You are allowed to celebrate the ancestral holidays without becoming a pagan – A message to those who want to distance themselves from Christianity

I have acknowledged pagan holidays since around the age of 12, but this is the first time in my life I have finally decolonized them.

The last year I’ve watched as Evangelical Christians have become extremists who’ve hijacked the government and are forcing their cruelty upon the world. I’ve seen them use their religion to justify harm, control, fascism, and war. Now they are telling soldiers that the war in Iran was “all part of God’s divine plan”, and that they are trying to spark Armageddon via WWIII. It’s insanity, it’s depraved, it’s unforgivable, but mostly importantly, it’s how that religion has always been.

The Abrahamic religions continue to do what they do: destroy. (Let me be clear, when I say Abrahamic religions, I mean the religious systems. I would never hate anyone based on things they did not choose, such as where they were born or how they look.) No person, animal, nor the Earth is safe while these religious structures remain in place. It was time for me to stop tolerating the intolerant, Christianity. I do not want to coexist with that system any longer. Unfortunately, I live in a society where the calendar holidays are Christian, but they didn’t originate that way.

Ostara

That being said, I now feel uncomfortable on Christian holidays and I’ve chosen not to participate in them anymore. However, since I did grow up celebrating them and everyone around me still does, they’ve always felt more “legitimate” to me than the pagan ones, even though the pagan ones are the originals. I’ve recently made that crossover— where Easter no longer feels special, but Ostara feels like the true holiday.

Celebrating holidays that are nature-based and seasonally inspired has just made way more sense than holidays that arbitrarily revolve around an individual.

Today is Ostara, the vernal equinox which marks the first day of spring. An astronomical event that transitions us from one season to the next, from long nights to long days. It just makes sense to celebrate it because it’s something real.

Ostara symbolizes the return of life and coming of new life. Everyone participates in this transition: the flora, the fauna, and even the sun. During this time of year our environment moves in unison; it’s such a perfect occasion to celebrate.

Ok, now that I harped on why Ostara is a fantastic holiday, how can one celebrate it secularly?

You don’t have to pray to anyone, you don’t have to make an altar, and the Celts (which are the specific pagans Ostara came from) didn’t have a written language, so there is no rulebook that one must follow while celebrating. If you do want to practice in a more spiritual pagan way, then there are so many better resources to indulge in than anything I can provide.

But here are the non-spiritual things I am doing today to celebrate Ostara that you can also do:

I started my day watching Spring themed nature documentaries to remind myself how awesome life is. Be careful, all the cute baby animals will melt your heart.

I’ll be planting some flower seeds today so I can also facilitate in the creation of life at this time. I’ve always had a deep admiration for this wondrous planet, but I’ll be even more intentional while reflecting on life and nature. I want to enjoy the sun and blue skies, especially after months of a cold and dead world. I want to sit on my balcony and listen to the birds. I’ve noticed new bird songs recently (I’m new to this area so I’m not familiar with the wildlife here) and so I want to use my binoculars and the Merlin Bird ID app to get to know them. I’ll welcome these seasonal residents back with some new birdseed. I wish I had more time every day to sit and be enamored with their songs. Nature’s choir is my favorite way to connect to the world around me. Connecting with the natural world around you is the best way to celebrate Ostara!

Tonight, I’m making one of my favorite meals: cauliflower tacos. This might not be traditionally “spring”, but they’re filled with bright, colorful, and fresh vegetables that match the vibes today. I’ll have that with a strawberry lemonade and maybe a splash of vodka. And to finish, a homemade lilac-colored ice cream I made using ube extract and some edible glitter for a touch of “magic” (at least visually). My point is, have foods that make today feel special and “Spring” for you.

I will also be doing some non-secular activities, but you do you. To acknowledge and appreciate the coming season is what this day is about. You don’t have to be spiritual or pagan or wiccan to celebrate the old holidays. I actually think these nature-seasonal based pagan holidays are a perfect option for those who want secular celebrations!

If this inspired you to swap out the Christian holidays for the original ones, then

Happy Ostara! Happy Spring! Happy Equinox!