Polly
03-19-2007, 10:26 PM
Greetings!
Spring officially begins Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at 8:07pm EDST when the Sun enters the sign of Aries.
Here's a little history of the spring equinox. Ostara - Spring Equinox
The exact arrival of spring is marked by the Spring Equinox, the date when day and night are equal lengths. Depending on the year and time zones, this equinox falls between March 20 and 23. German pagans named the Spring Equinox after Ostara, their goddess of spring, fertility, and rebirth. In England, among the Anglo-Saxon tribes, Ostara was known as Eostre. The modern holiday of Easter is derived from the name "Eostre" and the associated myths. According to these myths, Eostre was a playful goddess whose reign over the earth began in the spring when the Sun King journeyed across the sky in his chariot, bringing the end of winter. Ostara came down to earth then, appearing as a beautiful maiden with a basket of bright colorful eggs. Ostara's magical companion was a rabbit who accompanied her as she brought new life to dying plants and flowers by hiding the eggs in the fields.
A neat thing to do with kids on the Spring (or Fall) Equinox is to take an uncooked egg and place it on a flat surface. It should be able to stand upright on these two days only because of the gravitational pull being equal due to the Earth's tilt. (Although my dh is insisting this can be done at any time as long as you are careful.)
Hope you have great spring weather wherever you are! (Unless of course, you live in the southern hemisphere-in that case, have a beautiful fall!):daisy
Blessed Be,
Polly
Spring officially begins Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at 8:07pm EDST when the Sun enters the sign of Aries.
Here's a little history of the spring equinox. Ostara - Spring Equinox
The exact arrival of spring is marked by the Spring Equinox, the date when day and night are equal lengths. Depending on the year and time zones, this equinox falls between March 20 and 23. German pagans named the Spring Equinox after Ostara, their goddess of spring, fertility, and rebirth. In England, among the Anglo-Saxon tribes, Ostara was known as Eostre. The modern holiday of Easter is derived from the name "Eostre" and the associated myths. According to these myths, Eostre was a playful goddess whose reign over the earth began in the spring when the Sun King journeyed across the sky in his chariot, bringing the end of winter. Ostara came down to earth then, appearing as a beautiful maiden with a basket of bright colorful eggs. Ostara's magical companion was a rabbit who accompanied her as she brought new life to dying plants and flowers by hiding the eggs in the fields.
A neat thing to do with kids on the Spring (or Fall) Equinox is to take an uncooked egg and place it on a flat surface. It should be able to stand upright on these two days only because of the gravitational pull being equal due to the Earth's tilt. (Although my dh is insisting this can be done at any time as long as you are careful.)
Hope you have great spring weather wherever you are! (Unless of course, you live in the southern hemisphere-in that case, have a beautiful fall!):daisy
Blessed Be,
Polly