Embrace the New Season: 4 Creative Ideas for Celebrating the Spring Solstice

As the days get longer and the weather slowly starts to get warmer, we eagerly look forward to welcoming the Spring Solstice, a time of renewal and new beginnings. This annual event marks the start of spring and has been celebrated by many cultures for thousands of years in the Northern Hemisphere, this year falling on the 20th of March. Although we may have forgotten to pay careful attention to astronomical events in our modern age, there is still value in acknowledging and celebrating this wonderful time towards longer and brighter days. In this blog post, we'll be looking at the history of Spring Solstice and some old and modern ways to celebrate it.

Reviving the Past: Discovering the Origins of Spring Solstice Celebrations

The Spring Equinox has been celebrated by many cultures around the world, and its significance is deeply rooted in mythology and religion. In many ancient cultures, the Spring Solstice marked the start of a new year and the renewal of life, as the long, dark winter gave way to the light and warmth of spring.

Spring Equinox in Ancient Egypt

In ancient Egypt, the Spring Solstice was celebrated with the festival of Opet – a time of reawakening. During this festival, the god Amun was believed to travel from his temple in Karnak to the temple of Luxor where he was reunited with his companion, the goddess Mut. This reunion was seen as a symbol of the renewal of life and the continuity of the universe.

Spring Equinox in Ancient Greece

In ancient Greece, the Spring Equinox was greatly celebrated with feasting, drinking wine, and lots of theatrical performances. This celebration was called the festival of Dionysus which represented the god of wine and fertility. In the name of the earth’s rebirth and renewal of life, the people of Greece could get loose and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

Spring Equinox in Mayan Culture

The Mayans also acknowledged the Spring Equinox with festivals and ceremonies that honoured the renewal of life and the power of the sun. For them, the Spring Solstice was a time of planting, sowing, and hard work to prepare the ground to bear fruits later.

From Ancient Rituals to Modern Traditions: 4 Ways to Celebrate Spring Solstice Now

While historically speaking, the Spring Equinox has been a time of grandiose celebration for many cultures, today, we can honour these traditions and take some time to reflect on the new season of growth, renewal, and opportunities coming our way. Let’s use this knowledge of history to get inspired and look at some modern ways to welcome this great season of change!

Get outside and enjoy nature - With the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer, the Spring Solstice is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy nature. Go for a walk in the park, take a bike ride in the countryside, start a garden, plant something you find beautiful, or simply take a moment to appreciate the wonders of the natural world around you.

Spring cleaning – There could not be a better time to do a big cleanup! The Spring Solstice almost demands clearing out any clutter and making space for new beginnings. Whether it's your home, your workspace, or your mind, take some time to declutter and create a fresh, clean space for the new season. Sage is the perfect agent to purify your space and mind.

Celebrate with friends and family – Why not start a new tradition with your friends and family and celebrate the Spring Solstice together? Many cultures celebrate the Spring Solstice with festivals, feasts, and gatherings. Invite friends and family over for a meal, or plan a small get-together for an activity you could do to celebrate the start of a new season and new beginnings.

Create a personal ritual – Whether it's lighting candles, meditating, or simply taking a moment to reflect on the new season, creating a personal ritual can be a powerful way to connect with the energy of the Spring Solstice. Small, intimate moments like these can really shape the direction of any new coming season. If you’d like to explore more possibilities, a raw cacao ceremony for yourself is a great way to connect to yourself on a deeper level and get clear on your wants, needs, and desires for the coming spring. We wrote an article for how to facilitate one: 7 easy steps for hosting a sacred cacao ceremony for yourself.

However way you choose to celebrate Spring Solstice, we hope that you have a good time and manage to welcome this new season with open arms!