Spring Equinox

Usually, the Spring Equinox is around the 21st but this year it falls on the 19th  because of leap year. It is sometimes called the Vernal Equinox. While the Solstices result in a change in the length of night and day while the Equinoxes result in an equal amount of day and night which is approximately 12 hours each.

Equinox in Latin is “aequus” meaning equal and ”nox” meaning night.

The Spring Equinox represents Spring and new beginnings. It also represents balance, fertility, rebirth, and renewal. Its symbols are spring flowers, fairies, butterflies, rabbits, and eggs. Its colors are pastel like yellow, oranges, lavenders, and greens.

Life can be very stressful to our mind, body, and spirit so go enjoy the Spring air, plant some seeds, try some spring cleaning, go for a walk, or just try something new.

One year we hard boiled some eggs and during the ritual we had everyone use a white crayon and write a message on them. Everyone then put the eggs back into the basket. Next everyone picked an egg and dipped it into some dyes we had on the side alter. They then received their message and was to take it home and eat it.

In my research I found a few traditions that you might like to try:

                Marzipan eggs are from India, and it is a combination of ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites which are baked and decorated to look like eggs.

                In Bessieres, France they make a giant omelet that is enough to feed everyone in the village.

                Cascarones are confetti filled eggs from Mexico. The eggs are hollowed out, decorated with tissue paper, and filled with confetti. Break one over someone’s head for good luck.

                Washi eggs are decorated with paper in Japan.

                In Argentina they make a giant chocolate egg.

                Holi known as the festival of colors takes place in India and Nepal. With lots of music they throw colored powder at each other during these 2 days festival for fertility, colors, love, and triumph of good over evil.

The Dionysus festival was one of the most important events of the year in ancient Greece. Dionysus, god of fertility, wine, theater, and rebirth, was honored every spring with feasts, drinking, and general over-the-top merrymaking. Most Greek plays were written to be performed at the spring feast of Dionysus, and all participants including the writers, actors, and spectators, were regarded as sacred servants of the god during the festival.

In Thailand, every spring equinox finds the locals reaching for their cannon-sized water guns, buckets, pressure hoses, or any other creative way to drench their neighbors in water. Based on the Sanskrit word for “astrological passage,” Songkran is the traditional

Thai New Year, and more widely known as the spring water festival. Festivities last for days and involve going to a Buddhist monastery, visiting elders, dancing in the streets to loud music, and, of course, throwing copious amounts of water at each other.

One story of the tradition of hiding eggs was organized by Martin Luther in the 16th century. The men would hide the eggs and the women and children would find them. This was a nod to the story of the resurrection in which the empty tomb was discovered by women.

Some also say that hiding eggs are from the Anglo-Saxon festivals, which took place in the spring, to celebrate the Goddess Eostre. Some say that this festival was adopted by Christian missionaries to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, as way of encourage conversation.

European candy manufacturers began to make egg-shaped chocolate and candies in the 19th century and the first egg roll at the White House was held in 1878.