Also known as the Spring Equinox, Ostara typically falls between March 20 and 23, and is an ideal opportunity to embrace the balance of light and dark as nature awakens from its winter slumber.
Embracing the themes of Ostara can mean engaging in activities that honor the fertile earth and burgeoning life. It’s a perfect occasion to plant seeds—both literal and metaphorical—as you set intentions for what you’d like to grow in your life during the coming months.
Rituals and practices to honour Ostara
Ostara is an opportunity for you to set intentions, celebrate rebirth, and reflect on the concept of renewal in your own life. Your celebration can include setting up a special altar, decorating eggs, and immersing yourself in nature-inspired activities to honor the season.
Set up an Ostara altar
Creating an Ostara altar is a central practice for welcoming the beginning of spring. Start by choosing symbols of new life such as seeds or spring flowers to adorn your sacred space. Including a statue or image of the goddess associated with the festival can serve as a focal point for your ritual intentions. Candles in pastel shades will not only brighten your altar but also represent the sunlight returning to warm the earth.
Decorate eggs
Decorate eggs as a way to infuse your Ostara celebration with color and creativity! The humble egg is a powerful symbol of fertility and abundance, perfect for this time of year. You can dye eggs in vibrant colors or paint them with symbols that reflect your personal intentions for the season. Consider using natural dyes from plants such as beetroot or turmeric to stay connected with nature.
Explore nature-inspired activities
Embrace nature by planting new seeds or beginning a garden, which are tangible expressions of birth and renewal. Take a mindful walk in a natural setting, observing the budding plants and blooming flowers. This can be both a meditative practice and a way to celebrate the life-giving aspects of the Earth.
You can also prepare egg-based dishes to ground your Ostara ritual and celebrate the nourishment of the Earth.
Seasonal activities and crafts to celebrate Ostara
As the earth reawakens, bringing with it the promise of warmer weather and fresh air, you can honor this time of renewal with creativity and growth. The following subsections will guide you through enriching crafting ideas and ways to contribute to the natural world by planting new life this season.
Spring crafting ideas
Elevate your home and spirit with hands-on spring crafting. Start by creating season-inspired decorations to capture the essence of Ostara. You could:
- Flower Crown: Create a beautiful flower crown using fresh or artificial flowers, perfect for embracing the essence of springtime.
- Seed Bombs: Make seed bombs by combining clay, soil, and wildflower seeds to spread beauty and encourage bee and butterfly habitats.
- Upcycled Bird Feeder: Repurpose household items such as milk cartons or tin cans to create unique bird feeders, promoting sustainability while attracting feathered visitors.
- Nature Scavenger Hunt: Organize a nature scavenger hunt for kids or adults to explore the outdoors, appreciate the beauty of spring, and connect with the natural world.
Garden and planting ideas
Your garden is a reflection of the renewal happening all around. Here’s how you can contribute:
- Prepare your garden beds, clearing any debris from the past months, and making way for new growth.
- Plant seeds of spring flowers, or summer bulbs to enjoy later in the year.
- If space is tight, create a space-saving vertical herb garden using hanging planters or a wall-mounted herb garden.
- Focus on pollinating plants, such as lavender, coneflowers, and lemon balm to attract and support pollinators like bees and butterflies, contributing to a thriving ecosystem.No outside space? Create a succulent terrarium in a glass container, requiring minimal maintenance and adding a touch of greenery to any indoor space.
Festive foods and gatherings
Celebrating Ostara is all about embracing the freshness of spring and the balance that it brings. You can mark this joyous occasion by preparing dishes that are bright and full of life, symbolic of the warmth and promise of the coming months.
Fresh beginnings with eggs
Eggs are symbolic of new beginnings and life. A perfect dish to honor this is an egg salad, seasoned with fresh herbs from your garden. Not only do hard-boiled eggs embody the essence of the Spring Equinox (and the rebirth of the Sun) but they are also a fresh and light option for your celebration.
Sweet touch with hot cross buns
As the sunlight grows stronger, incorporate its warmth into your food with hot cross buns, a spiced sweet bun that’s perfect with a hot cup of tea. Traditionally forming part of the Christian celebration, the cross also symbolizes the balance of the equinox.
Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies
Infuse classic shortbread cookies with the bright citrus flavors of lemon and fragrant lavender to symbolize the fresh, floral essence of Ostara. Spring festivals are never complete without baked goods!
Celebrate in Community
Honor the transition from darkness to light by creating a communal space, perhaps a picnic or a tea party, where you can enjoy the celebrate Ostara company of others. In these next few months, as the world awakens, there’s no better way to celebrate than together, enjoying the simple pleasures of food and friendship.
