Ostara Customs, Traditions and Folklore

Long before the medieval peasantry of the British Isles erected their Maypoles, the ancient Romans were partying hard in honor of Flora, their spring fertility goddess. She had her very own festival, called Floralia, and there was all kinds of merrymaking going on!

March 15th is known as the Ides of March, and seems to come with dire warnings attached. Learn a bit about why this day is seen as a dangerous time for some people!

A number of Pagan deities are associated with the spring equinox. No matter what your tradition, chances are good that there's a god or goddess tied in with the fertility and rebirth of spring.

Are Easter eggs considered Pagan traditions or not? After all, the egg is a fertility symbol... but how did the egg come to be associated with rabbits?

Eostre is frequently mentioned in NeoPagan writings, but it's pretty hard to find any scholarly information about her. Is Eostre truly a goddess of early Germanic peoples, or is she the product of modern imaginations?

The ancient Romans, who loved a good festival, set aside March 1 to celebrate the Matronalia. It eventually evolved into Mother's Day, but was originally set aside as a day of honoring a goddess of childbirth and motherhood.

Although for Wiccans and Pagans this time of year is known as Ostara, many other cultures and belief systems embrace the Spring Equinox as a time of celebration. Learn about some of the many holidays and festivals held around the world.

St. Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland, but to many Pagans, he symbolizes religious conflict. Find out just why Pat drove all those snakes out of the Emerald Isle in the first place!