As I write this the crocuses are blooming in profusion outside my kitchen door. Spring is here in spite of a forecast that includes 3-6 inches of snow here in southwestern Michigan. This has inspired me to explore the rituals of springtime and renewal.
When I was a child, the folks in my eastern European neighborhood practiced a ritual called spring cleaning. Each spring my dad and mom would select weekend and announce that it was spring cleaning time. It was all hands on deck and the house was cleaned from top to bottom. We even washed the walls and used stuff that looked like green play dough to clean the wallpaper.
Ideas about the historical roots of the spring cleaning ritual vary. Some researchers trace it back to the Iranian festival of Norouz, the Persian new year. Even today, Iranians continue the practice of “Khooneh tekouhi,” or “shaking the house” by thoroughly cleaning their homes. Other researchers trace the ritual back to the ancient Jewish practice of thoroughly cleansing the home in anticipation of Passover.
I thought the custom had fallen by the wayside until I did a Google search. I don’t know how much of ritual it is these days, but spring cleaning advice abounds including “Spring Cleaning Tips” (housebeautiful.com) and “Spring Cleaning Checklist” (marthastewart.com).
Another family ritual centered around Lent and Easter. As good Catholics we all gave up something during lent. As a child, for me, that usually was candy. It was a fast that made the anticipation of getting that basket of goodies on Easter morning so much sweeter.
My Google search on the origins of the Easter traditions reveal that Easter baskets have pagan roots. Middle Eastern cultures, such as the Hebrews, Arabs, Assyrians, and Babylonians, had a spring tradition of celebrating the first seedlings of their new crops. Farmers brought the seedlings in baskets to temples for a blessing. (Groovycandies.com). However, today’s Easter baskets developed because of the fasting rituals of Lent. A large Easter meal symbolized the end of the Lenten fasting and in earlier times this Easter feast was brought in large baskets to the church to be blessed by priests.
Well, I no longer fast for Lent and usually am the giver rather than the receiver of Easter baskets. And, although I do clean my house during the spring, it is more of an ongoing process than a special ritual. So, now that I’ve moved to Michigan, maybe I should think about creating a new spring ritual. I’m not sure what that will look like, but, of course, the Internet has plenty of advice. Here are a couple of ideas that piqued my interest.
Chopra.com features an article entitled “Spring Equinox: 5 Rituals for a Fresh Start” The ritual that intrigued me was “Plant Some Seeds.” The actual March 21st equinox was not a time of planting seeds in our area—at least not outside. But summer doesn’t officially arrive until June 21st, so this ritual will easily fit into my plan to create a container garden on my deck.
The suggestion here is to plant flowers, herbs, veggies or whatever I hope will flourish. Then I will let these physical plants serve as a reminder that, in life just as in nature, we must plant what we hope to see blossom. That means planting and tending positive seeds that allow abundance and joy to sprout up in life.
The “Creating Your Own Rituals & Daily Practices” post at Patheos.com points out that we don’t have to wait for a special day to step into ritual. Each and every day is sacred and its own ritual, if we make it so.
I resonate with that since I have my own daily set of rituals that nourish and center me. I’m thinking of adding their suggested “Pleasure Ritual” for spring, though. The idea is to spend a period of time, say 30 minutes, doing something that brings pure pleasure. I think I will remember to spend some time each day savoring the pleasure of spring. It will be an exercise in awareness that leads to the pleasure of joy and gratitude.
Let’s all think back on our lives and revisit the spring rituals of our past. Let’s ask ourselves: “Do I have a spring ritual that uplifts me today.” If that answer is NO, then it’s time to do some research and create a personal ritual that makes your heart sing as you welcome spring. And if the answer is YES? Well, do the research anyway. The research itself is a Spiritual Traveler’s journey. And, you just might find a new ritual—or something that enhances the spring rituals that you already have.
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