Ostara heralds the arrival of spring at the equinox, which falls between March 19-21 in the northern hemisphere, depending on the year.
The crocuses and daffodils add pops of color to the brown landscape slowly transforming back to green. Tree leaves are budding, rabbits and squirrels are foraging, birds are migrating back, and the days are getting noticeably longer. Spring is in the air… but Ostara is when the shift between seasons becomes official.
This year, Ostara is on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
In this article, we’ll explore Ostara’s significance, traditions and rituals, tips for your altar, easy recipes to try at home, and more.
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What is the Spring Equinox?
As you know, the amount of daylight changes throughout the year as the Earth revolves around the sun on its tilted axis. During the dark half of the year, the nights are longer than the days, while during the light half, daylight exceeds the darkness. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year; the summer solstice is the longest.
During the equinox, the day and night are equal. This happens twice a year — once in March when we celebrate Ostara and once in September when we celebrate Mabon. The term “equinox” comes from the Latin words “aequus” (equal) and “nox” (night).
According to EarthSky:
Due to Earth’s tilt, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres trade places in receiving the sun’s light and warmth most directly. The solstices indicate our greatest (or least) tilt toward the sun, in either hemisphere. The equinoxes fall midway between the solstices.
Our ancestors relied on a natural calendar by utilizing measurements such as the lunar cycle, equinoxes, and solstices.
What is Ostara? Why We Celebrate the Second Sabbat
Symbolically, the equinox is a time of harmony and balance between the dark and the light. When we celebrate Ostara, we’re welcoming the pivotal transition between seasons (winter and spring), but perhaps even more notably, we’re greeting the sun as we officially enter the light half of the year.
Ostara is the second Sabbat in the Wheel of the Year, between Imbolc and Beltane. Those who follow the Wheel celebrate eight Sabbats throughout the year. The Greater Sabbats (Ostara, Litha, Mabon, and Yule) are solar-based festivals honoring the spring equinox, summer solstice, fall equinox, and winter solstice respectively. The Lesser Sabbats (Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas, and Samhain) are interspersed between the Greater Sabbats and trace their origins back to ancient Celtic traditions.
Although many Wiccans, Pagans, and witches plan their Ostara celebrations around the equinox, some choose to move their spring ceremonies to the day they plant the garden or the first day that feels like spring, depending on the weather in their region.
Since the celebration is based on the season, it isn’t necessarily tied to the calendar. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating Ostara on a different day rather than the equinox.
History & Origins of Ostara
Not much is known about the earliest Ostara celebrations. The festival was mainly Germanic in honor of the Goddess of the spring and the dawn, Eostre (whose name has had many variations through the ages). The first writings about Ostara come from the Venerable Bede in the eighth century.
Many religions recognize this time of rebirth and honor deities who have been resurrected, including Jesus (Christians), Mithras & Attis (Romans), Dionysus (Greeks), Osiris (Egyptians), Freya (Norse), Tammuz (Babylonians), Inanna (Sumerians), among others, including Eostre. Maiden goddesses, as well as deities associated with fertility, nature, and agriculture, are often worshiped during this time.
Christians celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, relying on both the solar (equinox) and lunar (full moon) calendars for their religious holiday. But ancient civilizations have been honoring the equinox long before Christians adapted the idea of rebirth to their faith.
Atheistic Ostara celebrations honor the planting season; the reawakening of the Earth after a cold winter; the longer, warmer days with fair weather; and the return of life. Although the season has historically often been represented by a deity, religious worship is not necessary. Ostara can be celebrated by anyone of any faith.
Tips to Decorate the Ostara Altar: Colors, Symbols, & Crystals
Ostara’s predominant colors are commonly associated with springtime decorations, including:
- Robin-egg blue
- Pale yellow
- Pink
- Lavender
- Bright, grassy greens
Ostara is associated with fertility, as symbolized in seeds, eggs, and rabbits. Other symbols of Ostara include flowers, buds, grass, and the sun, especially sunrises. Any of these symbols and elements would make a great addition to the altar. Some people like to add soft, delicate touches such as lace or woven baskets.
If you’re looking for the best crystals to channel the energy of Ostara, the same types of crystals that work well for the Worm Moon (which usually appears near the Second Sabbat) would suit your Ostara altar:
- Labradorite – connect with the psyche, dreams, creative muses, spiritual awakening
- Amethyst – spiritual protection, insight, self-reflection, shadow work
- Moss Agate – restoration, healing, rebirth, a connection with earth and plants
- Black Tourmaline – strength, stabilization, grounding, alleviating fear (onyx and obsidian are also good alternatives)
- Selenite – purification, cleansing, protection, a symbol of light, ties to the moon
- Moonstone – new beginnings, fertility, intuition, lunar/feminine energy
- Sunstone – light, life, energy, luck, prosperity, empowerment
- Carnelian – connected to the element of fire and the sacred flame
- Clear quartz – healing, peace, cleansing the mind and aura, divination
- Rose Quartz – love, friendship, romance, self-love
- Rhodonite – “stone of love,” passion, fertility, grounding energy, healing emotional scars
Fire is a powerful element that is frequently used in Wheel of the Year celebrations. Candles are always an excellent adornment for the altar, especially in the spring when they represent the sun and the longer days ahead. Check out my earlier post on how to choose the right candle color for your intentions.
I always recommend supporting small, local businesses in your area, but if you’re shopping for candles online, here are three of my top recs:
Hemlock Park crafts beautiful aromatherapy candles and spa packages, handcrafted with natural ingredients. They offer crystal candles and organic coconut wax candles with wood wicks. But here’s why I love this company — they partnered with One Tree Planted to focus on reforestation. A tree is planted for every order placed.
Mama Wunderbar quickly became a favorite for me! Although they have a greater selection of crystals, smoke-cleansing (smudging) bundles, and jewelry, they do have a limited but beautiful candle section, including crystal candles, ritual candles, moon phase candles, and intention candles. When you order from Mama Wunderbar, you can count on everything being all-natural, high quality, and sustainably grown and harvested in the United States. It’s a great one-stop shop for your online spiritual needs!
Old Soul Artisan creates handcrafted candles inspired by folklore, literature, and the dark psyche. Their 100% vegan soy candles are hand-blended in small batches and contain no dyes, parabens, phthalates, or other toxins. Another reason to love this company — Old Soul Artisan donates part of its profits to wolf conservation.
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Ostara Rituals & Traditions
I had mentioned fire being an important element for Wheel of the Year festivals. If you’re able to (and the weather is cooperating), what better way to ring in spring than with a bonfire to celebrate the sun?
Spring cleaning might seem like a mundane chore, but you can make it a meaningful part of your Ostara celebration. Hibernation often leads to clutter, so making a mindful effort to revitalize and clean your space can have a profoundly therapeutic effect on your psyche. Spice up your cleaning routine with music and dancing if that helps turn the chore into a positive experience!
Decorating eggs is a great Ostara ritual, especially for little ones. Eggs are a symbol of spring and fertility, and decorating them for the season is a long-practiced custom. Other forms of creativity, such as music, art, and writing, are encouraged.
Prepare the garden. This might include starting seeds (either indoors or out), tilling up the land, clearing dead leaves and plant matter from garden beds, transplanting early seedlings, etc. However, don’t start this activity too soon! Queen bees and other insects may still be hibernating in the leaf litter. It’s best to wait until after the threat of frost has passed before you start cleaning the garden and landscape beds.
Decorate your home with the symbols and colors of Ostara. Pick spring flowers and arrange them in vases to brighten up a room. Find new and creative ways to bring spring into your home.
Make flower crowns with the blossoms that are available in your area. This is a fun, relaxing activity that’s great to get kids involved with a new spring tradition. However, remember the pollinators when you’re harvesting; be mindful of how much you take, especially if the trees aren’t flowering yet.
Don’t forget some self-love. You’re coming out of hibernation, too… treat yourself to a relaxing bath, a walk in nature, or other activities that bring you peace. We’re all entering a frenzied period of chaotic energy and growth now that spring is officially here. It’s easy to be consumed by that hyperactivity.
Meditate on your aspirations. What do you hope to accomplish this year? Think of your goals as you do your garden. This is the time to start planning, planting, and nurturing those goals into fruition. You might consult tarot/oracle cards for some extra guidance.
Psst… need to stock up on seeds? Check out SeedsNOW for organic, non-GMO seeds to start your healthy garden. Short on gardening space? The Garden Tower Project is a vertical gardening solution that composts waste to feed your plants.
Simple Ostara Recipes
The Sabbats are often celebrated with community feasts or shared meals between friends and family, although it’s perfectly acceptable to cook something special for yourself and celebrate solo. Any dish that utilizes local, in-season ingredients is worthy of your Ostara meal.
Below are a few simple recipes to celebrate Ostara:
DEVILLED EGGS
6 eggs (preferably organic free-range)
3 tbsp mayonnaise
1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
2 tbsp chives (finely chopped)
Salt, pepper, paprika
Tabasco (optional for spice)
1. Hard boil the eggs between 9-15 minutes, depending on how large the eggs are.
2. Once the eggs have cooled, remove the shells, cut the eggs in half long-ways, and scoop the yolks out.
3. Mash the yolks with the mayo, vinegar, mustard, and chives. Salt and pepper to taste. If you prefer a little spicy kick, add a dash of tabasco.
4. Scoop or pipe the mixture back into the hardboiled egg whites and sprinkle paprika on top for color. Enjoy!
VARENEKY (DUMPLINGS)
2 c flour
1 c milk
1 egg (preferably organic free-range)
1 tsp vegetable oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 lb shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tbsp chives (finely chopped)
2 c mashed potatoes
1. Heat 3 qts water and 1 tbsp salt in a large pan.
2. Mix flour, egg, salt, milk, and vegetable oil until you have a sticky dough, then roll the dough out on a floured cutting board and cut into circles.
3. Combine the shredded cheese, chives, and mashed potatoes into a filling, then place in the centers of the dough with 1-2 tbsp of the filling per dough circle.
4. Wet the edges of the dough and fold in half, then pinch them together to seal.
5. Boil for 10 minutes, then remove, drain, and fry in butter until brown. Enjoy!
SAUTÉED HOSTA SPROUTS
Did you know that hostas are edible? You can harvest the early sprouts and cook them up in many different ways just like you would with other green veggies like asparagus! My favorite way to enjoy hostas is to sautée them in butter and olive oil with chopped mushrooms and onions. Read more for creative ways to bake, roast, grill, and enjoy delicious hosta sprouts this spring!
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Have Fun!
However you choose to celebrate Ostara, there is no “right way” or “wrong way.” Choose the practices that best apply to you and make them your new tradition with your own personal spin.
Award-winning fantasy author, freelance writer, spiritual explorer, and sole founder of Green Witch Lunar Witch. She created her first website in 2016 and published her first novel two years later. Sara spends most of her time writing, creating, and daydreaming.