Spring Equinox
Various religions officially define the spring equinox as March 21, but in 2009 it actually took place astronomically on March 20. Many years it does occur on March 20. In simplest terms it is the dividing line between winter and summer. The date when the length of the night and the day are equal. In the northern hemisphere we now enter that part of the year when the day is longer than the night. South of the equator it is just the opposite.
The Christian churches calculate Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the March equinox. The official church definition for the equinox
is March 21; however, as the Eastern Orthodox Churches use the older Julian calendar, while the Western Churches use the Gregorian calendar, both of which designate March 21 as the equinox, the actual date of Easter differs. The earliest possible date for Easter in any year is March 22 on either calendar.
Neopagans celebrate the Sabbats of Ostara on the spring equinox. In terms of Wiccan ditheism, this festival is characterized by the rejoining of the Mother Goddess and her lover-consort-son, who spent the winter months in death. Other variations include the young God regaining strength in his youth after being born at Yule, and the Goddess returning to her Maiden aspect.
I can’t find a great deal of truth or societal relevance in any of the religious fairy tales. The first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. Give me a break; this sounds like some kind of astrological nonsense.
The Druids wearing white robes, getting really drunk, and smoking lots of herbal cigarettes seems about as relevant to the needs of society.
It is a very nice tradition having the kids hunt for psychedelically dyed hard boiled chicken eggs. Except in these times of morbid obesity most of the children are now waddling over to pig out on sugary chocolate, pre-diabetic-coma Easter eggs and bunnies. Parents allowing that sort of “nutrition” is terribly irresponsible. Almost indictable as child abuse.
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