Connecting with Nature: How Pagans Celebrate the March Equinox

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.

Vinicius (Rio 2016)

According to an animation of their origin story by Design and Animation team, Birdo Produções, they were born when an explosion of Brazillian joy lit up the sky when Rio was chosen to host the Games in 2016 back on October 2, 2009 at the 121st IOC Session In Copenhagen, Denmark. But what concerns me most is that one of the most troubling aspects of this year s Olympics hasn t really been addressed by the mainstream media at all.

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.

The Rio Olympics mascot is totally bizarre, but Olympics mascots are never normal

The Rio Olympics have been under fire for many things — the water quality, the conditions of the athletes’ housing, the prevalence of Zika in the region, the security concerns. It hasn’t been, shall we say, a walk in the village by any means. But what concerns me most is that one of the most troubling aspects of this year’s Olympics hasn’t really been addressed by the mainstream media at all. In fact, I’ve seen very few articles about this, which, frankly, makes me concerned about the state of journalism in 2016. Because the real problem with the Rio Olympics is the gangly-looking, anthropomorphized, cat-like, football-headed creature that has been named Vinicius and deemed the mascot. Look.

What even is this dude? A monkey? A cat? Is it a Minion that someone stretched out on one of those medieval torture machines? Someone should tell that girl hugging it to watch out, I bet Vinicius could go crazy and turn on her in a second. According to Olympic.org, Vinicius is named after the Brazilian musician Vinicius de Moraes, who is very good. Here is some of his music.

Vinicius is apparently “a mix of different Brazilian animals. His design takes inspiration from pop culture, as well as video game and animation characters.” Okay, now things are making sense: Whoever was in charge of coming up with this creature of the huge hands and feet did exactly what it looks like, which is mash up a bunch of animals, video game characters, and cartoons, stuff it with some synthetic filling, and call it day.

But we shouldn’t be surprised, really. Mascots at the Olympics have never been normal. Twitter moments has a really great feature going right now where they make exactly this point. For example, Izzy, the mascot from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, looks like a rejected, cross-eyed Sesame Street character. Or maybe a blueberry that got stepped on and then reincarnated as Mr. Potato Head.

Then you’ve got this motley crew from the 2000 Sydney Olympics. They look like scarier versions of Pokemon.

And check out these guys from the 2004 Athens games, which crack me up/scare the living daylights out of me. What are you?! What honestly are you guys? Are you supposed to be Doric columns? Are you fingers with feet?

And last, but not least, we have these horrifying cyclops from the London games in 2012 that — this is something I would bet hundreds of dollars on — gave people nightmares and still haunt the dreams of those unfortunate enough to run into them.

I’m terrified of mascots in general, but not all of them are as bad as the line of creatures that have historically been designed to represent the Olympics. It’s not that hard to come up a mascot that doesn’t look like something out of a sci-fi movie where a bunch of gunk spilled out of a vat and turned a dog into a mangled, demonized version of itself. MLB teams and colleges have actually managed to present the world with some delightful creatures, such as this guy.

And while Sochi might’ve been mostly a total disaster, they did do one thing right: The mascots were actually kind of cute.

So consider this a plea for PyeongChang in 2018: Give us something better to embrace as the fuzzy face of the games. It’s not rocket science.

Vinicius, named after Brazilian lyricist Vinicius de Moraes, is the Olympic mascot. Vinicius's design represents Brazilian wildlife, combining "the agility of cats, sway of monkeys and grace of birds." The character's arms and legs can stretch unlimited distances. Vinicius's mission is "to spread joy throughout the world and celebrate the friendship that flourishes between people from all over the world" at the Olympic Games. [1]

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 "Folklore and Folk Magic: Uncovering Pagan Superstitions Linked to the March Equinox"

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.

The March Equinox and Pagan Mythology: A Deeper Look into Ancient Legends