For many Pagans Ostara, or the Spring Equinox, is a time of renewal and rebirth. This Sabbat is a time of joy and blessings to be celebrated. It is a time when the sun moves into the sign of Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, and new begginings bloom all around us. Welcoming in the spring can be a wonderful way for Pagan parents to share their beliefs with their children and create family traditions that everyone can enjoy.

Many parents take this time to go outside and enjoy the warmer spring weather. Children are often excited to go out after the long winter, especially if most of the winter was spent inside. Children are naturally curious about the signs of spring all around them. Showing them the plants and animals that are making their way out to greet the spring is a great way to teach children about Ostara and what it brings.

Starting a garden can be a wonderful way for the entire family to celebrate. Seeds and new plants are perfect examples of the new life that comes with the spring. Spend time with your children getting your hands dirty working in your own garden. Children can easily see the cycle of life, death, and new life by watching the plants grow, be harvested, and grow anew.

Though the tradition has been co-opted by much of Christianity, having an egg hunt is a wonderful tradition that Pagan parents can share with their children. Paint the eggs with symbols such as snakes, spirals, and moons; then hide the eggs outside for your children to hunt. ONe wonderful ritual you can do is to poke a small hole into a raw egg, drain the yolks and whites out, and use the hollow shell to hold a wish for the new year. Carefully paint the egg then either hold it and make your wish, or write your wish on a small scrap of paper that you can roll and place inside the egg. This can be a great way to tell your children about the new life eggs symbolize.

While you are enjoying the beauty and birth of spring with your children consider how you will prepare a spring altar. Some Pagans use light, spring colors such as pale green and sky blue as central colors. Let your children decorate the altar with feathers, flowers, seeds, and any other spring time items that they find. If you choose to make wish eggs you can add those to the altar as well. Let your children be as much a part of the altar preparation as they can. Some may want to color pictures to add to the altar, some may want to select certain candles. However your children choose to help, allowing them to be involved gets them excited about the Spring Equinox.

Building a tradition that your family can enjoy year after year on the Spring Equinox can be a wonderful way to share your faith with your children and build lasting bonds. Take the time to decorate the altar together, plant some new seeds, and watch the first hints of green come up from the ground. These simple acts will build the foundation of understanding that you can build upon as your children grow.