March is a month filled with various pagan holidays that have been celebrated for centuries. These holidays are deeply rooted in ancient traditions and beliefs and are still observed by many pagans today. One of the most well-known pagan holidays in March is Ostara, also known as the Spring Equinox. This holiday celebrates the arrival of spring and the renewal of life. It is a time when the day and night are equal in length, symbolizing balance and harmony. Pagans often observe Ostara by performing rituals and ceremonies to welcome the longer, warmer days ahead.
March 20: Ostara
Ostara, also known as Eostre, Eostar, and Eostre, celebrates the rebirth of the earth. It occurs at the time at the Spring Equinox (March 20 or 21 in the Northern hemisphere and September 22 or 23 in the Southern hemisphere). It celebrates the return of spring and the balance of light and dark. There are no ties to ancient customs. It’s celebrated by modern Wiccans as one of the lesser sabbats.
This day is also known as Lady Day and Summer Finding.
Ostara Traditions and Customs:
- Putting fresh flowers in the house.
- Planting seeds and herbs.
- Decorating and hunting eggs.
- Taking walks and dancing outside.
- Burning sage to cleanse the home of the dark, cold winter months.
Symbols of Ostara:
- Herbs and flowers:
- jasmine, tansy, lavender, marjoram, sage, thyme, tarragon, lilac, violets, lemon balm, daffodil, jonquil, and tulip
- jasmine, rose, strawberry, tansy, lavender, violets, and lemon balm
- light green, yellow, gold, and pale pink
- amethyst, agate, aquamarine, bloodstone, and rose quartz
- colored and decorated eggs, baby animals, hares, and spring flowers
- seeds, salads, vegetables, spiced wine, fruits, and eggs
More:
- Menu & Recipes: Ostara Spring Feast
- Craft: Flower Chains
Pagan Holidays for March 1, 2, 3, 2010
Busy, busy, busy day in Ancient Rome as March 1st was dedicated to their adored Goddess Juno Lucina under the guise of a Festival called Matronalia. This becomes a day of women—when women receive gifts by the men living in their household. At the end of the day, the women invoke Juno to bless them with prospering marriage.
Now while that’s going on, the sacred fires inside the Temple of the Vesta will be renewed. The Vestal Virgins who resided in Vesta’s temple would make sure those fires burned always. Vesta stood for fire and the hearth. If these fires died, a great horror would befall Rome–a natural catastrophe greatly feared. Also Rome–the Kalends of March begin on this day.
Today in Ancient Egypt, Khepri will go forth–the god of creation and renewal.
At Sundown, the Welsh will begin Gwyl o Merriddyn once more, a Feast for Merlin.
In Celtic belief, there is a God who is known for his Holy Wells and Healing Springs. His symbol if the Tree of Life. His name is Ceadda and this day is sacred to him.
We honor and make sacred this day to Mother March-–the Goddess who protects women who have brought forth life.
The Scottish Celts believe that today—the stirrings and behavior of Crows could give us great signs of prophecy. So they would pay very close attention to them on this day…will you?
Bring forth Aegir, the great Norse God of the sea! Aegir represents how unpredictable a man’s life can be and the power and undeniable strength of the ocean. His wife, the Goddess Ran, even looks after sailors who have been drowned. Beware though, Ran is a tricky woman…she will hide behind reefs, wave, or rock…luring ships to their doom.
At sundown, the Welsh will begin an Observance called Rhyfeddod Lleiaf o Rhiannon-–defined as the lesser mysteries in honor of their grand Goddess Rhiannon. This observance will go on until March the 6th–sunrise.
Hope you enjoyed these.
Pagan Holidays for March 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 2010
Is everyone ready to step back in time again and see what our Pagan Ancestors were doing. Let’s see who outdoes who….Rome or Greece, even though we have so many others this week who will be throwing in their finest of rituals, festivals, observances and celebrations. So let’s go….
Monday (moon-day), March 22
The day of the Moon
Rome is going to kick us off this month with their Cult of Attis, who happens to be the lover of their Goddess Cybele. The Cult would walk through the fine streets of Rome, carrying pine tress which have fallen…mourning Attis’ demise.
The French will be giving thought to their alchemist Nicolas Flamel who died on this day in 1417.
Tuesday (Honor-day) March 23
The day of Honor
Rome is going to kick off Tuesday as well, as their Priests honor Mars and Saturn by performing The Dance of Salii. The dance was said to force the Spirits of Winter into leaving the city, in order to provoke the growing of crops. And let’s not forget about the God Mars, for whom the dance brought forth in order to encourage men to sign up for Rome’s army. The Salii consisted of twelve people, all from noble families. The 13th person was a Magister, who led the dancing and singing.
And here comes the Norse, having their fabulous festival of Summer Finding which was all about the light (Spring & Summer) prevailing, or taking dominance over the darkness (Winter). This was their observance to honor the Great Goddess of Ostara!
Even North-Western England will not be silent this Tuesday as once, all raised for an observance for their God Cocidus, who happened to be a deity of the forest and over hunting. For historical notes, an alter for Cocidus had been discovered in a place called Ebchester.
And in Egypt, we would have a wonderful festival for the timeless Goddess Isis on this day!
Wednesday, (Wisdom-day) March 24
The day of Wisdom
The Great Brittan Goddess Albion is sacred on this day, even though Albion is said to go back much further (2nd CE) than when Great Britain used her fabulous image on their coins.
The Norse will be giving this day to their God Heimdall who guards the light and Bifrost Bridge–(the path which joins heaven and earth).
Thursday( strength-day), March 25
The day of strength
Rome will be having a grand celebration today called the Festival of Hilaria in honor of their Goddess Cybele.
The English will be having the Lady Day. On this day, they say the Good Goddess shall take the God of Spring to her bed.
In many parts of Britain during medieval times, today was once considered the first of the New Year. They made it sacred to Nuada— who was the God of poetry, magic, medicine, beauty, childbirth, and the oceans. His names were also Nudd and Ludd, and his sword, Fragarach, was considered to be one of four sacred and wonderful treasures of Tuatha de Danaan.
In Egypt, the Day of the Shining Ones of Heaven, was honored today.
Friday (love-day), March 26
The day of Love
Welsh will be having a celebration called Mabon ap Modron, who happens to be their fertility god. (Another Spring fling)
Today Persia will be having a festival of the birth of Zarathustra or Zoroaster, their King of Bactia. He was credited for inventing magic, and for enlightening the world with his theories of worshipping a god without the use of visual idols. At this date (our current one) archeologists believe that Zoroaster was actually two different men, a Babylonia astronomer who lived around the time of 2460 BCE and an actual Persian King living around the time of 590 BCE. However it should be said that the teachings of Zoroaster are still held high in many parts of Europe and the Middle East.
Saturday (Reckoning-day), March 27
The day of reckoning
Rome will kick off the weekend, the same way they did the week with their public celebrations of Liberalia or their God of wine and nature, Liber. Then, the public affairs will move to more private rituals called Bacchanalia.
Even though Bacchanalia was outlawed by the Senate in 186 BCE, historical records show that it was an orgy of mythical extent. Don;t worry though, even though the Senate up and made a law against it, the participants of Rome didn’t seem to listen lol.
In the Egyptian‘s calendar, today was Smell the Breeze day. Now what does that say to you? Slow down and smell the roses!
Sunday (Sun-day), March 28
The day of the Sun
Greece will finish off the week by celebrating the Birth of Artemis, their Goddess of the Moon.
But the Roman’s will have the final say as well, having their festival called the Sacrifice at the Tombs as they honor all those who have departed this realm for another.
I don’t think people in Rome will get anything done at all this week, do you?
Wishing Pagans and non-Pagans a blessed and productive week…
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Pagans often observe Ostara by performing rituals and ceremonies to welcome the longer, warmer days ahead. They may also engage in activities such as planting seeds, decorating eggs, and creating altars adorned with symbols of fertility and growth. Another significant pagan holiday in March is Imbolc or Candlemas.
Celebrated on February 1st or 2nd, this holiday marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It is a time to honor the goddess Brigid and to welcome the returning light and warmth of the sun. Pagans may light candles and perform purification rituals, as well as engage in divination and healing practices. Imbolc is also associated with the beginning of lambing season and the first signs of new life in nature. In addition to Ostara and Imbolc, there are other lesser-known pagan holidays that occur in March. For example, Holi is a Hindu festival that takes place around the full moon and marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. It is characterized by colorful celebrations, including the throwing of colored powder and water. Similarly, Beltane is a Celtic holiday that falls on May 1st but is often observed on the eve of May. It celebrates the peak of spring and the union between the god and goddess. Bonfires are lit, and people may participate in dances and rituals to honor fertility and love. Overall, March is a month filled with pagan holidays that honor the changing seasons and the cycles of nature. These celebrations serve as a way for pagans to connect with the natural world, express gratitude, and seek blessings for the year ahead. While the specific rituals and traditions may vary depending on the pagan tradition or individual, the underlying themes of rebirth, growth, and renewal are universal..
Reviews for "Embracing the Energy of March Pagan Festivals"
1. Emily - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with the "March pagan holidays" book. I was expecting a detailed and informative guide to pagan celebrations during this time of year, but instead, I found the content to be lacking. The information provided was very basic and didn't go into much depth on the history or significance of the holidays. I also felt that the book didn't offer any new or unique perspectives on the topic. Overall, I found it to be a very surface-level overview that didn't live up to my expectations.
2. Mark - 1/5 - I couldn't even finish "March pagan holidays" because I found it incredibly boring and unengaging. The writing style was dry and lacked any sort of enthusiasm or passion for the subject matter. I was hoping for a book that would inspire me and provide me with a deeper understanding of pagan traditions during this time of year, but unfortunately, this book fell short. It felt like I was reading a textbook rather than an engaging exploration of pagan holidays. I would not recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about pagan celebrations in March.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - As someone who is new to the world of pagan holidays, I was hoping "March pagan holidays" would be a good introduction to the topic. However, I found the book to be confusing and difficult to follow. The organization of the information was lacking, and it was hard to keep track of which holidays were being discussed. Additionally, I found the lack of visuals or illustrations to be disappointing. Overall, I think this book may be better suited for individuals who already have a solid understanding of pagan traditions, rather than beginners like myself.
Exploring Different March Pagan Traditions Around the World