Embracing Ostara: A Guide to Celebrating the Spring Equinox

As winter fades away and the days grow longer and brighter, I can feel the shift in the English Countryside. Nature is gently awakening from a long, gray slumber, announcing the arrival of Spring and gracing us with the first colourful flowers and blue skies. And with it comes Ostara, the Spring Equinox, a time of balance, renewal, and celebration.

What is Ostara/Spring Equinox?

Rooted in ancient Celtic and Germanic traditions and folklore, Ostara marks the moment when day and night are equal in length, symbolising the perfect balance between light and darkness. It's a time to honour the return of warmth, growth, and vitality to the earth after the dormancy of Winter. From this point on, the days will be longer than nights, and each day, the nightfall will be coming later until we reach Summer Solstice (Litha) - the longest day and the shortest night of the year.

Why Celebrate Ostara and The Wheel of The Year?

In today's fast-paced world, celebrating The Wheel Of The Year and its solar and seasonal festivals give us a chance to slow down and reconnect with the rhythms of nature. It’s about tuning in with the seasons, embracing a more intentional way of living, finding peace and joy in the natural world. Allowing nature to guide us, as it guided humans for thousands of years. Seasonal living encourages us to be mindful of the changes happening around us and to find harmony in our connection with nature.

How to Celebrate Ostara

One of the best ways to embrace Ostara is seasonal living – aligning our activities and rituals with the natural cycles of the earth. Ostara marks the beginning of Spring, so its celebration could involve:

• - Setting intentions for Spring and the rest of the year
• - Sowing seeds in the garden
• - Decorating your home
• - Lighting an Ostara candle to honour the sun
• - Taking walks in the countryside
• - Spring cleaning/decluttering
• - Preparing meals with seasonal ingredients

Ostara Decor, Foods and Symbols

Celebrating Ostara doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. It can be as simple as decorating your home with fresh flowers, spring candles, and Easter decorations. It's a lovely idea to DIY decor using materials found in nature, such as blooming branches, feathers, or freshly picked herbs.

Popular decorations for Ostara include:

• Eggs
• Hares, Chicks, Lambs
• Colourful ribbons
• Daffodils, Pussy Willow, Crocus
• Candles to honour the sun including our Ostara Candle
• Pastel colors: yellow, green, white, purple, pink
• YR Studio's candles from our Spring Collection

Traditional foods for Ostara celebrations include:

• Hot Cross Buns
• Eggs
• Milk
• Seeds
• Leafy greens

Above all, Ostara or Spring Equinox invites us to embrace the art of slow living – to savour each moment, be grateful for the blessings of the season, and deepen our connection with the natural world. Whether it’s through gardening, cooking, nature walks, or simply enjoying the warmth of the Spring sun, We should celebrate this time of the years with open hearts and minds as we honour the timeless cycles of life that shape our world.

Adriana x