Autumnal Equinox 2025: Mabon, Higan, East Asian Moon Festival, and Chuseok

For 2025, the Autumnal Equinox falls on Monday, September 22 (at least in the Northern Hemisphere). 

The Autumnal Equinox is a holiday in several traditions. In Wicca, neo-Druidic and neo-Pagan traditions, it is celebrated as Mabon, Alban Elfed or Mea'n Fo'mhair. 

In several East Asian Buddhist traditions, the Autumnal equinox is celebrated as the Moon Festival. In Japanese Buddhist tradition, it is celebrated as Shūbun no Hi 秋分の日,one of two Higan (お彼岸), the other being at the Spring Equinox. In Japan it is an official state holiday, but in keeping with the separation of state and religion in Japan, the official name is called Shūbun no hi (お彼岸) or Autumnal Equinox Day. For 2025, Japan observes Shūbun no Hi on Tuesday, September 23.

Several East Asian Buddhist traditions outside of Japan celebrate a Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival. This holiday is related to but separate from the actual Autumnal Equinox. In the Gregorian (secular) calendar, the date of the Mid-Autumnal Festival seems to vary. This is because the holiday comes on the 15th day of the 8th month of the East Asian/Chinese Lunar Calendar. In some years, the Mid-Autumn Festival can actually precede the lunar equinox, as was the case last year, when the Mid-Autumn Festival fell on September 17, 2024. In others years, the holiday can be much later than the actual Autumnal Equinox. This is the case this year when the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on October 6, 2025.  

The Mid-Autumn Festival is known as Zōngqiū Jié in Chinese and Tết Trung Thu in Vietnamese and, in a related but different holiday, in Korean as Chuseok (한가위) or "the Eve of Autumn." The holiday may run for three days, either officially or unofficially. The Korean Chuseok always runs three days, and in South Korea is recognized as an official national holiday, this year from October 5-7, 2025. In Hong Kong and Macao, the official public holiday is always the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, so October 7 for 2025. The reasoning here is that the main observances go into the night, therefore the day after is the best day to recover before returning to work. In the rest of China, the multi-day observance runs for 8 days, combining National Day (October 1) with the Mid-Autumn Festival period (October 6-8). Because the Moon Festival aligns with National Day, China has made this into a "Golden Week" from October 1-8, 2025.

While this is a significant holiday for all of  these faiths, it is not a day that would normally require the absence from class or work of faculty, staff or students. That said, those asking for accommodation should be allowed.

WICCAN, NEO-DRUIDIC AND NEO-PAGAN TRADITIONS

In neo-Druidic, neo-Pagan and Wiccan traditions, the Autumnal Equinox is viewed as a Major Sabbath. In all of these traditions, the holiday is celebrated as a harvest festival and as a time to recognize the balance in all things.  

A Wiccan Mabon altar

In all of these traditions, Autumn Equinox altars are set up that represent the balance of light and dark as well as the thankfulness for the harvest. Symbols of the balance of light and dark are placed on the altar (black and white objects of equal size and hanging balances). Symbols of the season on the altar typically reflect the fall colors (oranges, yellows and browns), the end of the harvest (sheaves of wheat, corn husks) and the bounty of the autumn harvest (squash, pumpkin, fall fruits). In some traditions (notably in Wicca), tools of the harvest (scythes and sickles) are also placed on the altar.  

MEA'N FO'MHAIR

Green Man of the Forest

For neo-Druids and some pagans, the Autumnal Equinox is celebrated as Mea'n Fo'mhair. In this tradition, neo-Druids gather in wooded areas and give offerings of the fall harvest (not only of berries but also of pine cones, acorns, apples and cider) to honor the Green Man of the Forest.   Such woodland harvest offerings are still practiced by neo-Druids and modern pagan (largely in England, Scotland and Ireland but with increasing practice in the US, Canada and New Zealand). 

ALBAN ELFED

In other neo-Pagan traditions (and notably in the Welsh tradition), the holiday has been known for centuries as Alban Elfed or the “Light of the Sun.” In this tradition, the same sort of offerings are proffered but to “The Lady” who is also called the “Spirit of the Land.”

MABON

In Wicca and neo-Pagan traditions the Autumnal Equinox is known as Mabon. This is one of the four Major Sabbats in the eight points of the Wheel of the Year. Mabon marks the time at which day and night are in total balance, and is accompanied by personal efforts of members of these faith to find a similar balance in their lives. 

Mabon is primarily a Wiccan name for the Autumnal Equinox. Other names used by Wiccans and others include the Harvest Moon  or the Harvest Home.  

Unlike the ancient names of Mea'n Fo'mhair and Alban Elfed, the Wiccan version of the holiday has been called Mabon only since the latter half of the 20th Century. Unlike many other Wiccan holidays, no corresponding name exists in ancient pagan traditions. Instead, the name was coined by the US Wiccan leader Aidan Kelley soon after the formation in 1967 of the NROOGD (New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn), one of the most important popularizers of the Wiccan faith.Kelley’s adoption of the name Mabon was to honor the early Welsh pagan divine son deity Mabon fab Mellt.

 CELEBRATION PRACTICES  

Both in ancient Druidic tradition and in modern neo-Druidic, pagan and Wiccan practice, offerings are often proffered in a horn of plenty called a cornucopia. As a result, Cornucopia is another name some practitioners use for the holiday. 

In Wicca, the holiday recognizes balance in all things. Mabon altars are set with symbols of balance as well as the autumn harvest.

It should be noted that while the name Mabon has been growing in popularity in the UK and Ireland, many neo-Druids strongly oppose the term as a neologism. As a result, while it would be appropriate to wish a Wiccan a “Happy Mabon,” this may not be as appreciated for some neo-Druids and modern pagans.

RELATIONSHIP TO CHRISTIANITY'S MICHAELMAS



Archangel Michael trampling Satan by Guido Reni (1636)

When Christianity first spread in the Celtic regions, the Roman Catholic Church attempted to syncretize existing pagan practices by co-opting the celebration of the Autumnal Equinox with a Christian overlay. 

To this end, the Church placed great emphasis on Michaelmas which, falling on September 29, came near the same time.  In this co-opting Catholic tradition, the Archangel Michael came to represent the power of light over darkness, an important attribute as the length of daylight began to shorten. 

Today, religious services honoring the Archangel Michael are still practiced in some Roman Catholic, Episcopalian and Lutheran congregations, especially in the United Kingdom. A folk custom still in evidence in the parts of the British Isles warns that it is unlucky to harvest blackberries after Michaelmas, as they have been cursed at that time by Lucifer.This custom that it is unlucky to harvest in the woods most likely has its origin in the woodland offerings of the autumnal harvest in pre-Christian Britain described above.

EAST ASIAN TRADITIONS 

In Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhist traditions, the Autumnal Equinox is celebrated as a significant festival, centered on the moon. It is sometimes called the Moon Festival as a result. In all of these cultures, while the origins may have grown out of Buddhism, the observance no longer remains tied only to Buddhists. 

In Korea, the holiday Chuseok occurs at the same time but has different origins, and is independent of direct association to Buddhism. 

Shūbun no Hi -- Higan

Higan is the Japanese celebration of the equinoxes. Higan is celebrated at both the Autumnal Equinox and the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. On both days, the holiday is an official public holiday in Japan. Buddhists of all major sects in Japan observe Higan. The Autumnal Equinox is Shūbun no Hi.

Emperor Shomu

The holiday has its origins with the institution of worship on that day by the 8th Century Japanese Emperor Shomu. The first official records of its celebration date to the year 806 CE when the government of Japan required all priests in Kokubun-ji temples to recite the Diamond Sutra at the Autumnal Equinox. Higan is also traditionally one of the days for the beginning of pilgrimages among the country's temples by the devout. 

Higan in Japanese literally means "the Other Shore." The term can refer to crossing to the other shore from the material world (i.e., to Enlightenment). The term can also refer to the transitory nature of the the material world (as all things are impermanent and must die, thus crossing to the other shore).

In Japan, Higan is traditionally a day for honoring the graves of the dead. The Guide to Japanese Buddhism of the Japanese Buddhist Federation explains:

During this period, it is customary for Buddhists throughout the country to visit temples and graves. They bring flowers, incense, water or their favorite food to be offered to the deceased and greet them with refreshed minds to report on their well-being.

Traditionally, Japanese Buddhists decorate the graves with the red spider lilies (lycoris radiata) whose Japanese name higanbana literally means "Higanflower."

​

Japanese higanbana

VIETNAMESE AND CHINESE MOON FESTIVAL

The Autumnal Equinox is celebrated as the Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinese and Vietnamese traditions. In both countries, the holiday is an official day off. Also in both cultures, the holiday dates back thousands of years. In 2025, the holiday comes on October 6,  after the true Autumnal equinox.

Vietnamese Moon Festival Lion Dancers

In Vietnam, the holiday is called Tết Trung Thu. The holiday focuses in large part on children, and has its origins in giving parents the opportunity to be with their children after long periods out of their company during the traditional harvest time. Because of this, the holiday is often called the "Children's Holiday" (Tết Thiếu Nhi).

Tết Trung Thu is the second most important in the year after Tet. Despite this, Vietnam does not officially observe this as a national holiday (although its observance is widespread).

In both Vietnam and China the holiday is particularly marked by the traditional Lion Dance with lion dancers going door to door asking to dance. These are often performed by children (especially in Vietnam) although professional lion dancers are a part of main events.

Chang-E's flight to the moon

In China, the holiday is known as Zōngqiū Jié. In Chinese tradition, the holiday has its origins in the tale of the mythical Chang-E who ate her husband's dangerous elixir to save him, and flew to the moon as a consequence where she became the moon goddess. As with Vietnamese traditions, the Moon Festival is tied to the Fall Harvest.

While the origins of the Chinese Moon Festival predates historical records, the first known observances go back to at least the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE).

In many Han Chinese traditions, sacrifices are made to the moon. In many Chinese ethnic minorities, unique customs are practiced. For example, among the Dong people, there is a custom of "stealing" harvested vegetables and fruit (this is, however, only symbolically stolen as these are set out for the purpose). The Bouyei people worship the Moon Grandmother, and bring rice cakes to her shrine. The Maonan people put incense in a hanging grapefruit, to represent the moon. Finally, in some Mongolian traditions, there are practices centered on chasing the moon. 

In all traditions, the festival celebrates the autumnal harvest. As the name Moon-Cake Festival suggests, it is customary to eat Moon Cakes at this time.



Vietnamese Banh trung thu

In Vietnam, Moon Cakes are called banh trung thu and are made up of ground beans, lotus and egg yolks. These are sold at street corners throughout Vietnam and made at home as well. A recipe for banh trung thu  can be found on the Viet World Kitchen site at:

http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/10/how-to-make-moon-cakes-banh-trung-thu.html

CHUSEOK

For Koreans, Chuseok is a major holiday. The holiday is celebrated much like the US Thanksgiving, with family gatherings and large meals. The holiday, however, has a more Confucianist aspect as well centered on three traditions: Charye (차레),  Beolcho (벌초), and Seongmyo (성묘).

Charye involves eating special foods that are set on one table for one's dead ancestors (called a Charyesang) and on another table for the living descendants who have gathered for the festival.

Charyesang

Traditionally, Koreans bow twice toward the table of the dead and once toward the elders among the living. This is no ordinary bow, though, but rather one in which those bowing kneel and then place their foreheads on the ground.  Generally during Charye, people choose a specific deceased ancestor to whom to pay particular respect. People write the name of the ancestor on a piece of special paper and burn it. After this, the window is opened for the spirits of the ancestors to join them.

The other two traditions take place at the graves of one's ancestors. Beolcho comes the day before Charye, and involves grass trimming, grave cleaning and clearing away of leaves or dirt. The day after Charye is when Seongmyo takes place. This involves bowing to the cleaned grave sites and honoring one's ancestors. 

CONCLUSION

As always in these write-ups, I welcome your feedback. This in no way endorses one practice or another. It is merely meant to be informational.

Please feel free to send me corrections or things you would like me to include next time (and feel equally free to let me know if you find these worthwhile). 

May you have a balance in your life on this Autumnal Equinox and a happy Moon Festival!

WANT TO READ MORE?

On Wiccan, neo-Pagan and neo-Druidic traditions:

Celtic Druid School, "Autumn Equinox": 
http://www.druidschool.com/site/1030100/page/874527

Crystal Links, "Autumn Equinox -- Mabon": http://www.crystalinks.com/autumn.html

Mabon 2023: A Witch's Guide to Embracing and Celebrating the Harvest," Moonfall Metaphysics, https://www.moonfallmetaphysical.com/s/stories/mabon-2023

Mystic Familiar, "Alban Elfed -- Autumn Equinox": http://www.mysticfamiliar.com/library/witchcraft/alban_lfed.html

Sagento A, Spell Research, "A Mabon Outline": http://spellresearch.com/spellbook/1993/10/12/a-mabon-outline.html

Wicca Chat, "Mabon": http://www.wicca-chat.com/witch_sabats/mabon.htm

Wiggington, Patti, About.com -- Paganism/Wicca, "All About Mabon, the Autumn Equinox": http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/a/AllAboutMabon.htm

On Higan

Japanese Buddhist Federation, Guide to Japanese Buddhism, "Major Japanese Buddhist Festivals":http://www.buddhanet.net/nippon/nippon_partII.html 

Zenku Smyers, Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago,  "The Other Shore": http://www.zbtc.org/downloads/zenku-othershore.html

Time and Date, "September Equinox Customs": http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/september-equinox-customs.html

On the Moon Festival

China Culture, About.com, "The Moon Festival": http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa093097.htm

Michael Tartaski, Holidaysia, "Tet Trung Thu 2013 – Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival": http://www.holidaysia.com/events/tet-trung-thu/

Passion Vietnam, "Full Moon (Mid-Autumn) Festival": http://www.passionvietnamtravel.com/en/nord-du-viet-nam/full-moon-mid-autumn-festival.html

Travel China Guide, "Mid-Autumn Festivals": http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/mid-autumn.htm

Fang Yang, Xinhua News Agency, "The Mid-Autumn Festival and Its Traditions": http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/culture/2011-09/12/c_131134150.htm

On Chuseok

Chuseok.org, "Chuseok 2020", https://www.chuseok.info/customs/

Imagine Your Korea, "Traditional Korean Holiday of Bountiful Harvest, Chuseok," https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=811650

CLIP ART SOURCES

Autumn equinox opening clip art: http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID22753/images/AutumnEquinox.jpg

A Wiccan Mabon altar: http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/p/MabonAltarDecs.htm

Green Man of the Forest: http://salemsmoon.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/greenman1_thumb.jpg?w=198&h=205

Mabon blessings: http://www.owlsdaughter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Mabon_Blessings_by_FullMoonArtists.jpg

Guido Reni's Archangel Michael Trampling Satan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guido_Reni_031.jpg

Emperor Shomu: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Emperor_Shomu.jpg/220px-Emperor_Shomu.jpg

Japanese Higanbana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoris_radiata

Vietnamese Moon Festival Lion Dancers: http://www.passionvietnamtravel.com/en/nord-du-viet-nam/full-moon-mid-autumn-festival.html

Chang-E's Flight to the Moon: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/The_Moon_Goddess_of_Chang%27e_%28Shi_Yu%29.jpg

Vietnamese banh trung thu :http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/10/how-to-make-moon-cakes-banh-trung-thu.html

Charyesang: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=811650

Ostara

Introduction

The Vernal Equinox, as explained below, has religious significance for several religions.  This overview about Ostara and is the first of two posts. 

The second post deals with the related holiday of the vernal equinox of Naw-Rúz (or Nowruz). You can read that post at

The holiday of Ostara falls on the vernal equinox, celebrated on March 19  in  2024 (in some years it is March 20) as a holiday in Wicca, Neo-Druidism and Neo-Paganism.  While most Wiccans and Neo-Pagans will still work or go to school, those asking to have time off for worship should be accommodated.     

In Wicca, Neo-Druidism and Neo-Paganism, the holiday is called Ostara and is a major holiday. In some neo-Pagan traditions, the holiday is also known as Alban Eilir or as Lady Day.

In Baha’i and Zoroastrianism (Parseeism), the vernal equinox marks the major holiday of Naw-Rúz. 

In Islam, in the Alawite Shiite tradition, Naw-Rúz is a minor holiday, as it is in the Sufi Islamic tradition of Betashism where it is called Sultan Nevruz  holiday.

Ostara in 2024 begins on Tuesday. March 19  coinciding with the vernal equinox.  

For the Baha’i and Zoroastrian (or Parsee) religions as well as Alawite, Alevi and Betashist Moslems, Naw-Rúz begins on March 19 at sunset and runs through sunset on March 20 or 21.

This overview about Ostara and is the first of two posts. The second post deals with the related holiday of the vernal equinox of Naw-Rúz. You can read that post at https://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2024/03/naw-ruz-nowruz-newruz-bahai-zoroastrian.html
 

What Is Ostara?

The vernal equinox is the time of year when the day and night are equally balanced. For Wicca and Neo-Paganism, this makes Ostara one of the four Lesser Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year. Lesser Sabbats relate to cycle of the sun while Greater Sabbats deal with the cycle of the moon.

In Wicca and Neo-Paganism, both equinoxes are times of balance and peacefulness. In addition, the vernal equinox celebrates the coming of Spring and is viewed as a time of rebirth and renewal both of nature and of the spirit.



Goddess Ostara
by Johannes Gehrts

 What's In A Name?

Considerable debate exists among branches within Wicca and, especially, among Neo-Pagans for the name of the holiday. In all of these traditions, the term “Vernal Equinox” is acceptable.

For some Wiccans and neo-Pagans, the formal name for the holiday is Ostara (alternatively spelled Eostara).  The name derives from Eostre, the pre-Christian European goddess of the moon (in some traditions of the dawn) and the main goddess of feminine attributes. Oestre takes her name from the Greek οἶστρος (technically speaking meaning a biting fly but in referring to sexual desire). The ancient Germanic tribes adapted this into the name Ostara.

It should be noted that other neo-Pagans and some Wiccans disapprove of calling the holiday Ostara. As the Wicca 101 website explains:

The point here, though, is not that one or the other tradition is correct or incorrect but rather that differences of opinion among traditions exist

some Pagan traditions began referring to the Vernal Equinox as Oestara. Historically, this is incorrect. Oestara is a lunar holiday, honoring a lunar Goddess, at the Vernal Full Moon. Hence, the name "Oestara" is best reserved to the nearest Esbat, rather than the Sabbat itself.

Ostara's Connection to Easter and May Day

Fraya amulet
6th Century CE, Sweden

Ostara long predates Easter. Indeed, in Biblical times, Easter was never celebrated as a holiday. The first known celebration of Easter did not take place until the middle of the 2nd Century when Melito, the Bishop of Sardis,  mentioned in a sermon that people in Sardis held a celebration of Christ's resurrection around the time of the Jewish Passover. What that celebration was remains unclear.

We do know that in what is now Germany and Britain, people observed with reverence the vernal equinox. Those observances, however, did not constitute a formal holiday with special rites. Instead, the vernal equinox represented the beginning of Spring, and it was the coming of the season that was actually celebrated through the worship in various forms of the fertility goddess Ostara. In Norse mythology, the coming of spring was associated with the fertility goddess Fraya in similar fashion. 

Much more formalized worship took place for the holiday of  Naw-Rúz  that falls on the first day of the vernal equinox. This was not a pagan holiday as Ostara was, but rather the worship of the Zoroastrians (Parsees) who lived in the areas that once had been the Persian Empire. People celebrated Naw-Rúz  from as far east Afghanistan to as far west as Greece, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean coast and islands, including the areas in which the apostles and other early Christian missionaries preached. As discussed in the blog on Naw-Rúz, the Church consciously repurposed many of the traditions of  Naw-Rúz to coincide with Easter (for example, the tradition of the Easter Egg in place of the Naw-Rúz  Egg, etc.).

In both Ostara and Naw-Rúz , considerable symbolism rests on the victory of light over darkness as the days grow longer and longer. The Church was easily able to repurpose to symbolize Jesus (as the Light) over death (darkness).

The Church in the Germanic lands and Britain simply repurposed Ostara worship at the vernal equinox into Easter traditions. For example, it is from both Ostara worship in Germany and Britain and in Fraya worship in Norse mythology,  that we get the Easter Bunny. Because of their extreme fertility, hares are associated with the Norse goddess Fraya and rabbits are seen as symbols of fecundity and, therefore,  the season of rebirth associated with Ostara.  In time, the Persian tradition of the Naw-Rúz egg became mixed with the rabbit tradition and the Easter Bunny brought eggs.

Erecting the May Pole
Furth-in-Wald, Germany

Other rites associated with these earlier traditions were repurposed by the Church not to Easter but to the folk customs of May Day. For example, in both Germanic Ostara rites and the rites associated with the Zoroastrian  Naw-Rúz, bonfires were lit (or in the case of the latter, still are lit).

In Norse mythology, tree worship surrounded rites of the season (each species of tree had its own diety associated with it). We see these still in northern European May Day bonfires. Similarly, the male principle associated with this comes in the raising of the May Pole (in German, Maibaum -- literally May Tree).

Etymological Ties of the Word Ostara

Etymologically, the name Ostara or Eostara can be seen in modern English in the word estrus (when female livestock were under the influence of Eostre and, therefore, in heat) and estrogen (in British English oestrogen, the primary female hormone).

It is also the source of the name of the holiday Easter in English and in German (Ostern). Indeed, in Old English, the name of the pagan goddess and the Christian holiday are identical:  Ēostre.

It may be worth noting that in Greek, the name for Easter – Πάσχα (Paskha) – derives not from the pagan goddess but from the Aramaic. In Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, Easter is פֶּסחא‎ Pasḥa, which itself is derived from the Hebrew פֶּסַח‎ Pesaḥ -- the name Judaism still uses for the first two nights of Passover (as the Last Supper was Jesus’ Pesaḥ meal). In Latin, all Latin-based languages (French, Spanish, Italian, Romanian, Portuguese, Catalan) and several other languages (Danish, Welsh, Gaelic, Russian, Khazakh, Finnish), the name for Easter is derived from the Greek. For more on the Christian holiday of Easter, please see my blog post at

http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-and-pascha.html

Alban Eilir

In the pre-Christian Celtic tradition, the vernal equinox was called Alban Eilir (Welsh for “Light of the Spring”). This is the name still used for the holiday in modern druidic traditions, primarily in Wales as well as some others elsewhere in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Lady Day

Some Wiccans and Neo-Pagans use the phrase “Lady Day” to refer to the holiday. This is meant to honor the feminine principle — the Goddess – inherent in the fertility of the spring season.  This is also arguably a repurposing of the Roman Catholic Feast Day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin (also called “Our Lady’s Day”) which falls on March 25. It should be noted that some neo-Pagan traditions historically celebrated their own Lady Day on March 25 to avoid persecution or heresy charges by aligning with the surrounding Roman Catholic holiday. In some neo-Pagan, Lady Day is still observed on March 25 as a result. 

Ostara Observance

Wiccans and Neo-Pagans alike generally observe Ostara through worship of the Goddess or Feminine Force. In some traditions, this involves a formal ceremony, often in the woods. For many other traditions, this is done in a more informal manner through communing with nature, especially through walking through the woods and, in many traditions, the ritual planting of an herb garden.

Lingam painting

Many Neo-Pagans have traditions involving the lingam (the egg) including decorating eggs and lingam hunts for children. This is a tradition that predates and is (along with the Zoroastrian practice) the origin of the Christian tradition of the Easter egg.

 Ostara altar

At home, Wiccans and many Neo-Pagans set up an Ostara Altar. This usually includes spring flowers. These are often live flowers in pots that are later planted in gardens at the end of the holiday (although many people do use cut flowers as well).

Ostara altar

Most altars include symbols of animals giving birth. To symbolize the birth of birds, people place a basket of eggs on the altar. To symbolize the birth of mammals,  a chalice of milk is set on the altar (since mammals who have just given birth began to lactate). Often the milk is mixed with honey since honey represents abundance. Some traditions include special crystals such as moonstone, associated with Oestre. On some altars, worshipers light a candle or set a brazier with an open flame, as fire represents the coming season of light. 

Recognizing Ostara as a time for new beginnings, many Wiccans and Neo-Pagans make commitments to undertake something new. This is done in much the same manner that people in a secular setting make commitments New Year's Resolutions on January 1. Ostara adds a spiritual foundation to such resolutions as starting on a new exercise regimen or quitting smoking.

Because the vernal equinox is a time of complete balance, some Wiccans and Neo-Pagans use symmetrical decorations. These include things such as a black and a white candle or a black and white stone to represent the balance of light and dark. Ladybugs and other animals with symmetrical patterns are sometimes used as decorations, and so on.

Conclusion

As with all of my posts on religion, this piece is meant only as a general source of information. Since the traditions for Ostara are so varied, please be aware that many, many different rites and practices exist that I have not mentioned here.

Please also note that much more on Naw-Rúz  is explained on the Naw-Rúz  post that will go up later this week.  Finally, much more information on Easter will appear closer to Easter.

Blessed Ostara!

Want to Know More?

About.com, "Setting Up Your Ostara Altar," http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/ostarathespringequinox/p/OstaraAltar.htm

Kristina Benson (2008), Wiccan Holidays: A Celebration of the Wicca Year.

“Celebrating Ostara: The Spring Equinox,” The Wiccan Life, http://thewiccalife.blogspot.com/2011/01/celebrating-ostara-spring-equinox_23.html

Carole Cusack (2007), “The Goddess Eostre: Bede’s Text and Contemporary Pagan Traditions,” Pomegranate, 9:1, pp. 22-40.

Tom Fish (May 21, 2019), "Spring Equinox Traditions: What is Ostara? History of Ostara and the Spring Equinox," Express UK.com, https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/1102690/spring-equinox-traditions-ostara-history-pagan-vernal-equinox-2019

"How to Celebrate Ostara" (December 20, 2019 [last update]), WikiHow, https://www.wikihow.com/Celebrate-Ostara

“Lady Day: The Vernal Equinox,” Wicca 101, http://www.unc.edu/~reddeer/holydays/00_ladyday.html

Edain McCoy (2002), Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring.

Ashleen O’Gaeo (2004), Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Samhain to Ostara.

Rowan Pendragon, "Blessed Ostara!" One Witch's Way: http://onewitchsway.com/2010/03/blessed-ostara/

Leo Ruickbie, “Spring Equinox (Eostre/Ostara), Witchology: The History of Wicca and Witchcraft, http://www.witchology.com/contents/march/ostara.php

Patti Wigington (Jan. 4, 2020), "History of Ostara, The Spring Equinox," Learn Religions.com,  https://www.learnreligions.com/history-of-ostara-the-spring-equinox-2562485https://www.learnreligions.com/history-of-ostara-the-spring-equinox-2562485

Mackenzie Sage Wright (March 12, 2020), "Wiccan Holidays: What Is Ostara?" Exemplore, https://exemplore.com/wicca-witchcraft/Wiccan-Holidays-What-is-Ostara

Clip Art Sources

Opening Blessed Ostara egg: http://spiritblogger.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/spirit-message-of-the-day-ostara-the-spring-equinox-2010/

Goddess Ostara illustration by Johannes Gehrts: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Ostara_by_Johannes_Gehrts.jpg/220px-Ostara_by_Johannes_Gehrts.jpg

6th Century Fraya amulet: http://www.goddessgift.net/images/freya-norse-statue-SS-NFR.jpg

Ostara with rabbit by Helen Nelson Reed: http://evagordon.blogspot.com/2011/05/full-moon-interview-with-domesticated.html?zx=8321f03afb7aa742

May Pole erection in Germany: http://www.pastritztaler.de/maibaum.html

Ostara altar 1: http://onewitchsway.com/2010/03/blessed-ostara/

Lingam painting: https://www.wikihow.com/Celebrate-Ostara

Ostara altar 2: http://0.tqn.com/d/paganwiccan/1/7/u/8/-/-/IsadoraOstaraAltar.jpg

Blessed Ostara closing image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAcKWjVMvEwCrVaeitMXfZXKFS4Ls88vC9X2vSxrADE0LSBWBmpzEDKtMXidpKl3wZe9mFrZPJumfN9z4zaAt235Zb4imKB5VJrIi3ypXFWgG-gAIXlhvFI5ayDkAWJA2I9eX4aY7WbSM/s1600/ostara3.jpg