March 20th
Spring Equinox
Lady Day
Some wiccans feel that this should be celebrated on the full moon. Since it is a celebration of Spring and renewed life and growth they feel that it is a time to honor the Goddess. The Anglo-Saxon moon Goddess Eostara is where the name came from. Still others celebrate at Sunrise on the First day of Spring which in the United States is March 20th. This is to honor the Greek Goddess of Dawn, East, and Rebirth Eos.
It really doesn’t matter at what time you celebrate, cause most traditions as well as Christianity celebrate the myth of resurrection on this day. The world is being reborn and new life is growing. The Christians celebrate Easter and the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus. Within the pagan religion many such tales are found as well. There is the tale of Osiris and Isis, Demeter and Persephone, and Tammuz and Ishtar.
Many symbols of the Christian Easter have roots in Paganism of old. The Sunrise service, colored eggs, egg hunts, Easter bunny, Rabbits, lambs, lilies, and wearing new clothes are all from pagan origins.
The God at Ostara is young and wild. He believes that he is the only one that matters or exists, and doesn’t realize that he is part of a whole. He does not realize that he is mortal and that he will die in the fall only to be reborn at Yule. Soon he comes to realize that he is part of a whole, and he begins to notice the young Goddess. This marriage at Beltane will spell his impending death.
The Goddess at this time is seen as a mother figure (Dememter) and she greets the return of her daughter (Persephone) by regreening the world. As she is also a Maiden in spring she is seen dancing around just out of reach of the young God. She is being a bit of a tease. This is a time when she has no need of the God. She is independent and complete.
During this time Night and Day are in perfect balance. There is a feeling of anticipation as if something were about to happen. It is a time when ideas are forming. This is a time of rebirth in all aspects of our lives..
Gods: Adonis, Attis, Bran, Cernunnos, Hercules (child) Mithras, Pan, Greenman
Goddesses: (both mother and maiden): Aphrodite, Arianhod, Athena, Blodeuwedd, Cybele, Demeter, Diana, Esostara, Freya, Gaia, Hera, Iris, Ishtar, Isis, Kwan Yin, Persephone, Venus, Vesta
Foods: Biscuits, cakes, eggs, cheese, fish, ham, honey, leafy greens, seeds, sprouts
Incense: Jasmine, Lemon, Rose, Tansy, Violets
Herbs: Catnip, cinquefoil, lemon grass, marjoram, meadowsweet, rose hips, spearmint, tarragon, thyme, vervain
Flowers: Crocus, daffodil, dogwood, honeysuckle, iris, lavender, lilac, lily, lily of the valley, narcissus, rose, snowdrops, strawberry, tulips, violets
Stones: Agate, Amazonite, clear quartz, garnet, lapis lazuli, rose quartz
