~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
March 20, 2013

★~ Today’s Quote:  No matter where they are–either here or in heaven–imagine how pleased those people must be to know that you thought of them right now. Mr Rogers.

★~ Spring!

Spring! Time for My Favorite Waldorf Song!

This year in the Northern Hemisphere, the Spring Equinox happens on March 20 at 11:02 UTC. People around the world will celebration the passing of winter and the coming spring.  Many of these celebrations go back to ancient times.  The Norse celebration of spring was called Summer Finding.  In Poland spring is celebrated on Marzenna.  Ancient Romans celebrated Hilaria, an observation of spring and of the goddess Cybele.  Buddhists and Hindus honor spring at Holi. Many Pagans will be celebrating the beginning of spring, under the name “Ostara”. Ostara comes to us from German tradition and is said to be named after the German goddess Eostre.
Our friends in the Southern Hemisphere, will be enjoying the Fall Equinox, or Mabon. Mabon is a time of thanksgiving for the bounty of the earth and the bounty in our lives.

★~  American Meat Out Day:

If you have ever thought about becoming a vegetarian, today is a good day to kick the meat habit and explore a wholesome diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. (El Morno reports all holidays including those that may not be our cuppa out of respect to our diverse readership, however the reporting of these holidays does not imply in any way, shape or form that we endorse them.)

★~ Ravioli Day:

Take one tasty food—pasta—and fill it with another tasty food—cheese, or meat, or mushrooms—and you’ve got the wondrous little yum pillows we call ravioli, wonton, or kreplach. Stuffed pasta is thought to date back to medieval times and contained cheese, nuts, and spices. “In European/Christian cultures they were often served with cheese during Lent and on other meat-abstaining days, The earliest mention of ravioli appears in the writings of Francesco di Marco, a merchant of Prato in the 14th century. Cheese Ravioli with Pesto

★~ Bockbier Day:

Centuries ago, German monks adopted this hearty dark brew as “liquid bread” to provide them with carbohydrates and calories as they fasted during Lent. Some believe the name bock came from the shortening of einbeck and thus beck to bock. Others believe it is more of a pagan or old-world influence that the beer was only to be brewed during the sign of the Capricorn goat, and that bockmeans goat in German. In Europe, pictures of knights fighting in wars or goats ready to ram would portray the strength of the beer. Before Prohibition in America, many of the breweries turned out colorful poster art showing beer-drinking goats doing everything from bellying up to the bar to floating in a hot air balloon. Basically, this beer was a symbol of better times to come and moving away from winter. Sounds like a good way to toast the start of spring to me!!

★~ Today in History:

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♥~ 1967 – Fashion model, Twiggy, arrived in the United States for a one-week stay. She quickly became the most sought-after subject of photographers due to her terrifically skinny-yet-wholesome good looks and the shortest dresses ever seen (to that time).

♥~ 1980 – After 303 weeks on the Billboard album chart, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon became the longest-charting rock album of all time. It stayed on the chart for over eight more years, finally dropping off after 741 weeks.

♥~ 1985 – CBS-TV presented The Romance of Betty Boop. The special starred Desiree Goyette as the ‘Boop-Boop-Be-Doop’ cartoon cutie from the Max Fleisher one-reel films in the 1930s. There were 112 Betty Boop shorts produced. Only two other cartoon characters have surpassed Betty in animation fame. They are: Felix the Cat and (of course) Mickey Mouse. Most people thought Betty Boop was fashioned after the actress, Clara Bow, the ‘it’ girl.

♥~ 1996 –  A 21-year-old Muppet fan claiming to have a bomb took over a radio station in Wanganui, New Zealand, and demanded that “Rainbow Connection” by Kermit the Frog be played non-stop for 12 hours. Police evacuated the area, decided the bomb was a fake, stormed the station, and arrested the listener. No one was hurt.

★~Born Today:

♥~ Emily Collins. Sweet but not too sweet…Sensitive but slow to take offense, funny, lover of bands I’ve never heard of, mother of five–the youngest is around 6 and the oldest is a senior in high school, patient (did I need to add this?), wonderful friend,  Smart in many different ways, favorite quote, “I am what I am and that’s all that I am.”  Happy Birthday, Dear Emily!

♥~ 1928 – Fred Rogers TV host: Mr. Rogers Neighborhood; Celebrate Mr Rogers birthday by putting on your favorite sweater and promoting neighborliness in your neighborhood.

♥~ 1957 – Spike Lee director: She’s Gotta Have It, Do the Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, Crooklyn, Clockers

♥~ 1950 – William Hurt actor: Broadcast News, The Accidental Tourist, Altered States, The Big Chill, Trial by Jury, Children of a Lesser God

♥~ 1958 – Holly Hunter Academy Award-winning actress: The Piano [1993]; Broadcast News, The Firm, Raising Arizona

★~ Did You Know: Springtime Magic and Lore

The March hare is the primary symbol of Spring, representing fertility. Ever hear the phrase “mad as a March hare”? Spring is when rabbits tend to go a bit bonkers, and the pent up energy of winter bursts forth into the frantic, fertile energy of spring.

♥~ Fertility rituals: place a rabbit skin under your bed to bring fertility and abundance to your sexual activities. If you’re opposed to the use of real fur, use some other symbol of the rabbit that you’re more comfortable with.

♥~ A rabbit’s foot is said to bring good luck to those who carry it, although one might argue that it’s not so lucky for the rabbit.

♥~ To bring yourself boundless energy, carry a talisman engraved or painted with a rabbit’s image.
If you have wild rabbits or hares that live in your yard, leave them an offering of lettuce, shredded carrots, cabbage, or other fresh greens. In some magical traditions, the wild rabbit is associated with the deities of spring. (Stop glaring at me, do you want bountiful garden or boundless energy? Life is full of choices!)

♥~ As spring arrives, our gardens begin to bud and eventually bloom. For hundreds of years, the plants that we grow have been used in magic.

♥~ Crocus: This flower is one of the first you’ll see in the spring, and it’s often associated with newly blooming love. The crocus is also known to enhance visions and bring about intuitive dreams.

♥~ Daffodil: The bright petals of the daffodil are typically found in shades of white, yellow or even pale orange. This flower is associated with love and fertility — place fresh ones in your home to bring about abundance. Wear this flower close to your heart to draw love and luck.

♥~ Dandelion: The leaf of the dandelion is used for healing, purification, and ritual cleansing. To bring positive change about, plant dandelions in the northwest corner of your property. The bright yellow flowers can be used in divination, or placed in a sachet to draw good energy your way.

♥~ Goldenseal: This sunny yellow flower is often found growing in the wild, alongside roads and in fields. Use it to draw money into your life, or place it on the table when discussing business and legal issues to bring about successful negotiations.

♥~ Hibiscus: This lusty flower incites passion — use it to attract love or lust, or for prophetic dreams about your lover. Burn in incense, or carry in a sachet to bring love your way.

♥~Hyacinth: This flower was named for Hyakinthos, a Greek divine hero who was beloved by Apollo. Hyacinth is known to promote peaceful sleep, and guards against nightmares. Carry in an amulet to help heal a broken heart or to ease grief when a loved one dies.

♥~ Lily: The Easter lily or Tiger lily is associated with all kinds of Spring connections — fertility, rebirth, renewal and abundance.

♥~ Narcissus: Named for another Greek figure, the Narcissus helps promote polarity and harmony. Its calming vibrations bring about tranquility and inner peace.

♥~ Tulip: The tulip is typically connected to prosperity.

♥~ Violet: In Roman myth, the first violet sprung from the spilled blood of the god Attis, who killed himself for Cybele, the mother goddess. However, today the violet is associated with tranquility and peace. The leaf offers protection from evil, and can be sewn into a pillow or sachet for a new baby. Carry the petals with you to bring about luck.

(Caution: some of these flowers/plants can be hazard to the health of pets–better google than sorry!)

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My aunt sent me boxes of peeps in every color and I have been happily eating them one by one….The energizer bunny has nothing on me after 6 or 7 peeps! I wonder what kind of luck I would have if I put a peep under my pillow?

I hope whether Spring has arrived where you live or not…you find a way to have a spring in your step!

Odd Loves Company!