The Vernal Equinox - Ostara

The Vernal Equinox is the time of year when dayPagan and Neopagan groups and is celebrated by
and night are of equal length with daylight increasingthese groups if they so choose. Pagan and Neopagan
from then on. There are several other namesgroups do not follow all of the Sabbats in general,
associated with it including the Spring Equinox, Ladyalthough some do.
Day and Ostara. The actual day of the VernalThe term Lady Day comes from Celtic lore and is
Equinox varies each year, as it follows the solarthe accepted name given to this day in traditional
cycle, but is commonly held on March 21st.folk lore. The name Ostara is slightly misleading as this
Like its opposite, the Autumn Equinox, it is anname should more correctly be linked to Easter, but
astrological event and is of major importance foris commonly attached to the Vernal Equinox by
astrologers. The name Spring Equinox is attached tomodern Neopagans such as Wiccans. Ostara is
it as this time of the year is when Spring is thoughtderived from the Teutonic lunar Goddess Eostre. Her
to begin by most of the northern hemisphere. Themain symbols were the bunny and the egg and
Vernal Equinox is one of the four lesser Sabbats ofOstara is therefore more correctly used with Easter.