Ostara: The Spring Equinox in Pagan Traditions

Ostara, celebrated around March 20-23 in the Northern Hemisphere, marks the Spring Equinox, a time of balance when day and night are equal before the light overtakes the darkness. It is one of the eight festivals in the Wheel of the Year, observed by many Pagans, Wiccans, and Heathens as a time of renewal, fertility, and rebirth.

Historical Background

The name "Ostara" is derived from the Germanic goddess Eostre (or Ostara), a deity associated with spring, dawn, and fertility. According to the Venerable Bede, an 8th-century Christian monk, Eostre was honored in Anglo-Saxon England during the month of April ("Ēosturmōnaþ"), and her name later influenced the word "Easter." Though direct evidence of her worship is scarce, her themes align with Indo-European spring deities that personify renewal and light.

Pre-Christian European cultures celebrated the Spring Equinox in various ways. The ancient Romans honored Cybele and Attis, while the Norse recognized this as a pivotal turning point in the year. Celts may have had equinox-related celebrations, though much of their specific practices have been lost.

The Goddess Ostara/Eostre

Eostre is linked to fertility, new life, and the awakening of the land. She is often depicted with hares or rabbits, animals renowned for their prolific breeding, and eggs, which symbolize potential and renewal. Though little is concretely known about her mythos, many modern Pagans incorporate her into their Ostara rites as a goddess of dawn and new beginnings.

Correspondences of Ostara

Crystals:

Amethyst (balance and spiritual awakening)
Rose Quartz (love and renewal)
Citrine (joy and abundance)
Green Aventurine (growth and prosperity)
Moonstone (intuition and new beginnings)

Plants & Herbs:

Daffodils (rebirth and joy)
Tulips (love and prosperity)
Lilies (purity and renewal)
Clover (luck and growth)
Chamomile (peace and healing)

Colors:

Pastels (pink, yellow, lavender, and green) to symbolize new life and renewal
White (purity and balance)
Green (growth and fertility)

Planets:

Venus (love and fertility)
The Sun (life and vitality)
Mercury (communication and renewal)

Animals:

Hares/Rabbits (fertility and renewal)
Birds (messengers of change and new beginnings)
Butterflies (transformation and rebirth)

Elements:

Air (awakening and inspiration)
Earth (growth and grounding)

Symbols:

Eggs (potential and new beginnings)
Hares (fertility and life)
Flowers (blooming potential and beauty)
Seeds (growth and manifestation)

Ways to Celebrate Ostara

Honoring Balance and Renewal

Since Ostara is a time of equilibrium, it’s a powerful moment to reflect on personal balance. Meditate on what needs to be released from the past season and what should be nurtured moving forward.

Egg Magic and Symbolism

Decorating eggs is a practice with deep roots in many cultures, symbolizing fertility and new life. Some Pagans write intentions or sigils on eggs before burying them in the earth as an offering to nature.

Spring Feasting

Foods associated with Ostara include fresh greens, sprouts, eggs, honey, dairy, and seasonal vegetables. A feast featuring light and fresh dishes can be a way to honor the changing season.

Planting Rituals

Many celebrate Ostara by planting seeds, both literally and metaphorically. Starting a garden, blessing seeds, or making offerings to the land fosters a connection to the earth’s cycles.

Rituals and Offerings

Simple rituals may include lighting candles in honor of the returning sun, creating an altar with spring flowers, or offering prayers to deities of renewal such as Eostre, Persephone, or Freyr.

Celebrating with Nature

Spending time outside, walking in the woods, or tending a garden is a way to attune to the season’s energy. Observing the first signs of spring—buds blooming, animals emerging, and days lengthening—connects practitioners to nature’s rhythms.

Ostara and Modern Paganism

For many modern Pagans, Ostara is both a historical and spiritual holiday, honoring ancient themes while adapting them to contemporary practice. Whether through group rituals, solitary reflection, or nature-based activities, celebrating Ostara deepens one’s relationship with the cycles of the earth and the return of light.

By embracing the spirit of renewal and fertility, Ostara becomes a time of hope, growth, and joy, reminding us of nature’s continuous cycle of death and rebirth.