The March equinox, also known as Ostara or Eostre, is a pagan holiday that celebrates the arrival of spring and the balance between day and night. This holiday takes place on or around March 21st and has been celebrated by various cultures throughout history. The March equinox represents a time of renewal and rebirth as the earth awakens from its winter slumber. The main idea of this holiday is the celebration of the changing seasons and the hope and abundance that come with the return of spring. Many pagan traditions and rituals involve honoring nature, fertility, and the cycles of life. Some common practices during this holiday include lighting bonfires, decorating eggs, and planting seeds.
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Being the dutiful animal-loving parents that we are, we went to the local nursery and spent way too much money on butterfly-friendly plants for our backyard. Being the dutiful animal-loving parents that we are, we went to the local nursery and spent way too much money on butterfly-friendly plants for our backyard.
Some common practices during this holiday include lighting bonfires, decorating eggs, and planting seeds. These activities symbolize the rebirth and growth that occur during this time of year. Additionally, the March equinox marks a time of balance and harmony, as the length of day and night are equal.
Butterfly Battle & Food Chain Frenzy (The Magic School Bus Chapter Books #16 & #17)
I’ve expressed my love for all things Magic School Bus previously. My almost six-year-old daughter and I are having a great time working our way through our library’s collection of Magic School Bus chapter books. The two we read most recently were great finds for kids interested in animal welfare.
In Butterfly Battle, the students and their teacher Ms. Frizzle go on a field trip to a butterfly exhibit at the local botanical garden. As would be expected, the kids get turned into butterflies. They have a harrowing adventure flying through the city, dodging birds while trying to find something to eat in the concrete jungle. When they are very hungry they come across a garden, but realize just in time that it was treated by pesticides. They continue on, exhausted and weak, until they finally come across a wildflower sanctuary and finally can eat.
There is a section at the end of the book explaining the importance of planting butterfly gardens in our own backyards and gave some how-to information doing so. Of course, this is exactly what my daughter wanted to do. Being the dutiful animal-loving parents that we are, we went to the local nursery and spent way too much money on butterfly-friendly plants for our backyard. I recommend this book to all animal-loving kids with the caveat that it may end with you spending a lot of money and having to plant a garden. I am happy to report that we have seen butterflies visiting our butterfly garden already this spring.
In Food Chain Frenzy, on the way to a local museum to learn about the food chain, Ms. Frizzle decides the best way to learn about the food chain is to experience it yourself. The Magic School Bus transforms into a ladybug, a snake, a fish, a krill, all the while learning about how animals get energy either by eating plants or by eating animals that eat plants.
There are a lot of great asides in this book that would appeal to vegetarian families. I really appreciated that when talking about humans, it said that humans are omnivores though some humans choose to be vegetarians and get their energy solely from plans. In other contexts, when my daughter hears humans described as omnivores, she’ll always say, “Some humans are herbivores.” It was nice for this book to include that here. There are some great student report throughout the text that address the damaging effects of the human diet, such as a report on overfishing and how damaging it is to other ecosystems. My favorite student report is about how humans control their own food chains by farming animals themselves and how devastating this is on the environment. This was a great book that continued to surprise me throughout. I would highly recommend this book to any vegetarian child.
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Best Books for 6-Year-Old Vegan and Vegetarian Kids // Oct 24, 2015 at 7:33 pm[…] that have strong animal welfare themes that my vegetarian 6-year-old loves: Wild Whale Watch, Butterfly Battle and Food Chain […]
I’ve expressed my love for all things Magic School Bus previously. My almost six-year-old daughter and I are having a great time working our way through our library’s collection of Magic School Bus chapter books. The two we read most recently were great finds for kids interested in animal welfare.
This idea of equilibrium is often represented in pagan rituals and ceremonies. Overall, the March equinox pagan holiday is a time to celebrate the arrival of spring, the renewal of nature, and the balance between light and dark..
Reviews for "The March Equinox and Pagan Astrology: Insights into Zodiac Signs and Planetary Influence"
1. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the March equinox pagan holiday. I was expecting a unique and spiritual experience, but instead, it felt like a cheap New Age festival. There was no depth or authenticity to the rituals and ceremonies. It was all just a commercialized version of paganism. I would not recommend this event to anyone seeking a genuine pagan experience.
2. Mark - 2/5 stars - The March equinox pagan holiday fell short of my expectations. The organizer seemed more focused on attracting a large crowd and making money than creating a meaningful and spiritual gathering. The workshops and presentations lacked substance and were more about selling products and promoting certain individuals than actually sharing knowledge. I left feeling like I wasted my time and money.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - As someone who follows pagan traditions, I was excited to attend the March equinox pagan holiday. However, I found the event to be quite underwhelming. The workshops and rituals lacked depth and were mostly superficial. It felt like they were just going through the motions without truly understanding the significance of the equinox. I would have appreciated more authentic and meaningful experiences, rather than the superficiality that was presented.
4. Brian - 1/5 stars - The March equinox pagan holiday was a complete letdown. The organizers seemed to have no understanding of pagan traditions and instead, presented a diluted version of spirituality. The workshops were shallow and lacked any real substance. It was more like a gimmicky festival rather than a genuine celebration of the equinox. I would not recommend this event to anyone looking for an authentic pagan experience.
5. Jessica - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for the March equinox pagan holiday, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The workshops and rituals were disorganized and lacked proper guidance. It felt like the organizers didn't put enough effort into planning and executing the event. I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied with the overall experience.