What do YOU celebrate in March?
In ancient Celtic beliefs: the (Nuin) Ash tree (Feb 21- March 20) was considered to be important with both the macrocosm and the microcosm. Its meaning was “as above, so below” and Yggdrasil, the World Tree, was often considered to be an Ash tree. It could be associated with water, sprites, mermaids. The thoughts were that this time should be about the higher self. It should be “less about doing, and more about being”. Changes within will reflect in the outer world. Choose healing and spiritual experience. Avoid overindulgence and escapism during this time. Now is a good time to use the Runes or other divination, should you so choose.
The (Hauthe) Hawthorn tree (March 21-April 17) is associated with the fairies, White Stag, the Horned God Cernunnos, Persephone. Also known to represent cleansing and purification, sabbatical and abstinence. The inner self, readying for Beltane (last day of April, and May 1st). The mind and intuition are important here. Out with the old and in with the new still holds true at this time. The Hawthorn recommends focusing on the child within, with a joyful heart, while looking at unseen realms of elementals, mythical worlds of unicorns, dragons, mermaids, etc.
March 7, 2023: The Disting, an annual market held in Uppsala, Sweden since prehistoric times. Very worth reading more about. Held the full moon closest to the equinox between the 5th of March and the 2nd of April. March 7, 2023, (which is also an Aun rune day in 2023, in the year of Aun...)
Gamla Uppsala. (2023, January 19). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamla_Uppsala
March 17th St Patrick's Day. For some, a bit more of a protest of the meaning behind St. Patrick's Day. For most people in the United States, this day is a day of drinking a lot of alcohol and wearing green and gold., or shirts that say things like, “kiss me, I'm Irish” on them. Decorations in green and gold, full of cauldrons of plastic gold coins, leprechauns, and green shamrocks are everywhere this time of year. Various restaurants market green foods, especially mint flavored ice creams and milk shakes. My neighbor has his Christmas holiday tree decoration still set up in his living room window for all to see, except it is now decorated with St Patrick's Day colors and decor.
The first, second, and third Thursday in March (Thor Month) are special, in regard to the Scandinavian god, Thor. (For which Thursday remains named.) On the third Thursday, it was considered the end of winter and darkness, and people could go to bed without candles. Lighting a candle on this day would invoke a house fire to occur sometime in the coming year... Thunder was considered important for the growth or the crops.
Vernal (Spring) Equinox, Ostara ( March 20, 2023)
“Ostara” is a celebration that takes place for the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. Not absolute certainty how it was named, or very much information about the goddess that has come to be associated with the holiday (Eostra, a Germanic goddess of Spring). The Venerable Bede (Northumbrian Monk, 725CE) mentions that the pagan held feasts at this time of year, before the Christian holiday existed.
Of course, Easter (April 9, 2023) and Passover happen around this time, and for the ancient Romans, the goddess Cybele had companion who was born from a virgin birth, and then resurrected each year at the vernal equinox...
There are variations on an old legend that the goddess Eostra rescued a bird in winter by turning it into a rabbit so it would survive the cold. However, the transformation was incomplete, and the bird appeared as a rabbit, but was still able to lay eggs. This is the explanation for the modern day Easter Bunny concept and tradition.
Coloring eggs is a long standing tradition in many cultures, using a multitude of different methods from dyes, wax relief, paints, etc. Natural dyes using plants, berries, and spices are lovely! There are many recipes on the internet! Here are some of our decorated eggs from me and the family:
Naturally, various symbols of fertility to represent the spring time are popular this time of year. In medieval Europe, the species of rabbit known as March hare was a popular icon for the season. Baby chicks and other baby animals born in the spring time, snakes, nests, seeds, eggs... Maple syrup and honey...
Some decorations in the house:
A more modern day symbol of the season is the old fashioned balance scale, representing the balance of light and dark. It is a good metaphor for personal goals this time of year. Those goals can include a balance in one's own life, new beginnings, abundance, growth, prosperity, purification.
Ancient Scandinavian god/dess Freya, and Odin, Donar/Thor, Anglo-Celtic Cernunnos, Green Man, and Anglo-Welsh Mabon, and Pan are just some of the gods and goddesses venerated at this time of year.
Starting plants indoors or working to prepare the garden, spring cleaning, home blessings, making plans for the year – are all common activities now.
It was a common activity to roll eggs across the fields to help with fertility, and even to this day, children still play games with rolling the eggs.
A bit of folk magic: petitions (or wishes, goals, and desires) written on slips of paper, placed into an empty blown egg, then buried.
Baking a cake to resemble a lamb stems from old German traditions, and has been modified to signify the Christian interpretation of the lamb. However, this is likely much older, going back to pagan times, when animal shapes were formed with baked dough to use in place of an actual animal sacrifice.
These are some lamb cakes I have made:
Going for nature walks outdoors to see the changing season is a great pastime, or “Forest Bathing.”
HERB SOUP: A traditional 9 herb soup would be gathered in regions that are far enough along in spring to do so. Substituting for things that are found in your locality are the best way to do this. Always make sure you know what you are picking, that you are allowed to pick in that location, and that there is no pollution or safety issues with picking. Some of the herbs would be:
Nettles, Plantain, Dandelion, Elder Leaves, Ramps, Daisy/Chamomile, Sorrel, Chickweed, and Yarrow.
Into a hot soup kettle, melt 30 grams of butter, and add 2 tablespoons spelled flour, into a rue. Saute onions. Add 1 and a half liters of vegetable stock, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add sweet cream, sour cream, or milk, and simmer with the herbs for 10-20 minutes.
Cheese, chocolate, cream, custards, dandelions, eggs, fish, honey cakes, ice cream, and hot cross buns – the latter bearing the image of an equal cross representing the 4 quarter of the year, and the circle symbol of the bun itself. The idea has been adopted into Christian celebrations as well.
Make spring leaf shapes with salt dough recipe: 1.5 cups of flour, 1 cup of water, and 0.5 cups of salt. Bake on a lined baking tray at low temp for about 2 hours, then paint them!
Peanut butter (with no xylitol sweeter), seeds safe for wildlife, stuffed into a pine cone and hung out for the birds and creatures who may still be having a hard time this time of year.
Using empty egg shells as seed starting pots.
Make paper flowers for decorations.
Ostara bread with lemon and poppy seed, deviled eggs, “french toast” versions in all different cultures,
Some “deviled eggs” we had last spring at our family dinner:
Things to grow in my area: Primrose, rose, apple, tulip, crocus, daffodil, lilac, though they will not bloom in the garden for nearly two more months!
Stones: Quartz, selenite, moss agate, aquamarine, bloodstone.
March 25th, referred to as Crane Day, Day of the Spring Lady (and Day of Our Lady in Christian beliefs)
Charms to help heal the fields.
Other sources:
“The Nordic Animist Year” by Rune Hjarno Rasmussen
“Celtic Tree Oracle guidebook” by Sharlyn Hidalgo