The
Spring Equinox brings a time of balance. The Sun
God has overtaken the darkness and day and night
are of equal lengths. The Goddess, our Earth Mother,
awakens from Her long slumber to replenish the Earth.
We see new Life rising from the cold ground.
The
Horned God has grown weak from the Winter and at
this time dies in order to return to the healing
Earth. From His "death", He is reborn as the Green
Man. He has shed his antlers and fur for green leaves
and vines. He is young still, but as the days grow
longer he gains strength. He is a God of fertility,
to aid our Goddess in the growing of our fields
and livestock.
Many
Pagan customs from this Sabbat continue to this
day. For instance, the Easter Egg is a common Pagan
custom. Eggs have always been a symbol of fertility
and thus used as a symbol for this holiday. They
were traditionally painted red or scarlet to symbolize
the Suns rays in hopes that the rays of the Sun
would warm the Egg and from it would spring Life.
Easter is celebrated around this time because it
has always been, in older traditional religions,
the time of the willing sacrifice and rebirth of
the God. Therefore it was only logical to place
the sacrifice and rebirth of Jesus around this time.