Spring Equinox

The Celts likely celebrated the Spring Equinox around March 19-23rd, although this portal spans a much wider time frame. Honouring the time when day and night come into balance, as equals, a point within the wheel of the year where we have the opportunity honour the darkness which gives birth to the light. A moment to pause and reconnect with the light that radiates from within us, connecting us back to source.

Though there is no surviving record of a specific Celtic name for the Spring Equinox it is however, often linked to the festival of Alban Eilir, a Druidic term, meaning "Light of the Earth" in Welsh.

The transition from Alban Eilir to the more commonly recognised Ostara in modern Pagan traditions is largely due to the influence of Wicca and contemporary Paganism, which blended multiple European traditions.
Ostara was popularised by Gerald Gardner, the founder of Wicca, in the mid-20th century. He drew on the work of Jacob Grimm (19th century), who speculated about Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon Germanic goddess of spring. Over time, Ostara became widely adopted within Wiccan and Neopagan traditions, focusing on themes of fertility, renewal, and balance. The Wheel of the Year, which includes Ostara, was designed to unify Celtic, Norse, and Germanic seasonal festivals into a cohesive system for modern Pagans, creating a unified Pagan calendar.

Alban Eilir is still used by modern Druids and those following a Celtic-based spiritual path, of which I am going to curiously explore some more.

Alban Eilir the Festival of Balance and Renewal
As the Wheel of the Year turns, we arrive at Alban Eilir, as we move into the Light half of the year, the midpoint of growth, transformation, and balance.. This sacred time marks the balance of day and night, a fleeting moment when light and darkness stand as equals before the light of the sun’s power begins to rise. With winter’s grip finally loosening, the land awakens, offering signs of renewal, fertility, and transformation.
A time of awakening throughout the ancient world, the Spring Equinox was seen as a powerful threshold. It signified the return of life after the long, introspective months of winter. The first buds appear on trees, animals stir from hibernation, and birds begin to nest, preparing for the abundance ahead. For the Celts and Druids, this was a time to honour the delicate balance between dark and light, death and rebirth, rest and action. The Celts likely acknowledged this shift with offerings to the land, honouring deities of fertility, and rituals celebrating the returning warmth and abundance.
Stone circles and sacred sites, such as Stonehenge, and Castlerigg Stone Circle in the Lake District, have alignments with the equinox sunrises and sunsets, and the passage tombs of Ireland are some sites that align with the rising sun at this time of year, suggesting that our ancestors deeply understood and honoured this celestial turning point.

Alban Eilir honours the balance of Light and Dark, and the magic of creation, the alchemical reaction birthed through the primordial sound of the darkness, which created light and life. At this time, day and night are equal, symbolising harmony, transition, and renewal. It is a time to honour both the dormant wisdom of winter, the darkness within the womb, which births the emerging light frequency that ignites the fires of creation bursting forth manifesting itself as the life force of spring.

During this time in the wheel of the year we give space to be with ….

• Balance and Transition - The equinox reminds us of the ever-changing cycles of life, inviting us to find harmony within ourselves and the world around us. It is a time to reflect on what is emerging within and what we are ready to release.
• The Strengthening Sun - From this moment forward, the days will lengthen, bringing warmth, growth, and energy. The return of the sun (light) symbolises clarity, vitality, and inspiration. Here we move into the light half of the year and more with the masculine energy.
• The Hare - Sacred to the Moon & the Goddess - The hare is deeply linked to the moon, which governs cycles of growth, fertility, and rebirth. Many Celtic goddesses, such as Áine the goddess of sovereignty and the land; and Eostre a Germanic goddess of spring, are associated with hares, reinforcing their connection to the divine feminine and the renewal of life. Hares are known for their rapid reproduction, making them a symbol of fertility, prosperity, and the promise of new beginnings. Their presence in the wild during early spring mirrors the earth’s reawakening. In Celtic mythology, the hare was believed to be a shapeshifter and a messenger between the physical and spiritual realms. Killing a hare was considered bad luck, as it was thought that hares were sometimes witches or faery beings in disguise. Although primarily associated with the moon, hares also have ties to the sun. Some myths suggest that hares would lay eggs in the fields, symbolising the sun’s energy fertilising the earth, which may have contributed to the later Easter traditions of eggs and hares being linked together.

 

• The Egg - Long before Christianity, eggs were seen as sacred objects representing the birth of the sun, the cycle of life, and the balance of light and dark. Eggs were buried or offered to bless the land for a fertile growing season. Decorating eggs was a way to invoke protection, prosperity, and abundance. The egg’s shape symbolised the cosmic cycle, the union of masculine (sun) and feminine (earth) energies, and the potential for transformation.

 

• The goddess Eostre, a Germanic goddess associated with spring, fertility, and dawn. Eostre was associated with hares and eggs, both of which symbolise fertility and new beginnings. One legend suggests that she transformed a bird into a hare, and that hare continued to lay colourful eggs in her honour. Her name is linked to the Old English "Ēastre" or "Ēostre", which is the root of the modern word Easter. The Venerable Bede, an Anglo-Saxon monk writing in the 8th century, mentioned her as a goddess honoured in springtime festivals, but little historical evidence exists beyond this reference. Eggs, a universal symbol of creation and renewal, remind us of the infinite potential within us, waiting to be nurtured and birthed into the world.

 

• Fertility and Growth - The land is beginning to flourish, mirroring our own inner stirrings of creativity and new possibilities. Just as farmers plant their crops in rich, fertile soil, we are invited to plant our dreams, goals, and intentions for the coming season.

Ways to Honour Alban Eilir

• Light a Sacred Fire or Candle - Honour the return of the sun’s power by lighting a flame, meditating on what you wish to grow and expand in your life.
• Offer Blessings to the Earth - Make an offering of seeds, milk, honey, or flowers as an act of gratitude for the land’s renewal.
• Visit a Sacred Place in Nature - Walk among trees, sit by a river, or simply spend time in a garden, feeling the shift of energy in the air.
• Stone Circle Alignments - Many Neolithic and Celtic sites, like Cairn T on Slieve na Calliagh in Ireland where when the sun rises on the spring equinox, its light shines directly into the passageway, illuminating the carved symbols on the back stone of the chamber. Stonehenge also aligns with the equinox, suggesting that the ancients tracked and honoured the balance of the sun.
• Rituals for Growth & Blessings - Modern Druids and Pagans may perform blessings for abundance, plant seeds with intentions, or create nature altars with flowers, eggs, and symbols of new life.
• Decorate and Bless Eggs - Following ancient traditions, painting or carving eggs with symbols of growth, protection, and abundance can be a powerful equinox ritual.
• Set Intentions and Reflect - Take time to write down what you wish to cultivate in the coming months. Consider what aspects of your life feel in balance and where you need more harmony.
• Plant Seeds - Physically and spiritually whether in a garden or in your heart, Alban Eilir is a time to plant seeds that will flourish with time, care, and patience.

Stepping into the light Alban Eilir reminds us that just as nature moves in cycles, so do we. It is a time of emergence, growth, and possibility, an invitation to step forward with intention, leaving behind what no longer serves us. This equinox, may we honour the balance within and around us, embracing the growing light while carrying the wisdom of the darkness that has passed. Alban Eilir is a reminder that balance is fleeting, a moment of pause before action. It is a powerful time to…..

• Reflect on what is emerging in your life
• Plant seeds (literally & figuratively) for future growth
• Honour both the darkness that has passed and the light returning
• Connect with the Earth’s cycles through ritual, gratitude, and renewal

As the Light of the Earth strengthens, what new beginnings are you ready to embrace?

The sound of Darkness giving Birth to Light....