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 bonfire, 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 its 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 Beings 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 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.
Sources: Holiday Folklore, Phobias and Fun by Donald Dossey
Ancient Ways by Pauline Campanelli
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