How to Celebrate Ostara
Ostara celebrates the arrival of spring and the balance between light and dark during the spring equinox, typically around March 20th or 21st in the northern hemisphere (September 20th or 21st in the southern hemisphere). A traditional pagan festival, t is one of the eight sabbats in the Wheel of the Year. Ostara is named after the goddess Eostre, who is associated with fertility, renewal, and dawn. The holiday marks the time when day and night are of equal length, symbolizing balance, and its spring date celebrates new beginnings and the fertility of the land as it awakens from winter.
Many Ostara celebrations include egg decorating, planting seeds, and lighting candles to honor the return of the sun’s warmth. It is a great time to perform rituals or meditations focused on setting intentions for the coming months, embracing personal growth, and expressing gratitude for balance and the cycles of nature.
Let’s take a look at some of the way you could celebrate this Ostara!
Decorate Eggs
One of the most popular ways to celebrate Ostara is by dyeing eggs, a symbol of fertility, renewal, and the return of life in spring. This tradition dates back to ancient times and can be a fun, creative, and meaningful activity for individuals and families alike. While store-bought dyes are commonly used, there are also many natural and unique methods to color eggs in ways that align with the themes of the season. Here are some possible ways to dye eggs for Ostara. Go be creative!
Naturally dyed eggs (from The Pioneer Woman)
Dyeing eggs with shaving cream (from Country Living)
Decorating eggs with temporary tattoos (from Sugar Moon Bloom)
Splatter painted specked eggs (from Martha Stewart)
Marbled eggs (from Better Homes & Gardens)
Making plastic eggs into glitter eggs (from Two Sisters Crafting)
Pysanky eggs (from Martha Stewart)
Decorate for Spring
Decorating for Ostara is a wonderful way to bring the energy of spring into your home and honor the changing season. Look for decorations that reflect Ostara themes like growth, light, and nature. Fresh flowers like daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths can brighten up any space, while greenery and budding branches symbolize the Earth's awakening. Fairy lights or candles can honor the lengthening days. Pastel colors, reminiscent of soft spring hues, can be incorporated for a warm and inviting atmosphere. And of course, here’s your chance to go all out with Ostara symbols such as eggs, rabbits, butterflies, and birds!
Creating an Ostara altar is another meaningful way to decorate for the holiday. A small space can be dedicated to honoring the season with elements like decorated eggs, crystals, pastel-colored candles, flowers, and representations of the four elements—earth, air, fire, and water. Candles in soft spring colors can be lit to welcome warmth and light, while small bowls of seeds or grains symbolize abundance and new beginnings. Incorporating natural materials like wooden decorations, woven baskets, and handmade wreaths can further connect your space to the energy of nature.
Honor Balance and Fertility
Honoring the idea of balance in your life during Ostara means embracing harmony between light and dark, work and rest, and mind and body. The spring equinox—equal day and night—reminds us to seek equilibrium in all aspects of our lives. Practicing mindfulness, setting healthy boundaries, and creating a balanced routine can help align your energy with the season. You can also reflect on areas where you may feel out of sync and take steps to restore balance, whether that means adjusting your work-life balance, nourishing your body with healthy foods, or making time for self-care and relaxation. Meditation and journaling can also be powerful tools for recognizing where you need more balance and setting intentions to achieve it. (Here’s an Ostara meditation to get you started!)
Fertility, in an Ostara context, extends beyond physical reproduction and can symbolize creativity, growth, and new beginnings. Honoring fertility in your life means nurturing ideas, passions, and goals that you want to see flourish. This can be done by giving yourself time and space for that new project, setting intentions, or engaging in activities that inspire personal growth, such as learning a new skill or exploring creative hobbies. Spending time in nature, planting seeds, or tending to plants is another meaningful way to embrace fertility, as it mirrors the Earth's cycle of renewal. Whether it’s cultivating new opportunities, fostering relationships, or simply embracing a mindset of abundance and possibility, celebrating fertility during Ostara encourages you to welcome growth in all forms.
Feast & hOLD Festivities
Feasting and celebrating during Ostara is a way to honor the season of renewal, fertility, and abundance. As nature awakens from winter’s slumber, the world is bursting with new life, making it the perfect time to gather with loved ones and share in the joy of the changing season. Feasts symbolize gratitude for the Earth’s bounty and the promise of growth and prosperity in the coming months. Foods that represent fertility and renewal—such as eggs, dairy, honey, seeds, fresh greens, and early spring vegetables—are often included in Ostara meals. Whether you prepare a simple meal with seasonal ingredients or host a larger gathering with family and friends, sharing food is a meaningful way to connect with the rhythms of nature and embrace the themes of rebirth and balance.
Ostara festivities can include a variety of activities that celebrate the season’s energy of renewal and joy. Traditional practices like egg decorating, planting seeds, and lighting candles can be incorporated into gatherings to create a festive atmosphere. Dancing, singing, and storytelling are also wonderful ways to honor the occasion, as they bring people together in celebration of life and transformation. Outdoor picnics, nature walks, or even a bonfire can enhance the connection to the Earth and the awakening energy of spring. Whether through feasting, music, ritual, or games, Ostara festivities allow people to embrace the changing season, cultivate gratitude, and welcome the warmth and light of the months ahead.
Reconnect with Nature
Reconnecting with nature during Ostara is a powerful way to honor the season of renewal and align yourself with the Earth’s awakening energy. Spending time outdoors, whether by taking a walk in the woods, visiting a park, or simply sitting in your garden, allows you to observe the signs of spring—blooming flowers, budding trees, and the return of birds and insects. You can deepen your connection by practicing grounding techniques, such as walking barefoot on the grass, meditating under the sun, or breathing deeply in fresh air. Planting seeds, whether in a garden or small pots, is another meaningful way to engage with nature, symbolizing new beginnings and growth in both the physical and spiritual sense. Additionally, leaving an offering of seeds, nuts, or fresh water for wildlife is a way to give back to nature and show gratitude for its abundance. By immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and sensations of the natural world, you can embrace the energy of Ostara and celebrate the cycle of life and renewal.
Plan Your Garden
Planning your garden during Ostara is a meaningful way to embrace the themes of growth, renewal, and abundance. As the Earth awakens, this is the perfect time to set intentions for the plants, herbs, fruits, or vegetables you wish to cultivate in the coming months. Begin by choosing a space for your garden and considering the types of plants that align with your needs, whether they be for nourishment, healing, or spiritual practices. Many people incorporate symbolic Ostara plants such as lavender, chamomile, rosemary, or spring flowers like daffodils and tulips. Preparing the soil, organizing seeds, and mapping out planting schedules can help ensure a thriving and balanced garden. If you don’t have an outdoor space, container gardening or small herb gardens indoors can still connect you to the energy of the season. By planting with intention and care, you align yourself with nature’s cycles, fostering both physical growth in your garden and personal growth in your life.
More on Ostara
Want to explore more about Ostara? Here are some more spring equinox ideas and resources:
About Ostara: The spring equinox celebration
The goddess Eostre: The spring goddess who reminds us to embrace change and seek balance
Ostara journal prompts: 25 journal prompts to reflect during Ostara
Ostara meditation: A meditation on rebirth.
Ostara associations: Eggs, hares, flowers, and more!
The Ostara Companion: Spells, Meditations, Coloring Pages, and All About Ostara
Happy Ostara!
