Rites
Of Spring: Equinox History & Customs
By Robin DuMolin Long before there
was a Christian religion or an Easter festival man greeted Spring with
joyful celebrations, says historian Edna Barth. During the Winter the
days grew short when the sun stayed in the sky for a more brief period
of time. People worried whether the sun might slip behind a hilltop and
never rise again.
At the time of
the Spring Equinox, when the days began to be more extended and the sun
shone a little longer, the people were relieved. They had hope. Life would
renew itself again and crops, animals and man would thrive. Life would
be rejuvenated and would be prolonged.
Scholars say the
people of long ago worshipped the spirit behind the sun, who sent shining
life-giving rays over the fields of grain. The sun became the symbol of
resurrection. Happy, joyful Spring festivals were held for their gods.
The Druids and others, would gather around blazing bonfires, chant, sing,
dance and leap through the flames.
These ancient
Spring fire rites honoring the sun and performed by pagans, were banned
by the Christian church until 752 A.D. It was then that St. Patrick, while
performing his work as a missionary revivalist, saw that the early Irish
Celts and Scandinavians held Spring fire rites, and were not willing to
give them up.
In order to replace
their "old" pagan custom, St. Patrick created a "new" Christian fire rite.
Borrowing on the old Druid customs, on Easter eve, he gave them huge bonfires
just outside the churches. Europeans soon picked up the practice of annually
blessing a new fire and it eventually became a part of Easter service.
The fact that
the holiday named for the goddess Eostre is traditionally celebrated at
sunrise services suggests that in ancient times the Vernal Equinox was
a sunrise celebration. This is entirely with the nature of the Sabbat.
In fact, it tells us something about all the equinoxes and solstices,
and that is that each is, or should be, celebrated at a specific time
of the day; the vernal equinox at sunrise, because it is a celebration
of new beginnings, the re-awakening of nature from it's deathlike sleep
of winter, and the very moment when the time of light becomes greater
than the time of darkness. For this reason too, the rooster, whose crow
announces the dawn, was sacred to the sun god Apollo.
CHANGES IN
NATURE AND CORRESPONDENCES IN SPIRIT
Equinoxes symbolize
equality (equal daylight and darkness) and balance. Spring is also a time
of year to see what you have manifested, or what has sprouted in your
soil (soul). Flowers or weeds? Did you forget what you planted during
New Years? Looking around in nature at how things have blossomed and how
mother nature has adorned herself gives you a good idea what is possible
to manifest with the energy on the planet during this time of year.
The life force
energy, Christ force energy, the Supreme Being's energy, etc. first draws
itself down towards the center of the planet during Autumn. As it descends,
leaves fall off trees; we begin to feel drained. In the Winter at the
time of the solstice, this energy reaches the center of the earth. During
this season, energies are sorted. This intelligent energy then begins
its journey back up to the surface of the earth. On the Spring Equinox,
this energy completes its cycle to the earth's surface.
During this season
of the year, we feel energized because we match or experience the same
thing that the planet experiences. The earth's battery is recharged. Things
that didn't seem possible to us during Winter seem possible in Spring,
hope is alive again. More energy is available to us to create with. It
is optimum to be aware of what is going on during this time of year so
that your eyes are fully open to all the possibilities of how to best
use this quality of energy to your advantage.Ê
Sources:
Holiday Folklore,
Phobias and Fun by Donald Dossey
Ancient
Ways by Pauline Campanelli
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