spring equinox...vernal equinox...eostre...ostara ~

i can hardly believe we are

welcoming march

http://www.shedrums.com/images/SheDrums/sdSpringEquinoxWorkshop08/Ostara%20winter.jpg

these past months have floated by

 and

now excitement stirs with the coming of warmth

surely it will be...

so in light of what is to come...
i thought i would pass along this

What Is It?

http://rlv.zcache.com/vernal_equinox_card-p137054828725387004qiae_400.jpg

Spring Equinox, also called the Vernal Equinox, is the first day of spring. On this day, which falls on March 20th, 2008, there are exactly 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. From this day on, the sun will continue to climb higher in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere, inching towards summer, and will sink lower in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere, inching towards winter.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/spring%20equinox/sky60038/c808.jpg

Eostre (pronounced E-ostra)

Eostre celebrates the return of spring and the balance between light and dark on, or around, the Spring Equinox. Eostre was the Pagan goddess of dawn, fertility and new beginnings.

Eostre, sometimes called Ostara, appears with a basket of eggs, accompanied by a rabbit.
The color green represents the new vegetation growing on the land, turning it green.

Did U Know?

Eostre gave a rabbit friend the power to lay eggs once a year
on the Spring Equinox

The eggs symbolized new beginnings

 and

the rabbit symbolized fertility.

In modern Russia,
eggs are still given as presents on the graves of ancestors in spring,

at the start of farming season.

Today we all look to the good ol' Easter Bunny to bring us colored eggs
and, more importantly, chocolate ones.
http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1921-spring-equinox

http://c2.api.ning.com/files/

Myths

It has been said that on the exact hour that winter turns to spring (around noon on the Spring Equinox), you are able to stand on an egg that is end-on-end without breaking it. Think that's crazy? Truth is, if you've got the balance and a flat enough surface, you can stand on an egg (end-on-end) any time of the year (just don't be surprised if it doesn't work the first time)!

http://media.photobucket.com/image/ostara%20egg/edubwife/Witchy%20Ways/120505589459708.jpg

Festival Symbols

Eggs represent new life and new potential,
thus they are often used as symbols of Spring festivals.
According to folklore, eggs easily balance on their ends during equinox. Eggs are often colored and covered with symbols that represent wisdom, strength, and fertility. Eggs are often given as gifts or charms to children or other loved ones during the festivals. Another symbol of the Spring festivals is seeds, which also represent new life. Eggs are representative of new animal life, and the seeds depict new plant life. An ancient custom involves the planting of seeds in baskets, then when the seeds sprout, the greens are tied with red ribbons and placed on the graves of the dead, symbolizing life conquering death. (The School of The Seasons Website.)

http://www.paleothea.com/Pictures/DemeterDD.jpg

Spring Has ArrivedSpring is officially at hand once the equinox has ended, despite any false starts that may have manifested earlier in the year. According to Pagan legend, the goddess Demeter is reunited with her daughter, Kore, who has been living in the underworld for the past six months. When Kore, whose name means essence of spring, returns to her mother's world, new growth is apparent in the fields, babies are born, and flowers begin to bloom. Other goddesses celebrated in the Spring are Astarte, Isis, Aphrodite, and Cybele.
http://paganismwicca.suite101.com/article.cfm/rituals_and_traditions_of_the_spring_equinox#ixzz0gvh55ZBV

~to remain hopeful for light & warmth will come~