Vernal Visions Challenge

We Mavens are happy to announce our next challenge!

The Vernal Visions Challenge is about Spring, the Spring Equinox, where day and night are equal and this encompasses so many cultures and celebrations that we've divided it up into five sections so we can give you as much inspiration as you will ever need.

Mikki : Aztec, Mayan and Native American celebrations

Aztec celebrations for the equinox are held at the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan where thousands of people flock to climb the pyramid.

"Nanauatzin became the sun god also known by the name, Tonatiuh. His image, depicted above, came to represent rebirth and continuity. During the spring equinox, March 21st, the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan are visited to honor the famous deity.  Visitors report an amazing light show of sun-filtered beauty as an equal balance of night and day is reached."

For Mayans it's Chichen Itza in central Yucatan...and here it's "Snakes on a Pyramid"  as people gather to see the amazing phenomenon of a 120ft rattlesnake creep down the staircase of the Temple of Kukulcan, also known as "El Castillo".   Referred to as "The Return of the Sun Serpent"...this is an amazing thing as it's all created by shadows from the pyramid itself.
Those Mayans were wicked smart!

Native Americans will celebrate the equinox with a drum circle, they will ask the Great Spirit for a healing for Mother Earth, and see it as a time for the Earth to awaken after the long winter, a time to plant new seeds for a new harvest.

Watch for Cindy's post on Tuesday about modern ways the Spring Equinox is celebrated.

How to Enter

All entries must be created especially for this challenge, must include seed beads and be majorly beadwoven or bead embroidered.  Entries should be your own original designs and not versions of someone else's published works.
The Exception
As teachers we understand that not everyone is at the stage of creating their own original designs so we are introducing a special category...the best adaptation of a Bead Maven Tutorial. This means you can work from one or more of our tutorials but you must change it or combine patterns....yes you may blend tutorials from more than one Maven.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed winners plus a prize for the best Bead Maven adaptation.
Send images of your entry/entries to TheBeadMavens@gmail.com before midnight on March 21st, 2011 with a bit about your entry...what inspired you and how you went about creating it, if you worked from our tutorials, which ones...in 100 words or less.
Note: Only two entries per person please.