Holidays 2021

3/1/2021

MATRONALIA

In ancient Roman religion, the Matronalia was a festival celebrating Juno Lucina, the goddess of childbirth, and of motherhood and women in general. In the original Roman calendar traditionally thought to have been established by Romulus, it was the first day of the year.

See past posts on Matronalia for more information.

3/17/2021

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast–on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people.

In traditional lore, people often say that St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland. Many have come to translate that as St. Patrick assisted in the catholic takeover of Ireland, driving out the druids and being hailed as a hero.

See St. Patricks Day from March 2020 for more info.

3/20/2021

OSTARA

A point of perfect balance on the journey through the Wheel of the Year. Night and day are of equal length and in perfect equilibrium – dark and light, masculine and feminine, inner and outer, in balance. But the year is now waxing and at this moment light defeats the dark. The natural world is coming alive, the Sun is gaining in strength and the days are becoming longer and warmer. The gentle whispered promise of Imbolc is fulfilled in the evident and abundant fertility of the Earth at Ostara. It is time for the hopes of Imbolc to become action. The energy is expansive and exuberant. It is the first day of Spring! Ostara takes its name after the Germanic goddess, Eostre/Ostara, who was traditionally honoured in the month of April with festivals to celebrate fertility, renewal and re-birth. It was from Eostre that the Christian celebration of Easter evolved, and indeed the naming of the hormone Eostrogen, essential to women’s fertility. The Goddess Ostara has the shoulders and head of a hare.

See past posts on Ostara for more information and holiday ideas.