What a great time for a party.

It seems that the drudgery of winter has been a common lament throughout history, and one that continues today. Especially after a winter as harsh as the one we are leaving behind, a celebration is the only way to shut the door and lock out old man winter.

There is no better time for a bash than the vernal equinox, a day when the hours of light equal the hours of dark, marking the official start of spring. Last Friday was the big day, March 20. A big pagan party called Ostara is held annually on this day.

Ostara is one of eight neo-pagan holidays that make up their holiday ‘wheel of the year.’ These cyclic celebrations include Beltane in May, Litha on the summer solstice, Lammas in the summer, Mabon on the autumn equinox, Samhain on Halloween, Yule on the winter solstice and Imbolc in February. Each holiday has its own customs and traditions.

Known as a day of equilibrium, Ostara always occurs at the time of the vernal equinox. The holiday honors the new crop season, rejoices in rebirth and renewal and celebrates fertility. It is a time to sow seeds, paint eggs, collect flowers and eat traditional foods such as leafy greens, nuts, sprouts, flowers and dairy products.

The word Ostara is believed to be derived from the Germanic Eoshe, who was known as the goddess of spring. Another source calls Eoshe the lunar goddess of fertility, new growth and newborn animals. She is associated with eggs and rabbits and all things fresh and new.

Some versions of the history suggest a godly couple, Eoshe and the Horned God (also known as Pan). His role was to make the celebration more festive through hunting and dancing. The Green Man and Mother Earth are another name for this couple, which were brought together in a sacred marriage on this holiday. 

However, there are some other reliable sources (party-poopers, I must say) that insist that there was no Eoshe in ancient history and no Ostara celebration. They suggest that Eoshe has no Celtic roots and is a recent invention whose story has been advanced mainly by the internet.

The etymology of Eoshe, and thus Ostara, is also under debate. Likely it is derived from a word meaning east, and referring to the dawn. The other explanation is that the word is related to the root oistros, meaning frenzy, which is the precursor to the word estrogen. Though interesting and appealing to the believers of this goddess story, this latter idea has been completely debunked.

Whether you believe the story of Eoshe and the festival of Ostara is ancient or a recent revelation matters not, since suggestions for celebrating this holiday include planting, feasting, dancing and enjoying nature. All are worthwhile activities for which most of us right now are in dire need. 

So take or leave Ostara, but don’t miss the opportunity to party. With the light, warmth and coming verdancy, I am more than happy to celebrate any god or goddess, real or imagined, that is bringing a very long-awaited (and well-deserved) spring.

Suzan Bellincampi is director of the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in Edgartown, and author of Martha’s Vineyard: A Field Guide to Island Nature.