happy ostara
Mar. 20th, 2011 08:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_rose
~Magickal Graphics~
Ostara is the Spring or Vernal equinox when days and nights are once again equal in length. It is a time of renewal and rebirth. The name Ostara is believed to be derived from Eostre - the Teutonic lunar Goddess. Her chief symbols are the hare, which represents fertility and the egg, which is a symbol of rebirth.
Correspondences: green, yellow, white, eggs, hares, spring cleaning, balance, light/dark, daffodils, lambs, honey, aquamarine
You can read about world festivals relating to Ostara in particular and Springtime in general here
ETA: In the Southern Hemisphere, it is Mabon that this being celebrated today at the time, still the balance of daylight but going in the opposite direction; winter is drawing on, rather than summer.
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Date: 2011-03-20 10:51 pm (UTC)Mabon is the Autumnal Equinox; Litha is the Summer Solstice [longest day] and Yule the Winter Solstice [shortest day]. Beltaine, Imbolc, Samhain and Lammas are the 'cross-quarter' days which are roughly between the other festivals and considered more traditional, marking important farming calendar dates, than the astronomical equinox/solstice dates.
I'm thinking I should put up a post with the Wheel of the Year showing all eight festivals for anyone who is interested; a nice project for between now and Beltaine [Mayday] :D