Even if you don’t have a garden yet, you should still plan an Equinox party. You may not be in the mood. It is, after all, still winter—for another two weeks, at least. If you’re at all like me, the vegetable garden you planted last summer is currently in shambles: the tomato cages have toppled over, and the shoots of kale are wilted and sad-looking. You’re probably feeling anything but garden-like, at the moment.
Fear not! That’s the point of throwing a garden party! It’s like an invocation of spring—which you won’t have to worry about too much, since spring officially starts on March 21th, regardless. It’s fascinating that there is more than one holiday connected, however loosely, to this day: St. Patrick’s Day and Easter are the first to come to mind. However, there’s also the Iranian New Year, called Nowruz, and Higan, a Japanese tradition of honoring the dead that occurs on both the spring and fall equinoxes. Passover is also somewhat connected to the equinox; as long as spring is palpably felt, then Passover is celebrated—usually no later than the first week of April. Originally, though, the spring equinox was a celebration of the return of light, when days and nights were of equal length, again.
The vernal equinox marks the beginning of the earth’s return to a state of fertility. Hence all the bunny rabbits and egg-related imagery commonly associated with the advent of spring. So, I have the perfect grown-up solution for you: eggs and rabbit stew. Ha, kidding! Well, about the rabbit stew, at least, unless you really want to: rabbit, a very lean meat, is notoriously tricky to prepare well. Eggs would be easy, though—deviled eggs, anyone? Also, a bon fire is in order, for a grown-up party. I suggest putting the backyard fire pit to good use, if you have one. Then you can roast some shish kabobs, grill some burgers—even make a few scrumptious baked potatoes with foil and plenty of butter, tucked inside!
The point of a garden party, other than an excuse to have some friends over, is to officially welcome the arrival of spring. Think of it as an invocation or an invitation for spring to come, even if it doesn’t quite feel like spring, quite yet. So, how to you throw a smashing garden party, with or without a garden? Bring the garden indoors with your food—as well as perhaps a smattering of indoor herbs or plants to imbibe your living room and kitchen or dining area with green. After all, it is almost St. Patrick’s Day! Have a green-themed party along with lots of bright shades: green, yellow, pink, blue—you know, flowery colors.
Make your hors d’oeuvres colorful, too. One easy type of finger food that comes to mind is tomato Caprese: that is, tomatoes stacked with fresh mozzarella cheese, basil leaves, and drizzled with a bit of olive oil and vinegar. Top it off with a little freshly grated pepper and sea salt, and you’re set! Accompany your hors d’oeuvres with some cocktails using freshly muddled mint or lavender to infuse your guests’ drinks with springtime. Or you could go all Republic-of-Ireland on everyone and dye the tonic or soda water green, for good measure. How about some green icing to top off homemade sugar cookies or gingersnaps, as well? And who doesn’t love ginger ale?
All this talk of basil, lavender, and ginger reminds me of the possibilities of indoor gardening, and herbs are wonderful plants to start indoors. What better way to bring the springtime inside, as well as adding a bit of green to your equinox party decorations? You can take them outdoors after they’ve sprouted and the weather is mild enough to sustain them. Spring is a popular time for tonics and treatments for allergies, if you happen to suffer from the effects of pollen, so herbal remedies can be a great way to deal with those afflictions. Besides hiding the winter hibernation mess before all your guests arrive, you can enact spring cleaning by taking up an internal cleanse via diet: resolve to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables; find an herbal remedy for what ails you; and start planning your spring garden now!
Well, that’s all I have at the moment, in terms of garden party ideas. If you have a tree in your yard, start planning your May Day celebration after all the guests have gone home. If you have any ideas for how to welcome spring into your home, by all means, post them below! In the meantime, best of luck with your garden party planning, and Happy Almost-Spring!
Bio: Mackenzie Kupfer enjoys gardening, supporting her local CSAs, and cooking seasonally whenever possible! She can be reached at [email protected]
