Ostara Correspondences

Date: Celebrated on or about March 21st on the date of the Veranl Equinox (a time when the sun passes the celestial equator and day and night are equal in both hemispheres). Also the day the sun enters the sign of Aries.

Activities and Rituals: planting, welcoming spring, coloring eggs, making/wearing new clothing, fertility rites, rituals of balance, herb work – magical, medicinal, cosmetic, culinary and artistic, spells for prosperity/fertility, new beginnings, potential, action

Stones/Gems: Jasper, amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone and red jasper.

Incense: African violet, jasmine, rose, sage and strawberry

Herbs/Flowers: Honeysuckle, Iris, Peony, Violet, Woodruff, Gorse, Olive, Iris, Narcissus, Daffodils, Jonquils, Primrose, Forsythia, Crocus, all spring flowers, pine tree

Colors: Green, Yellow

Symbols & Decorations: four leaf clover, baskets, eggs, lambs, flowers, chicks, bunnies, budding twigs, flowers, pussy willows, sprouting bulbs, colored ribbons

Foods: jelly eggs (jelly beans), chocolates, lamb, eggs, seeds, leafy green vegetables, spiced or flower cupcakes, fruits, hot cross buns, sprouts, honey cakes, unleavened bread

Deities: The Maiden, Astarte, Aurora, Eostre, Eos, Ostara, Kore or Persephone (as the maiden), The Green Man, Ares, Mars, Attis, Adonis, Osiris, Narcissus, Hyacinth and Dionysus

Animals: rabbits, hares, robins, dragons (associated with eggs the earth and fertility), lambs, chicks

Other Holidays: St. Patrick’s Day (Christian-Mar. 17), Eostara (first full moon after equinox), Easter (Christian-first Sunday following Spring Equinox and full moon), Ides of March (Roman New Year March 15), Hilaria or the Day of Joy (Roman-March 15), Festival of Astarte (Mar 17), Feast of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Passover (Judaism)

Also called: Lady Day, Alban Eiler (Druidic), Eostara (Teutonic), Oestara, Eostra, Alban Eilir (Druidic), Vernal Equinox, Summer Finding (Asatru), Naw Ruz (Persian New Year), Alban Elfed, Festival of Trees, No Ruz, Ostra, Rites of Spring