say, winter) and the game let you save half way through so you don’t have to redo the whole thing when you die. If you’ve ever played video games, you know check points are a great cause for celebration.

Let’s note, for inclusiveness sake, that this doesn’t apply to the poles, since the sun dips out for months at a time and then over stays it’s welcome for also months at a time. I guess I can’t speak for that experience, but it sounds terrible to me.

Anyway, long before the word “Ostara” graced our lips, civilizations across the globe held rituals marking the spring equinox. The ancient Egyptians held the Sed Festival, celebrating the king’s rejuvenation and the land’s fertility. In Persia, Nowruz heralded the start of a new year with vibrant…