Weeks 9: Second High Holy Day

Related to Requirement: #2 – Meaning and Discussion of High Days
Required Reading:

• Our Own Druidry, p. 62 - 74 61-75 (Hearth Cultures & High Days)

• ADF Constitution, Article 4

• The ADF Core Order of Ritual for High Days, 

Optional Reading:

• Our Own Druidry, p. 51 - 75 48-76 (The Very Basics of Ritual)

• A Crane Breviary and Guide Book by Rev. Michael J Dangler: <http://www.lulu.com/chronarchy>

• Appendix 1: Resources and Rituals for the Wheel of the Year

• Step by Step through a Druid Worship Ceremony

• The "Liturgy and Rituals" section of the ADF page

• The Three Cranes Grove, ADF, outline of ritual (with example prayers)

The spring equinox is one of the main holidays of the modern/ neo-pagan calendar. In my area, spring has not reached full flower (or any flower at all this year), but the trees are starting to bud out and bulbs are starting to send up leaves.

Saga evidence shows that the Norse separated the year into two seasons: summer and winter.  The spring equinox signaled the start of the raiding season for the warriors of Scandinavia. They would hold the Sigrblót in Odin's honor at around this time of year (April 14 according to some sources) to ask the gods for victory in the season's raids. Odin, as a warrior and travel, was well placed to ensure the ships arrived safely and the pickings along the coasts (and inland, as far as Paris and Istanbul) would be ripe.

Ostara, also celebrated at this time, is a celebration of the goddess Éostre.  The goddess of spring, dawn, and fertility, Éostre is often associated with eggs and rabbits and may be the source of much of the German influenced traditions surrounding Easter. The Norse equivalent of Éostre could be either Freyja or Iöunn. Iöunn is the keeper of the golden apples that keep the gods youthful and hale.  Freyja, as goddess of love, fertility, and death is also reflected in any celebration of spring.

It is unclear if Germany and Scandinavia both celebrated both holidays or if one festival predominated in a geographical area.  It does appear that the Sigrblót was celebrated more in Scandinavia while Ostara was celebrated more in the more southern Germany.  However, it is more than possible that there was an extensive overlap that celebrated both.