(Fell on the 23rd of September in 2008, in the Southern Hemisphere. For information on the Southern Wheel of the Year, click label at end of post.)
(Vernal Equinox will fall on the 23rd September until 2020.)
Vernal Equinox is Spring Equinox and falls around the 21st September in the Southern Hemisphere. On the Christian and secular calendar it is known as Easter and falls in Autumn (Fall) in the Southern Hemisphere.
"Equinox" means equal night, meaning that the day and night are of equal lengths. This occurs at the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes.
Vernal Equinox's Neopagan symbols are hares, eggs and the god growing to adulthood.
Hares and rabbits are not native to Australia. The bilby is a native animal with a rabbit-like appearance, however it reproduces throughout the year rather than just at Vernal Equinox.
At Vernal Equinox in 2008 I was still recovering from a nasty bout of the flu and couldn't face the trip down to Sydney and back so I had only a private ritual for this festival. (I am still looking for open circles in my area.)
I decorated the altar with painted chicken eggs to represent the Spring-time and green in the shade of new leaves to represent the new growth of the season, and with the swirls from the Shandwick standing stone of Sotland. (I have Scottish ancestors.)
Bilby
Shandwick standing stone
