OSTARA ñ THE VERNAL EQUINOX


Ostara is the beginning of the agricultural year. Most Easter customs and 
symbols are derived from this feast. Arbor Day and Audubon's birthday belong in 
spirit to Ostara and occur near it in the calendar. Ostara completes a season of 
purification begun at Oimelc.

THEMES

Sap rises in the trees. Growth of roots rapid. Streams freed from ice. Battle 
between Summer and Winter, with Summer victorious. Leaf buds breaking free from 
their scales.

Plowing and planting begin.

Resurrection of the vegetation spirit (Tammuz, Adonis, Attis, Osiris).

PURPOSE OF THE RITES

To ensure the revival of vegetable life and the renewal of animal life. 
Purification of people, homes, fields, animals.

FOLK CUSTOMS

Spring cleaning. New clothes to symbolize rebirth of the spirit. Eggs as a 
symbol of new life. Sunrise observances. Sowing and planting done ceremonially. 
Ashes from Ostara Eve bonfire mixed with the seed corn as a fertility charm. 
Easting of cake and cider in the fields, burying a piece of cake and pouring a 
libation to show the earth what it is expected to produce. Moon cakes, round 
cakes marked on top by a cross dividing it into quarters or "farls", symbolizing 
the quarters of the Moon. They break into quarters. They are the origin of hot 
cross buns. Tree planting.

SYMBOLIC DECORATIONS

Branches and catkins of willow; balloons; colored eggs; figure of an eagle; 
seasonal flowers; the color yellow.

SOCIAL ACTIVITES

archery contests                      
ballooning                              
display of young animals
kite-flying                           
jumping rope                          
a gardening fair
trampoline                            
hang gliding 

THE RITE

Takes place on the Eve soon after dark. Have no metal and no fires or lights in 
the Circle, and no fires or lights in the house (or the village). Have a bonfire 
laid on a hearth in the center, altar in the East, and colored Ostara eggs piled 
next to the altar in baskets. Cut Circle from "outside" with the sword.

RITUAL OF THE NEW FIRE:

All enter the Circle wearing or carrying no metal.

Use strong banishing of Circle and people. Use incense sticks for part of the 
banishings.

After the prayer of intention, HP lights the fire. When it is burning will, a 
procession should leave the Circle. All resume their metal regalia and return to 
the Circle carrying the ritual objects that have been excluded. All the lights 
in the Circle are then lit. After the rite, flame from the New Fire will be used 
to light the household fires of all the participants (usually, these days, the 
pilot light on your stove).

The God and/or the Goddess are invoked, and the fire is charged to strengthen 
the Sun and make the fields and herds fertile (this is done in all the Sabbats) 
or with some talk that is particularly timely and relevant.

Communion consists of moon cakes and white wine or ale.

RITUAL OF PLANTING

Each person may have written his chief plans and hopes for the year very briefly 
on a small piece of paper. These are folded small and burned in the fire. Seeds 
can then be planted to symbolize your plans for they year. Dig into the soil in 
a planter you have ready at the North, some of the ashes from the bonfire, 
removed with the knife and allowed to cool.

A pleasant supper completes the rite. Everyone should go home early to rest for 
the dawn ceremonies, taking a flame from the New Fire to light his fire at home, 
and some of the eggs, either to hide for the children to find, or to keep for a 
picnic breakfast.

CEREMONIES AT DAWN

Gather fasting from some form of reenactment of a resurrection myth. Afterwards, 
children can hunt eggs and breakfast can be eaten, preferably outdoors.