The Old Ways: Spring
Spring or Vernal Equinox, on approximately March 21 midpoint of the Waxing Year. Many traditions associated with Spring Equinox have been retained over the years. Even today people rise early on the Spring Equinox morning to attend "Sunrise Service," Getting up early to make a Dawn Circle to greet the Sun on the morning of the Equinox can be wonderful! Legend says the Sun Dances and if it is reflected in a bowl of clear water, you can see it for yourself!
Decorated eggs have always been symbols of fertility, in 17th century, France gifts of decorated eggs were given to brides in hope they would bear many children. In Germany, bowls full of eggs were given to the field-workers by the farmer's wife, to insure a rich harvest. Many cultures see the egg as a symbol of Life or the actual home of the Soul. The egg is a symbol of good fortune is Russia and decorated eggs are still give as gifts to loved ones and buried in graves to insured rebirth.
Each color applied to the decorated eggs had meaning to the villagers in the Ukraine. Eggs, given as gifts conveyed particular wishes. Meanings varied from village to village, but here are some examples:
White purity
Yellow wisdom, a successful harvest, or spirituality
Green Spring, rebirth, wealth, youth, growth, happiness
Blue good health, clear skies
Orange power, endurance, ambition
Red happiness, hope, passion, nobility, bravery,
enthusiasm, love
Brown enrichment, good harvest, happiness
Purple faith, trust, power
Pink success
Black remembrance
Decorating these eggs, call Pysanky, was a women's ritual. The eggs were gathered only from hens who lived near rooster, as a non-fertile egg meant there would be no fertility in the home. No one was allowed to watch as they transferred the goodness of the household to the designs on the eggs thus keeping away evil. Secret family recipes were used for mixing dyes and the woman would put special blessings on each egg.
Gather eggs the night before the Equinox for a egg-decorating party. Using felt-tipped pens to make designs of wishes on the eggs or wrap eggs tightly with leaves, roots, and flowers that you have gathered then boiling. The vegetable dyes released in the water will create lovely patterns on the eggs.
The following day, the eggs can be used as altar decorations and given as gifts. Later, at the feast, you can indulge in a little game called Egg-shackling. Two people crack their eggs against each other. The holder of the first egg cracked pays a forfeit to the other. Egg-shackling and Pace-egging (children gong from door to door to receive gifts of painted eggs) are still part of Spring celebrations in Nothern England.
The fig is well-known as a fetility symbol. The tree contains both the masculine and feminine principles: the leaf is seen as male and the fruit as female. The "Mano in Fica" or "Fig Hand" is used as a hand sign for woman or Goddess. (This is done by closing the fist and projecting the thumb between the first and second fingers.) A popular custom, maintained as recently as the 19th century, involved climbing to a hilltop for a picnic of fig-cakes during the Spring celebration. A ritual feast of figs or figs desserts is appropriate.
There is fairly good evidence that Hot Cross Buns (seemly a wholly Christian custom), really have their origins in The Old Ways. Two petrified small loaves of bread, five inches in diameter and marked with a cross, were found by archeologist at Herculaneum (destroyed in 70 c.e.). It was doubtful that these were made for Christian celebration.
The bunny, a fertility symbol for obvious reasons, the Moon-Hare, Sacred to Goddessess all over the world. (The hare was thought related to the night and the Moon because it is born with its eyes open.)
The following song is from the "Oxford Book of Carols". Would say it is sung in the tune of "Good King Wenceslas", except for the fact that, according to Oxford, this is the original version.
Flower Song
Spring has now unwrapped the flowers Day is fas
reviving Life in all her growing powers Towards
the light is striving Gone the iron touch of cold
Winter time and frost time Seedlings working
through the mould Now make up for lost time!
Herb and plant that, Winter long Slumbered at
their leisure Now bestirring green and strong Find
in growth their pleasure All the world with beauty
fills Gold and green enhancing Flowers make glee
among the hills And set the meadows dancing!
Through each wonder of fair days She herself
expresses Beauty follows all Her ways As the
World She blesses So, as She renews the Earth
Artist without rival In Her grace of glad new birth
We must seek revival.
So as you look at today customs you can see they are rooted from The Old Ways. Eggs, bunnies, Sunrise Circles continue to represent the coming of Spring even as they did for our ancestors. As we plant seeds, bless our plants and decorate our eggs, think about the Continuity of Life and have a Bright and Blessed Spring!
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 