Ostara

Spring Equinox

March 21st

The Balance of Light & Dark, Fertility, and New Beginnings

The Basics

Ostara, the Spring Equinox, occurs around March 21st in the Northern Hemisphere (or around September 21st in the Southern Hemisphere). At this moment, day and night stand in perfect balance, and from here, the light begins to dominate as the Sun’s strength grows.

This Sabbat celebrates fertility, growth, balance, and renewal. Nature awakens: flowers bloom, animals mate, and seeds begin to sprout. It is a season of hope and opportunity, inviting us to align with fresh beginnings in our own lives. Ostara marks the midpoint between the cold stillness of winter and the abundance of summer, embodying both harmony and the promise of flourishing.

History & Origins

The Name

Ostara is often linked to Eostre, a Germanic dawn goddess associated with fertility, hares, and eggs. While historical records are limited, the themes of rebirth and renewal are widespread across Indo-European traditions.

Celtic & Pagan Roots

For agricultural peoples, the equinox signaled planting season. Festivals included blessings of seeds, livestock fertility rituals, and feasting on the first greens of the season.

Symbols Absorbed into Easter

Many modern Easter customs — painted eggs, rabbits, baskets, sunrise services — have Pagan origins tied to Ostara’s fertility and springtime themes.

Themes & Symbolism

Fertility & Creation

Balance & Harmony

Renewal & Rebirth

Planting Seeds (literal & metaphorical)

Growth & Abundance

Symbols

Eggs (fertility, creation, rebirth)

Hares and rabbits (sacred to the goddess Eostre)

Seeds and budding plants

Butterflies and birds

Flowers (daffodils, tulips, violets, primroses)

Sunrise and balanced scales (light/dark in harmony)

Colors

Green – new growth, renewal

Yellow – sunlight, joy, vitality

Pink – love, beauty, gentleness

Pastels – the fresh palette of spring

Foods

Eggs (boiled, painted, baked into breads)

Honey and mead

Seeds, sprouts, and fresh greens

Dairy and light cheeses

Spring fruits (berries as available)

Hot cross buns or braided breads

Celebration Practices

Seed Blessing & Planting

Bless seeds with intention before planting them in soil or pots.

As they grow, visualize your own projects and dreams taking root.

Egg Magic

Paint or decorate eggs with symbols, runes, or affirmations.

Use them as altar offerings, or bury them in the earth as blessings for fertility and prosperity.

Sunrise Rituals

Greet the sunrise outdoors, meditating on balance and the growing strength of light.

Offer gratitude for renewal in your life.

Balance Work

Reflect on what areas of your life feel out of harmony.

Create a ritual of balance — such as holding a stone in each hand, naming opposing forces (light/dark, work/rest, giving/receiving), and affirming your intent to integrate them.

Feast of Spring

Celebrate with foods that honor fertility and growth — eggs, greens, seeds, fresh breads, and honey.

Bake a braided bread or seed cake as a symbol of weaving life together.

Modern Ideas for Celebrating Ostara

Create an altar with pastel candles, eggs, flowers, and seeds.

Take a walk in nature to observe signs of spring’s return.

Begin a new exercise, creative, or learning practice — planting “seeds” of growth in your personal life.

Make a flower crown or weave garlands of spring blossoms.

Practice gratitude journaling for what has emerged since Imbolc.

Closing Thought

Ostara is the festival of balance and awakening, where life stirs fully into bloom. It teaches us to honor harmony while embracing growth, to plant the seeds of what we wish to cultivate, and to trust the promise of abundance. By celebrating Ostara, we align ourselves with the fertile, renewing forces of both Earth and Spirit.