They are celebrated differently, by the different traditions that I hold, but in all cases the turn of the season is a cause for celebration. It’s the time of warming and greening; and whoever coined the phrase “hope springs eternal” must surely have spoken it around this time of year. It was a long, dreary, difficult and damaging winter. I hope, and pray, that we have turned a corner in truth.
Oddly, one of the first visible signs of spring’s return around here is when the cross appears in a certain farmer’s field along the main road into my small town. They planted daffodils in the shape of a large cross, and that greenery is one of the first noticeable signs of the season. I’ve gotten used to looking for it, and always feel a sense of relief and anticipation when I finally see it emerge. (The irony of pagan me being so happy to see a Christian symbol is certainly not lost on me!)
The Serpent and the Moon 