Ostara
Spring Sabbat
The Wheel of the Year holds several purposes, both theological and practical. Theologically, the story of the Wheel often varies depending on the Tradition. The Wheel gives the accounts of the mythological events that repeat throughout the year as well as a vague "history" of the Gods and Goddesses involved within the pantheon. For the newbies, by "Tradition" we mean "denomination"; for example Wiccan, Celtic, Druid, Native American, etc. On the more practical side, the Wheel trains us to be able to deal with death and the inevitability of re-birth that follows. Paganism teaches that death, a natural function of the universe, is a part of life; a dramatic change that is the beginning of a new experience, and something to be celebrated at the proper time not feared (not condoning Suicide!)
Through the ideas of Heaven and Hell, Christianity teaches a deep fear of death, and this spurs our society's horror of death. We are always trying to find new and improved ways to beat death, but we will never succeed.
It is sad our society portrays death as such a terrifying experience; we would certainly have less emotional pain and suffering in the world if death could be seen as what it is: a transformation, nothing more.
*Background Information:
This minor Sabbat celebrates the Vernal Equinox and the blessed coming of SPRING! After we've managed to freeze our various appendages off for an entire winter, the Pagans of old were always looking forward to this day that heralds the coming of warmth and return of life. The most prominent traces of its origin are in the British Isles but most likely was separately originated in the Southern Mediterranean areas around the same time. This is "properly" celebrated on the date of the Equinox, which tends to vary in-between the period of about 2 days each year. If you really want to get technical, the holiday occurs when the Sun crosses the Equator and enters Aries. In earlier times, before all our fancy technology, it was often celebrated on the fixed date of March 25th. To point out a traditional "mistake," many people use the name Ostara as synonymous with Eostara.
Eostara is in fact the a Esbat (Lunar celebration) and is appropriately applied to the Vernal Moon, the closest Full Moon to the Vernal Equinox. Similarly, Lady Day is sometimes mismatched with Beltane (April 30th). This Sabbat can also be known as: Vernal Equinox, Spring Equinox, Alban Eiler, Eostre ("OHS-truh"
or "EST-truh"), the Rites of Spring, the Rites of Eostre, the Festival of Trees, and Esther.
*Meanings:
The quests we set ourselves on at Yule will start showing prominent results now and while we work through them and enjoy we must keep the balance within ourselves. Mirror the equality of the light and the dark, don't shut out "bad" emotions or cling to strongly to the "good" ones.
You're human, you're allowed to feel both. From your newly gained rewards produce more buds of progress, just like the trees will soon start sprouting for Summer magnificence. Energy alignment in favor of relationships and inner growth. It is also a celebration of life over death, both plant and animal surviving the dangers of Winter and pushing forward to a promising heat. Free yourself from obstacles that prohibit progress.
*History/Mythology -- Celtic (and Christian counterparts):
If you have read the Mabinogion myth, this is where the God of Light conquers his darker twin. The Goddess who has become the Maiden again since Candlemas, welcomes her Child and soon to be spouse. She watches him grow proudly. Pagans of old would light fires at dawn for protection of crops to come, renewed life, and cures to aliments they battled with over the hard Winter months.
The Roman Catholic Church adopted two holidays from the pagan celebrations. The first being the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was part of the family (fixed date of March 25th). It was fixed at this date because it needed to be the exact and perfect nine months to December 25th, when the Son of God was said to be born. Even though she was birthing the Son of God, she's still human. I suppose an irregular gestation period would have been seen as Satanic. For this reason many Christians seem to think that any mention of "Lady Day"
refers to this Christian Holiday, when it is referring to Ostara if coming from a Pagan mouth. If you take a closer look this mythology was used before Christian times. The Goddess returning to her Maiden, a.k.a. Virgin (in this case meaning the original 'unmarried'), was already established in Celtic lore. This is the time that the Young God and Maiden mate and conceive a child that will grow to become the Dark God. See any similarities yet?
The second holiday that gets inappropriately combined with Ostara is Easter.
Not so surprisingly, Easter is also a celebration of life over death as Jesus rises again; just like the God of Light rises again to defeat the God of Darkness. Does Easter seem to have an oddly familiar ring to it? That's because it is derived from the Teutonic Goddess Eostre, (which incidentally is where we also get the name "estrogen" from -- yep, the female hormone), who's symbols were the Egg and the Rabbit. I know lights are going off, so yes... exactly where the Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs came from. Rabbits are a symbol of fertility (as in 'they are worse than rabbits!' in reference to sexual habits) and Eggs are a symbol of creation. As stated before, Her day is Eostara, the night of the Vernal Full Moon. The Church doesn't do Full Moons, but Easter is on the Sunday after the Vernal Full Moon each year, and that's why it is never set on the calendar. Furthermore, if Easter Sunday did happen to be the Vernal Moon, the Church was very pointed in being sure it was moved to the Sunday after so there would be no suspected associated with "wicked" Pagan holidays. Of course, there was anyway, so why not just stick with a constant schedule? Donno.
Another not so striking similarity between Celtic mythology and Christian mythology: Jesus, after being killed on Good Friday, 'descends into Hell.' After the third day he rises again and proceeds to Heaven. Many Celtic myths of old speak of the Goddess descending into the Underworld for three days, continuing the Trinity trend. Furthermore, it is said to coincide with the Vernal New Moon, which is not visible for three days, both the day before, the day of, and the day after. These myths had existed for many thousands of years before the coming of Christianity.
Furthermore, similar descents into the Underworld are all over folklore and other cultural traditions (including King Arthur).
*Mythology -- Wiccan:
The Goddess transfers her fertility to the Earth and takes on the Maiden aspect. The God grows to maturity and will soon become the Goddess' lover at Beltane. For most Wiccans it is a celebration of fertility and growing Light.
*Decorations and Activities:
Some fun and appropriate traditions could include the classic Painting of "Easter" (really Ostara) Eggs. Always a great hit with the children.
Basket weaving was a common practice until the super market chains swept all the creativity out of it by providing us with plastic as opposed to wicker and fake grass as opposed to hand picked flowers. What is the world coming to?
*smile* I had hoped to find some instructions on construction of weave baskets but my seeking came up short. Therefore, my best suggestion is to check out a book at your local public library. While there you might look up some work on Gardening... Starting your garden work is excellent on this day, and can be even more beneficial if you help your child begin a garden of their own; (perhaps right along side yours) so you can grow together.
Fresh picked flowers are great for altar decorations and household adornment. Lighting fires at sunrise and ringing bells can be worked into ritual also. And never underestimate the spirituality of a simple walk through a garden, wood, or park.
*Symbolic of Ostara:
Foodstuffs: Hard boiled eggs, Honey Cakes, First Fruits of the Season, Nuts, Seeds, Leafy Veggies, and of course CHOCOLATE! (No they didn't have chocolate back then but it's become a grand novelty these days!)
Drinks: Anything you can whip up from the seasonal fruits and berries.
Colors (for those who use Candle Magick): Yellow, Green, and Gold.
Stones: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Bloodstone, and Red Jasper.
Animals: Rabbits! (yep the Easter Bunny is Pagan!), Cougar, Sea Crow, Sea Eagle, Hedgehog, and Boar.
Mythical Creatures: Merfolk and any other Air or Water beings.
Deities: Eostre, Ostara (who can also be connected with Ishtar and Astarte), the Green Goddess, Lord of the Greenwood, Aries, Artemis, Ahtene, Black Isis, Astarte, Cybele, Hecate, Luna, Mars, Minerva, and the Morrigan.
Plants: Roses, Strawberries, Seasonal Fruit Plants, Violets, Honeysuckle, Easter Lily, Dogwood, Daffodil, Iris, Irish Moss, Jonquil, Apple Trees(blossoms specifically), and Alder.
Herbs: Sage, Rose, Jasmine, Strawberries, Acorn, Celandine, Daffodil, Dogwood, Easter Lily, Cinquefoil, Crocus, Iris, Honeysuckle, Tansy, Violets, Broom, High John Root, Yellow Dock, Wood Betony, Irish Moss, and Jonquil.
Incenses would include: Jasmine, Rose, Sage, African Violet, Strawberry, Apple Blossom, and Honeysuckle.
Astrological Signs: Pisces and Aries.
Article by Markus Witchcraft Dawning Webmaster http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4885/index.html witchdawn@hotmail.com Ostara - The Earth Awakens "The Earth Awakens" - Spring Equinox (~ March 21)
Ostara occurs on the Spring Equinox. This is the time of year when the sun is directly over the equator making the night and day equal in length. The Spring Equinox occurs when the Sun enters the sign of Aries. It is on this day that the darkness and light are exactly equal, therefore this Sabbat brings with it feelings of balance. From this day onward, day will dominate the night and the earth will explode with life. Ostara is the first day of Spring.
At Ostara, the Sun/God has grown into a young adult. He is passing into manhood, and his strength and vitality are reflected in the surging growth of plants. He had risen again. With His growing vitality comes the warmth of Spring and the planting of crops. The Goddess is no longer the nursing mother, but is now the beautiful maiden of Spring. She grows in strength as she sees her son growing into manhood. The Earth casts off the snow and ice of winter to reveal her beautiful green mantle, and the surging rivers of her life force. Like the Earth we too plant our own seeds at this time; seed of goals that we will make into reality. We celebrate the changes in our own bodies.
We become more active, sleep less, eat less and spend more time outdoors.
Many traditions come along with Ostara. You will notice that Christianity integrated most of these symbols into the holiday of Easter.
The first and most preserved of the Ostara traditions is the painting and decorating of eggs. If you really think about it, what does painting eggs have to do with Christ's death and resurrection? The answer is simple, it doesn't.
The egg symbolizes the fertility of the Goddess and the God. Decorating them is a way of charging them as magical, objects using whatever color is appropriate for your goal. The eggs are hidden and if found, you will receive your goal that year. Another tradition is the use of a rabbit as symbolism. The rabbit symbolizes the fertility of the Goddess. Think about how fertile rabbits are. The rabbit represents the exploding growth of life on the earth seen at Ostara. The tradition of giving gift baskets actually comes from Beltane, not Ostara.
A tradition which did not exactly move over into Christianity is the tradition of having sex in freshly plowed fields. This tradition came from the pagan farmers who would finish plowing and planting their fields. Once the crops were all planted, the farmer and his wife would go out into the field and make love in it. The idea being that the fertility of their sexual act would help the plants grow into a bountiful crop. Another variant of this is leaping in the fields. Instead of making love in the freshly plowed fields, the farmer and his family would go out into the field and leap as high as they could into the air. The idea being that the crops would grow as high as their leaps into the air. This is a perfect example of imitative magic, where the crops are supposed to imitate the actions of the farmer's family. As you can see, Ostara is a festival of fertility and growth.
Ostara is a joyous festival associated with the rebirth of the Earth and the awakening of Mother Nature. As such a festival, the Ritual should be bright, with many flowers adorning the Altar. Just as Imbolc is a festival of White, Ostaras' colors are yellow and green, springtime colors. Focus should be on the new life budding around you, the trees and flowers and the butterflies and even the caterpillars. Ostara is about Rebirth, and your ritual should focus on and harness that healing and nurturing energy.
Herbs associated with Ostara are:
Acorn- Acorns are said to bring both luck and fertility.
Celandine- An herb of Joy and tranquility, Celandine is also said to protect anyone who carries a sprig with them.
Cinquefoil- Used in ritual baths and for purification, Cinquefoil also brings eloquence and protection to the wearer. Love, power, wisdom, health, and abundance are symbolized by it's five petals.
Dandelion- Dandelion Tea is said to increase psychic ability. It's yellow head and deep green stem and leaves also makes it a great choice for your Ostara Altar.
Dogwood- Use Dogwood leaves, wood, and flowers as a protective charm.. The four petaled leaves are said to represent the four Quarter elements- Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.
Honeysuckle- The flowers of the honeysuckle are said to attract money. They will also heighten psychic ability when rubbed on the forehead.
Iris- A Goddess herb which brings Purity, faith, courage, and wisdom.
Jasmine- Jasmine flowers help to attract wealth, and their scent is said to bring prophetic dreams.
Rose- Rose is used to attract love. Rose hips worn as beads, Rose buds in your bath water, or rose petals worn as a charm are all said to conjure a potential lover. Rose petals are also added to healing potions or spells to enhance them.
Tansy- An herb of Longevity.
Violet- An herb of love and protection.
Candle colors for Ostara are Yellow and Green.
http://wiccanmagic.com/ostara/ritual.html
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Ostara
(March 20 or 21)
Related Deities: Eostre, the adolescent Spring Maiden, the adolescent Spring Lord
Related Herbs: Acorn, Alder, Celandine, Cinquefoil, Daffodil, Dandelion, Dogwood, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Jonquils, Rose, Tansy, Violet, Woodruff, Gorse, Olive, Peony, Iris, Narcissus, Jasmine, rose, violet, all spring flowers.
Related Colors: Yellow and Green
Related Incense: Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry, Floral of any type.
Related Stones: Moss Agate, Green Moonstone, Orange Calcite, Rose Quartz, Jasper
Traditional Foods: Leafy green vegetables, Dairy foods, Nuts such as Pumpkin, Sunflower and Pine. Flower Dishes and Sprouts.
Special Activities: Planting seeds or starting a Magickal Herb Garden. Taking a long walk in nature with no intent other than reflecting on the Magick of nature and our Great Mother and her bounty.
Also known as the Vernal Equinox, Alban Eiber, Bacchanalia, Lady Day and Jack in the Green Day, Eostara
More commonly known as Easter among the Christians, Ostara marks the renewal of life within the Earth and the renewal of fertility to our spiritual lives. The name Easter coming from the Anglo-Saxon free-spirited fertility goddess known as Eostre. Legend has it that while entertaining a group of childern, Eostre changed a bird into a rabbit. To the delight and amusement of the childern, the bewitched animal laid colored eggs. Thus the origin of the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg hunts. Both of which are fertility symbols. Rabbits for being very prolific. The egg, the white represents the all-encompassing nature of the Goddess while the yolk represents the virility of the Sun God. The symmetrical outer shell binding the two together, sealing their fertility and love for each other.
The year is in perfect balance between light and darkness. Ostara also marks the first day of true Spring. The God is now a green youth and the Goddess is in her maiden aspect. Their courtship dance begins.
We think that the customs surrounding the celebration of the spring equinox were imported from Mediterranean lands, although there can be no doubt that the first inhabitants of the British Isles observed it, as evidence from megalithic sites shows. But it was certainly more popular to the south, where people celebrated the holiday as New Year's Day, and claimed it as the first day of the first sign of the Zodiac, Aries. However you look at it, it is certainly a time of new beginnings, as a simple glance at Nature will prove.
In the Roman Catholic Church, there are two holidays which get mixed up with the Vernal Equinox. The first, occurring on the fixed calendar day of March 25th in the old liturgical calendar, is called the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (or B.V.M., as she was typically abbreviated in Catholic Missals). "Annunciation" means an announcement. This is the day that the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was "in the family way". Naturally, this had to be announced since Mary, being still a virgin, would have no other means of knowing it. (Quit scoffing, O ye of little faith!) Why did the Church pick the Vernal Equinox for the commemoration of this event? Because it was necessary to have Mary conceive the child Jesus a full nine months before his birth at the Winter Solstice (i.e., Christmas, celebrated on the fixed calendar date of December 25). Mary's pregnancy would take the natural nine months to complete, even if the conception was a bit unorthodox.
As mentioned before, the older Pagan equivalent of this scene focuses on the joyous process of natural conception, when the young virgin Goddess (in this case, "virgin" in the original sense of meaning "unmarried") mates with the young solar God, who has just displaced his rival. This is probably not their first mating, however. In the mythical sense, the couple may have been lovers since Candlemas, when the young God reached puberty. But the young Goddess was recently a mother (at the Winter Solstice) and is probably still nursing her new child. Therefore, conception is naturally delayed for six weeks or so and, despite earlier matings with the God, She does not conceive until (surprise!) the Vernal Equinox. This may also be their Hand-fasting, a sacred marriage between God and Goddess called a Hierogamy, the ultimate Great Rite. Probably the nicest study of this theme occurs in M. Esther Harding's book, "Woman's Mysteries". Probably the nicest description of it occurs in M. Z. Bradley's "Mists of Avalon", in the scene where Morgan and Arthur assume the sacred roles. (Bradley follows the British custom of transferring the episode to Beltain, when the climate is more suited to its outdoor celebration.)
The other Christian holiday which gets mixed up in this is Easter. Easter, too, celebrates the victory of a god of light (Jesus) over darkness (death), so it makes sense to place it at this season. Ironically, the name "Easter" was taken from the name of a Teutonic lunar Goddess, Eostre (from whence we also get the name of the female hormone, estrogen). Her chief symbols were the bunny (both for fertility and because her worshipers saw a hare in the full moon) and the egg (symbolic of the cosmic egg of creation), images which Christians have been hard pressed to explain. Her holiday, the Eostara, was held on the Vernal Equinox Full Moon. Of course, the Church doesn't celebrate full moons, even if they do calculate by them, so they planted their Easter on the following Sunday. Thus, Easter is always the first Sunday, after the first Full Moon, after the Vernal Equinox. If you've ever wondered why Easter moved all around the calendar, now you know. (By the way, the Catholic Church was so adamant about NOT incorporating lunar Goddess symbolism that they added a further calculation: if Easter Sunday were to fall on the Full Moon itself, then Easter was postponed to the following Sunday instead.)
Incidentally, this raises another point: recently, some Pagan traditions began referring to the Vernal Equinox as Eostara. Historically, this is incorrect. Eostara is a lunar holiday, honoring a lunar Goddess, at the Vernal Full Moon. Hence, the name "Eostara" is best reserved to the nearest Esbat, rather than the Sabbat itself. How this happened is difficult to say. However, it is notable that some of the same groups misappropriated the term "Lady Day" for Beltain, which left no good folk name for the Equinox. Thus, Oestara was misappropriated for it, completing a chain-reaction of displacement. Needless to say, the old and accepted folk name for the Vernal Equinox is "Lady Day". Christians sometimes insist that the title is in honor of Mary and her Annunciation, but Pagans will smile knowingly.
Another mythological motif which must surely arrest our attention at this time of year is that of the descent of the God or Goddess into the Underworld. Perhaps we see this most clearly in the Christian tradition. Beginning with his death on the cross on Good Friday, it is said that Jesus "descended into hell" for the three days that his body lay entombed. But on the third day (that is, Easter Sunday), his body and soul rejoined, he arose from the dead and ascended into heaven. By a strange "coincidence", most ancient Pagan religions speak of the Goddess descending into the Underworld, also for a period of three days.
Why three days? If we remember that we are here dealing with the lunar aspect of the Goddess, the reason should be obvious. As the text of one Book of Shadows gives it, "...as the moon waxes and wanes, and walks three nights in darkness, so the Goddess once spent three nights in the Kingdom of Death." In our modern world, alienated as it is from nature, we tend to mark the time of the New Moon (when no moon is visible) as a single date on a calendar. We tend to forget that the moon is also hidden from our view on the day before and the day after our calendar date. But this did not go unnoticed by our ancestors, who always speak of the Goddess's sojourn into the land of Death as lasting for three days. Is it any wonder then, that we celebrate the next Full Moon (the Eostara) as the return of the Goddess from chthonic regions?
Naturally, this is the season to celebrate the victory of life over death, as any nature-lover will affirm. And the Christian religion was not misguided by celebrating Christ's victory over death at this same season. Nor is Christ the only solar hero to journey into the underworld. King Arthur, for example, does the same thing when he sets sail in his magical ship, Prydwen, to bring back precious gifts (i.e. the gifts of life) from the Land of the Dead, as we are told in the "Mabinogi". Welsh triads allude to Gwydion and Amaethon doing much the same thing. In fact, this theme is so universal that mythologists refer to it by a common phrase, "the harrowing of hell".
However, one might conjecture that the descent into hell, or the land of the dead, was originally accomplished, not by a solar male deity, but by a lunar female deity. It is Nature Herself who, in Spring, returns from the Underworld with her gift of abundant life. Solar heroes may have laid claim to this theme much later. The very fact that we are dealing with a three-day period of absence should tell us we are dealing with a lunar, not solar, theme. (Although one must make exception for those occasional MALE lunar deities, such as the Assyrian god, Sin.) At any rate, one of the nicest modern renditions of the harrowing of hell appears in many Books of Shadows as "The Descent of the Goddess". Lady Day may be especially appropriate for the celebration of this theme, whether by storytelling, reading, or dramatic re-enactment.
For modern Witches, Lady Day is one of the Lesser Sabbats or Low Holidays of the year, one of the four quarter-days. And what date will Witches choose to celebrate? They may choose the traditional folk "fixed" date of March 25th, starting on its Eve. Or they may choose the actual equinox point, when the Sun crosses the Equator and enters the astrological sign of Aries.
A new of beginnings, action, planting and spells for future gains. A time to go out for nature walks, celebrating the renewed life. Seeds are blessed for future plantings.
Ostara Traditions
Spring egg hunts have origins in many lands. Some think that the egg hunt was symbolic of our ancestors, who would search for birds nests in early Spring. The eggs in them provided much needed fresh protein to add to the diet after a long, lean winter. Of course, egg hunts also have origins in India and China, where they were tied to the Karmic belief that we must each find our own path in each new life. Egg hunts became popular in the United States thanks to Abraham Lincoln, who, in 1862, invited children form the Washington D.C. area to hunt for eggs on the White House lawn. This tradition continues even today.
Eggs were buried by the Teutons to infuse the Earth with the life-giving properties of the egg. They were planted in fields, flower beds, window boxes and even animal barns for fertility. People would eat eggs in order to gain from the life-giving benefits of the egg.
The Teutons believed it was very bad luck to wear your spring clothes before Ostara. They would secretly work all winter on beautiful new clothing for the Ostara celebration. This is where the tradition of having new, fancy clothes for Easter morning came from. It is also the origin of the 'Easter parade' to show off the new, beautiful clothing you now have.
One activity is to go out to a field and collect wild flowers, or go to a florist and buy a couple that appeal. Take them home and look up their meanings. The flowers chosen reflect your thoughts and emotions.
Other activities can include: Light a fire in the circle during your Ostra rite, or light the fire in a cauldron place a lit green candle in a dish full of moist earth, let it burn down and then bury the remainders (except the dish) Plant some seeds in pots or in your garden Dye or paint eggs with pagan/wiccan symbols on them and God/Goddess signs Fill up a dish with green yellow candies and leave them out for everyone to enjoy
The correct day is the first full moon after the equinox. The reason for this was because the goddess Eostre was highly interwoven with lunar lore.
Ostara Celebration
From: About.com
Many Holidays, Many Names: The word Ostara is just one of the names applied to the celebration of the spring equinox on March 21. The Venerable Bede said the origin of the word is actually from Eostre, a Germanic goddess of spring. Of course, it's also the same time as the Christian Easter celebration, and in the Jewish faith, Passover takes place as well. For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season. Typically, the Celtic as a holiday, although they were in tune with the changing of the seasons.
A New Day Begins: A dynasty of Persian kings known as the Achaemenians celebrated the spring equinox with the festival of No Ruz -- which means "new day." It is a celebration of hope and renewal still observed today in many Persian countries, and has its roots in Zoroastrianism. In Iran, a festival called Chahar-Shanbeh Suri takes place right before No Ruz begins, and people purify their homes and leap over fires to welcome the 13-day celebration of No Ruz.
Mad as a March Hare: Spring equinox is a time for fertility and sowing seeds, and so nature's fertility goes a little crazy. In medieval societies in Europe, the March hare was viewed as a major fertility symbol -- this is a species of rabbit that is nocturnal most of the year, but in March when mating season begins, there are bunnies everywhere all day long. The female of the species is super fecund and can conceive a second litter while still pregnant with a first. As if that wasn't enough, the males tend to get frustrated when rebuffed by their mates, and bounce around erratically when discouraged.
The Legends of Mithras: The story of the Roman god, Mithras, is similar to the tale of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Born at the winter solstice and resurrected in the spring, Mithras helped his followers ascend to the realm of light after death. In one legend, Mithras, who was popular amongst members of the Roman military, was ordered by the Sun to sacrifice a white bull. He reluctantly obeyed, but at the moment when his knife entered the creature's body, a miracle took place. The bull turned into the moon, and Mithras' cloak became the night sky. Where the bull's blood fell flowers grew, and stalks of grain sprouted from its tail.
Spring Celebrations Around the World: In ancient Rome, the followers of Cybele believed that their goddess had a consort who was born via a virgin birth. His name was Attis, and he died and was resurrected each year during the time of the vernal equinox on the Julian Calendar (between March 22 and March 25). Around the same time, the Germanic tribes honored a lunar goddess known as Ostara, who mated with a fertility god around this time of year, and then gave birth nine months later – at Yule. The indigenous Mayan people in Central American have celebrated a spring equinox festival for ten centuries. As the sun sets on the day of the equinox on the great ceremonial pyramid, El Castillo, Mexico, its "western face...is bathed in the late afternoon sunlight. The lengthening shadows appear to run from the top of the pyramid's northern staircase to the bottom, giving the illusion of a diamond-backed snake in descent." This has been called "The Return of the Sun Serpent" since ancient times. According to the Venerable Bede, Eostre was the Saxon version of the Germanic goddess Ostara. Her feast day was held on the full moon following the vernal equinox -- almost the identical calculation as for the Christian Easter in the west. One delightful legend associated with Eostre was that she found an injured bird on the ground one winter. To save its life, she transformed it into a hare. But "the transformation was not a complete one. The bird took the appearance of a hare but retained the ability to lay eggs...the hare would decorate these eggs and leave them as gifts to Eostre."
Modern Celebrations: This is a good time of year to start your seedlings. If you grow an herb garden, start getting the soil ready for late spring plantings. Celebrate the balance of light and dark as the sun begins to tip the scales, and the return of new growth is near. Many modern Wiccans and Pagans celebrate Ostara as a time of renewal and rebirth. Take some time to celebrate the new life that surrounds you in nature -- walk in park, lay in the grass, hike through a forest. As you do so, observe all the new things beginning around you -- plants, flowers, insects, birds. Meditate upon the ever-moving Wheel of the Year, and celebrate the change of seasons.
The Wheel of the Year holds several purposes, both theological and practical. Theologically, the story of the Wheel often varies depending on the Tradition. The Wheel gives the accounts of the mythological events that repeat throughout the year as well as a vague "history" of the Gods and Goddesses involved within the pantheon. For the newbies, by "Tradition" we mean "denomination"; for example Wiccan, Celtic, Druid, Native American, etc. On the more practical side, the Wheel trains us to be able to deal with death and the inevitability of re-birth that follows. Paganism teaches that death, a natural function of the universe, is a part of life; a dramatic change that is the beginning of a new experience, and something to be celebrated at the proper time not feared (not condoning Suicide!)
Through the ideas of Heaven and Hell, Christianity teaches a deep fear of death, and this spurs our society's horror of death. We are always trying to find new and improved ways to beat death, but we will never succeed.
It is sad our society portrays death as such a terrifying experience; we would certainly have less emotional pain and suffering in the world if death could be seen as what it is: a transformation, nothing more.
*Background Information:
This minor Sabbat celebrates the Vernal Equinox and the blessed coming of SPRING! After we've managed to freeze our various appendages off for an entire winter, the Pagans of old were always looking forward to this day that heralds the coming of warmth and return of life. The most prominent traces of its origin are in the British Isles but most likely was separately originated in the Southern Mediterranean areas around the same time. This is "properly" celebrated on the date of the Equinox, which tends to vary in-between the period of about 2 days each year. If you really want to get technical, the holiday occurs when the Sun crosses the Equator and enters Aries. In earlier times, before all our fancy technology, it was often celebrated on the fixed date of March 25th. To point out a traditional "mistake," many people use the name Ostara as synonymous with Eostara.
Eostara is in fact the a Esbat (Lunar celebration) and is appropriately applied to the Vernal Moon, the closest Full Moon to the Vernal Equinox. Similarly, Lady Day is sometimes mismatched with Beltane (April 30th). This Sabbat can also be known as: Vernal Equinox, Spring Equinox, Alban Eiler, Eostre ("OHS-truh"
or "EST-truh"), the Rites of Spring, the Rites of Eostre, the Festival of Trees, and Esther.
*Meanings:
The quests we set ourselves on at Yule will start showing prominent results now and while we work through them and enjoy we must keep the balance within ourselves. Mirror the equality of the light and the dark, don't shut out "bad" emotions or cling to strongly to the "good" ones.
You're human, you're allowed to feel both. From your newly gained rewards produce more buds of progress, just like the trees will soon start sprouting for Summer magnificence. Energy alignment in favor of relationships and inner growth. It is also a celebration of life over death, both plant and animal surviving the dangers of Winter and pushing forward to a promising heat. Free yourself from obstacles that prohibit progress.
*History/Mythology -- Celtic (and Christian counterparts):
If you have read the Mabinogion myth, this is where the God of Light conquers his darker twin. The Goddess who has become the Maiden again since Candlemas, welcomes her Child and soon to be spouse. She watches him grow proudly. Pagans of old would light fires at dawn for protection of crops to come, renewed life, and cures to aliments they battled with over the hard Winter months.
The Roman Catholic Church adopted two holidays from the pagan celebrations. The first being the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was part of the family (fixed date of March 25th). It was fixed at this date because it needed to be the exact and perfect nine months to December 25th, when the Son of God was said to be born. Even though she was birthing the Son of God, she's still human. I suppose an irregular gestation period would have been seen as Satanic. For this reason many Christians seem to think that any mention of "Lady Day"
refers to this Christian Holiday, when it is referring to Ostara if coming from a Pagan mouth. If you take a closer look this mythology was used before Christian times. The Goddess returning to her Maiden, a.k.a. Virgin (in this case meaning the original 'unmarried'), was already established in Celtic lore. This is the time that the Young God and Maiden mate and conceive a child that will grow to become the Dark God. See any similarities yet?
The second holiday that gets inappropriately combined with Ostara is Easter.
Not so surprisingly, Easter is also a celebration of life over death as Jesus rises again; just like the God of Light rises again to defeat the God of Darkness. Does Easter seem to have an oddly familiar ring to it? That's because it is derived from the Teutonic Goddess Eostre, (which incidentally is where we also get the name "estrogen" from -- yep, the female hormone), who's symbols were the Egg and the Rabbit. I know lights are going off, so yes... exactly where the Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs came from. Rabbits are a symbol of fertility (as in 'they are worse than rabbits!' in reference to sexual habits) and Eggs are a symbol of creation. As stated before, Her day is Eostara, the night of the Vernal Full Moon. The Church doesn't do Full Moons, but Easter is on the Sunday after the Vernal Full Moon each year, and that's why it is never set on the calendar. Furthermore, if Easter Sunday did happen to be the Vernal Moon, the Church was very pointed in being sure it was moved to the Sunday after so there would be no suspected associated with "wicked" Pagan holidays. Of course, there was anyway, so why not just stick with a constant schedule? Donno.
Another not so striking similarity between Celtic mythology and Christian mythology: Jesus, after being killed on Good Friday, 'descends into Hell.' After the third day he rises again and proceeds to Heaven. Many Celtic myths of old speak of the Goddess descending into the Underworld for three days, continuing the Trinity trend. Furthermore, it is said to coincide with the Vernal New Moon, which is not visible for three days, both the day before, the day of, and the day after. These myths had existed for many thousands of years before the coming of Christianity.
Furthermore, similar descents into the Underworld are all over folklore and other cultural traditions (including King Arthur).
*Mythology -- Wiccan:
The Goddess transfers her fertility to the Earth and takes on the Maiden aspect. The God grows to maturity and will soon become the Goddess' lover at Beltane. For most Wiccans it is a celebration of fertility and growing Light.
*Decorations and Activities:
Some fun and appropriate traditions could include the classic Painting of "Easter" (really Ostara) Eggs. Always a great hit with the children.
Basket weaving was a common practice until the super market chains swept all the creativity out of it by providing us with plastic as opposed to wicker and fake grass as opposed to hand picked flowers. What is the world coming to?
*smile* I had hoped to find some instructions on construction of weave baskets but my seeking came up short. Therefore, my best suggestion is to check out a book at your local public library. While there you might look up some work on Gardening... Starting your garden work is excellent on this day, and can be even more beneficial if you help your child begin a garden of their own; (perhaps right along side yours) so you can grow together.
Fresh picked flowers are great for altar decorations and household adornment. Lighting fires at sunrise and ringing bells can be worked into ritual also. And never underestimate the spirituality of a simple walk through a garden, wood, or park.
*Symbolic of Ostara:
Foodstuffs: Hard boiled eggs, Honey Cakes, First Fruits of the Season, Nuts, Seeds, Leafy Veggies, and of course CHOCOLATE! (No they didn't have chocolate back then but it's become a grand novelty these days!)
Drinks: Anything you can whip up from the seasonal fruits and berries.
Colors (for those who use Candle Magick): Yellow, Green, and Gold.
Stones: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Bloodstone, and Red Jasper.
Animals: Rabbits! (yep the Easter Bunny is Pagan!), Cougar, Sea Crow, Sea Eagle, Hedgehog, and Boar.
Mythical Creatures: Merfolk and any other Air or Water beings.
Deities: Eostre, Ostara (who can also be connected with Ishtar and Astarte), the Green Goddess, Lord of the Greenwood, Aries, Artemis, Ahtene, Black Isis, Astarte, Cybele, Hecate, Luna, Mars, Minerva, and the Morrigan.
Plants: Roses, Strawberries, Seasonal Fruit Plants, Violets, Honeysuckle, Easter Lily, Dogwood, Daffodil, Iris, Irish Moss, Jonquil, Apple Trees(blossoms specifically), and Alder.
Herbs: Sage, Rose, Jasmine, Strawberries, Acorn, Celandine, Daffodil, Dogwood, Easter Lily, Cinquefoil, Crocus, Iris, Honeysuckle, Tansy, Violets, Broom, High John Root, Yellow Dock, Wood Betony, Irish Moss, and Jonquil.
Incenses would include: Jasmine, Rose, Sage, African Violet, Strawberry, Apple Blossom, and Honeysuckle.
Astrological Signs: Pisces and Aries.
Article by Markus Witchcraft Dawning Webmaster http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4885/index.html witchdawn@hotmail.com Ostara - The Earth Awakens "The Earth Awakens" - Spring Equinox (~ March 21)
Ostara occurs on the Spring Equinox. This is the time of year when the sun is directly over the equator making the night and day equal in length. The Spring Equinox occurs when the Sun enters the sign of Aries. It is on this day that the darkness and light are exactly equal, therefore this Sabbat brings with it feelings of balance. From this day onward, day will dominate the night and the earth will explode with life. Ostara is the first day of Spring.
At Ostara, the Sun/God has grown into a young adult. He is passing into manhood, and his strength and vitality are reflected in the surging growth of plants. He had risen again. With His growing vitality comes the warmth of Spring and the planting of crops. The Goddess is no longer the nursing mother, but is now the beautiful maiden of Spring. She grows in strength as she sees her son growing into manhood. The Earth casts off the snow and ice of winter to reveal her beautiful green mantle, and the surging rivers of her life force. Like the Earth we too plant our own seeds at this time; seed of goals that we will make into reality. We celebrate the changes in our own bodies.
We become more active, sleep less, eat less and spend more time outdoors.
Many traditions come along with Ostara. You will notice that Christianity integrated most of these symbols into the holiday of Easter.
The first and most preserved of the Ostara traditions is the painting and decorating of eggs. If you really think about it, what does painting eggs have to do with Christ's death and resurrection? The answer is simple, it doesn't.
The egg symbolizes the fertility of the Goddess and the God. Decorating them is a way of charging them as magical, objects using whatever color is appropriate for your goal. The eggs are hidden and if found, you will receive your goal that year. Another tradition is the use of a rabbit as symbolism. The rabbit symbolizes the fertility of the Goddess. Think about how fertile rabbits are. The rabbit represents the exploding growth of life on the earth seen at Ostara. The tradition of giving gift baskets actually comes from Beltane, not Ostara.
A tradition which did not exactly move over into Christianity is the tradition of having sex in freshly plowed fields. This tradition came from the pagan farmers who would finish plowing and planting their fields. Once the crops were all planted, the farmer and his wife would go out into the field and make love in it. The idea being that the fertility of their sexual act would help the plants grow into a bountiful crop. Another variant of this is leaping in the fields. Instead of making love in the freshly plowed fields, the farmer and his family would go out into the field and leap as high as they could into the air. The idea being that the crops would grow as high as their leaps into the air. This is a perfect example of imitative magic, where the crops are supposed to imitate the actions of the farmer's family. As you can see, Ostara is a festival of fertility and growth.
Ostara is a joyous festival associated with the rebirth of the Earth and the awakening of Mother Nature. As such a festival, the Ritual should be bright, with many flowers adorning the Altar. Just as Imbolc is a festival of White, Ostaras' colors are yellow and green, springtime colors. Focus should be on the new life budding around you, the trees and flowers and the butterflies and even the caterpillars. Ostara is about Rebirth, and your ritual should focus on and harness that healing and nurturing energy.
Herbs associated with Ostara are:
Acorn- Acorns are said to bring both luck and fertility.
Celandine- An herb of Joy and tranquility, Celandine is also said to protect anyone who carries a sprig with them.
Cinquefoil- Used in ritual baths and for purification, Cinquefoil also brings eloquence and protection to the wearer. Love, power, wisdom, health, and abundance are symbolized by it's five petals.
Dandelion- Dandelion Tea is said to increase psychic ability. It's yellow head and deep green stem and leaves also makes it a great choice for your Ostara Altar.
Dogwood- Use Dogwood leaves, wood, and flowers as a protective charm.. The four petaled leaves are said to represent the four Quarter elements- Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.
Honeysuckle- The flowers of the honeysuckle are said to attract money. They will also heighten psychic ability when rubbed on the forehead.
Iris- A Goddess herb which brings Purity, faith, courage, and wisdom.
Jasmine- Jasmine flowers help to attract wealth, and their scent is said to bring prophetic dreams.
Rose- Rose is used to attract love. Rose hips worn as beads, Rose buds in your bath water, or rose petals worn as a charm are all said to conjure a potential lover. Rose petals are also added to healing potions or spells to enhance them.
Tansy- An herb of Longevity.
Violet- An herb of love and protection.
Candle colors for Ostara are Yellow and Green.
http://wiccanmagic.com/ostara/ritual.html
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Ostara
(March 20 or 21)
Related Deities: Eostre, the adolescent Spring Maiden, the adolescent Spring Lord
Related Herbs: Acorn, Alder, Celandine, Cinquefoil, Daffodil, Dandelion, Dogwood, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Jonquils, Rose, Tansy, Violet, Woodruff, Gorse, Olive, Peony, Iris, Narcissus, Jasmine, rose, violet, all spring flowers.
Related Colors: Yellow and Green
Related Incense: Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry, Floral of any type.
Related Stones: Moss Agate, Green Moonstone, Orange Calcite, Rose Quartz, Jasper
Traditional Foods: Leafy green vegetables, Dairy foods, Nuts such as Pumpkin, Sunflower and Pine. Flower Dishes and Sprouts.
Special Activities: Planting seeds or starting a Magickal Herb Garden. Taking a long walk in nature with no intent other than reflecting on the Magick of nature and our Great Mother and her bounty.
Also known as the Vernal Equinox, Alban Eiber, Bacchanalia, Lady Day and Jack in the Green Day, Eostara
More commonly known as Easter among the Christians, Ostara marks the renewal of life within the Earth and the renewal of fertility to our spiritual lives. The name Easter coming from the Anglo-Saxon free-spirited fertility goddess known as Eostre. Legend has it that while entertaining a group of childern, Eostre changed a bird into a rabbit. To the delight and amusement of the childern, the bewitched animal laid colored eggs. Thus the origin of the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg hunts. Both of which are fertility symbols. Rabbits for being very prolific. The egg, the white represents the all-encompassing nature of the Goddess while the yolk represents the virility of the Sun God. The symmetrical outer shell binding the two together, sealing their fertility and love for each other.
The year is in perfect balance between light and darkness. Ostara also marks the first day of true Spring. The God is now a green youth and the Goddess is in her maiden aspect. Their courtship dance begins.
We think that the customs surrounding the celebration of the spring equinox were imported from Mediterranean lands, although there can be no doubt that the first inhabitants of the British Isles observed it, as evidence from megalithic sites shows. But it was certainly more popular to the south, where people celebrated the holiday as New Year's Day, and claimed it as the first day of the first sign of the Zodiac, Aries. However you look at it, it is certainly a time of new beginnings, as a simple glance at Nature will prove.
In the Roman Catholic Church, there are two holidays which get mixed up with the Vernal Equinox. The first, occurring on the fixed calendar day of March 25th in the old liturgical calendar, is called the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (or B.V.M., as she was typically abbreviated in Catholic Missals). "Annunciation" means an announcement. This is the day that the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was "in the family way". Naturally, this had to be announced since Mary, being still a virgin, would have no other means of knowing it. (Quit scoffing, O ye of little faith!) Why did the Church pick the Vernal Equinox for the commemoration of this event? Because it was necessary to have Mary conceive the child Jesus a full nine months before his birth at the Winter Solstice (i.e., Christmas, celebrated on the fixed calendar date of December 25). Mary's pregnancy would take the natural nine months to complete, even if the conception was a bit unorthodox.
As mentioned before, the older Pagan equivalent of this scene focuses on the joyous process of natural conception, when the young virgin Goddess (in this case, "virgin" in the original sense of meaning "unmarried") mates with the young solar God, who has just displaced his rival. This is probably not their first mating, however. In the mythical sense, the couple may have been lovers since Candlemas, when the young God reached puberty. But the young Goddess was recently a mother (at the Winter Solstice) and is probably still nursing her new child. Therefore, conception is naturally delayed for six weeks or so and, despite earlier matings with the God, She does not conceive until (surprise!) the Vernal Equinox. This may also be their Hand-fasting, a sacred marriage between God and Goddess called a Hierogamy, the ultimate Great Rite. Probably the nicest study of this theme occurs in M. Esther Harding's book, "Woman's Mysteries". Probably the nicest description of it occurs in M. Z. Bradley's "Mists of Avalon", in the scene where Morgan and Arthur assume the sacred roles. (Bradley follows the British custom of transferring the episode to Beltain, when the climate is more suited to its outdoor celebration.)
The other Christian holiday which gets mixed up in this is Easter. Easter, too, celebrates the victory of a god of light (Jesus) over darkness (death), so it makes sense to place it at this season. Ironically, the name "Easter" was taken from the name of a Teutonic lunar Goddess, Eostre (from whence we also get the name of the female hormone, estrogen). Her chief symbols were the bunny (both for fertility and because her worshipers saw a hare in the full moon) and the egg (symbolic of the cosmic egg of creation), images which Christians have been hard pressed to explain. Her holiday, the Eostara, was held on the Vernal Equinox Full Moon. Of course, the Church doesn't celebrate full moons, even if they do calculate by them, so they planted their Easter on the following Sunday. Thus, Easter is always the first Sunday, after the first Full Moon, after the Vernal Equinox. If you've ever wondered why Easter moved all around the calendar, now you know. (By the way, the Catholic Church was so adamant about NOT incorporating lunar Goddess symbolism that they added a further calculation: if Easter Sunday were to fall on the Full Moon itself, then Easter was postponed to the following Sunday instead.)
Incidentally, this raises another point: recently, some Pagan traditions began referring to the Vernal Equinox as Eostara. Historically, this is incorrect. Eostara is a lunar holiday, honoring a lunar Goddess, at the Vernal Full Moon. Hence, the name "Eostara" is best reserved to the nearest Esbat, rather than the Sabbat itself. How this happened is difficult to say. However, it is notable that some of the same groups misappropriated the term "Lady Day" for Beltain, which left no good folk name for the Equinox. Thus, Oestara was misappropriated for it, completing a chain-reaction of displacement. Needless to say, the old and accepted folk name for the Vernal Equinox is "Lady Day". Christians sometimes insist that the title is in honor of Mary and her Annunciation, but Pagans will smile knowingly.
Another mythological motif which must surely arrest our attention at this time of year is that of the descent of the God or Goddess into the Underworld. Perhaps we see this most clearly in the Christian tradition. Beginning with his death on the cross on Good Friday, it is said that Jesus "descended into hell" for the three days that his body lay entombed. But on the third day (that is, Easter Sunday), his body and soul rejoined, he arose from the dead and ascended into heaven. By a strange "coincidence", most ancient Pagan religions speak of the Goddess descending into the Underworld, also for a period of three days.
Why three days? If we remember that we are here dealing with the lunar aspect of the Goddess, the reason should be obvious. As the text of one Book of Shadows gives it, "...as the moon waxes and wanes, and walks three nights in darkness, so the Goddess once spent three nights in the Kingdom of Death." In our modern world, alienated as it is from nature, we tend to mark the time of the New Moon (when no moon is visible) as a single date on a calendar. We tend to forget that the moon is also hidden from our view on the day before and the day after our calendar date. But this did not go unnoticed by our ancestors, who always speak of the Goddess's sojourn into the land of Death as lasting for three days. Is it any wonder then, that we celebrate the next Full Moon (the Eostara) as the return of the Goddess from chthonic regions?
Naturally, this is the season to celebrate the victory of life over death, as any nature-lover will affirm. And the Christian religion was not misguided by celebrating Christ's victory over death at this same season. Nor is Christ the only solar hero to journey into the underworld. King Arthur, for example, does the same thing when he sets sail in his magical ship, Prydwen, to bring back precious gifts (i.e. the gifts of life) from the Land of the Dead, as we are told in the "Mabinogi". Welsh triads allude to Gwydion and Amaethon doing much the same thing. In fact, this theme is so universal that mythologists refer to it by a common phrase, "the harrowing of hell".
However, one might conjecture that the descent into hell, or the land of the dead, was originally accomplished, not by a solar male deity, but by a lunar female deity. It is Nature Herself who, in Spring, returns from the Underworld with her gift of abundant life. Solar heroes may have laid claim to this theme much later. The very fact that we are dealing with a three-day period of absence should tell us we are dealing with a lunar, not solar, theme. (Although one must make exception for those occasional MALE lunar deities, such as the Assyrian god, Sin.) At any rate, one of the nicest modern renditions of the harrowing of hell appears in many Books of Shadows as "The Descent of the Goddess". Lady Day may be especially appropriate for the celebration of this theme, whether by storytelling, reading, or dramatic re-enactment.
For modern Witches, Lady Day is one of the Lesser Sabbats or Low Holidays of the year, one of the four quarter-days. And what date will Witches choose to celebrate? They may choose the traditional folk "fixed" date of March 25th, starting on its Eve. Or they may choose the actual equinox point, when the Sun crosses the Equator and enters the astrological sign of Aries.
A new of beginnings, action, planting and spells for future gains. A time to go out for nature walks, celebrating the renewed life. Seeds are blessed for future plantings.
Ostara Traditions
Spring egg hunts have origins in many lands. Some think that the egg hunt was symbolic of our ancestors, who would search for birds nests in early Spring. The eggs in them provided much needed fresh protein to add to the diet after a long, lean winter. Of course, egg hunts also have origins in India and China, where they were tied to the Karmic belief that we must each find our own path in each new life. Egg hunts became popular in the United States thanks to Abraham Lincoln, who, in 1862, invited children form the Washington D.C. area to hunt for eggs on the White House lawn. This tradition continues even today.
Eggs were buried by the Teutons to infuse the Earth with the life-giving properties of the egg. They were planted in fields, flower beds, window boxes and even animal barns for fertility. People would eat eggs in order to gain from the life-giving benefits of the egg.
The Teutons believed it was very bad luck to wear your spring clothes before Ostara. They would secretly work all winter on beautiful new clothing for the Ostara celebration. This is where the tradition of having new, fancy clothes for Easter morning came from. It is also the origin of the 'Easter parade' to show off the new, beautiful clothing you now have.
One activity is to go out to a field and collect wild flowers, or go to a florist and buy a couple that appeal. Take them home and look up their meanings. The flowers chosen reflect your thoughts and emotions.
Other activities can include: Light a fire in the circle during your Ostra rite, or light the fire in a cauldron place a lit green candle in a dish full of moist earth, let it burn down and then bury the remainders (except the dish) Plant some seeds in pots or in your garden Dye or paint eggs with pagan/wiccan symbols on them and God/Goddess signs Fill up a dish with green yellow candies and leave them out for everyone to enjoy
The correct day is the first full moon after the equinox. The reason for this was because the goddess Eostre was highly interwoven with lunar lore.
Ostara Celebration
From: About.com
Many Holidays, Many Names: The word Ostara is just one of the names applied to the celebration of the spring equinox on March 21. The Venerable Bede said the origin of the word is actually from Eostre, a Germanic goddess of spring. Of course, it's also the same time as the Christian Easter celebration, and in the Jewish faith, Passover takes place as well. For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season. Typically, the Celtic as a holiday, although they were in tune with the changing of the seasons.
A New Day Begins: A dynasty of Persian kings known as the Achaemenians celebrated the spring equinox with the festival of No Ruz -- which means "new day." It is a celebration of hope and renewal still observed today in many Persian countries, and has its roots in Zoroastrianism. In Iran, a festival called Chahar-Shanbeh Suri takes place right before No Ruz begins, and people purify their homes and leap over fires to welcome the 13-day celebration of No Ruz.
Mad as a March Hare: Spring equinox is a time for fertility and sowing seeds, and so nature's fertility goes a little crazy. In medieval societies in Europe, the March hare was viewed as a major fertility symbol -- this is a species of rabbit that is nocturnal most of the year, but in March when mating season begins, there are bunnies everywhere all day long. The female of the species is super fecund and can conceive a second litter while still pregnant with a first. As if that wasn't enough, the males tend to get frustrated when rebuffed by their mates, and bounce around erratically when discouraged.
The Legends of Mithras: The story of the Roman god, Mithras, is similar to the tale of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Born at the winter solstice and resurrected in the spring, Mithras helped his followers ascend to the realm of light after death. In one legend, Mithras, who was popular amongst members of the Roman military, was ordered by the Sun to sacrifice a white bull. He reluctantly obeyed, but at the moment when his knife entered the creature's body, a miracle took place. The bull turned into the moon, and Mithras' cloak became the night sky. Where the bull's blood fell flowers grew, and stalks of grain sprouted from its tail.
Spring Celebrations Around the World: In ancient Rome, the followers of Cybele believed that their goddess had a consort who was born via a virgin birth. His name was Attis, and he died and was resurrected each year during the time of the vernal equinox on the Julian Calendar (between March 22 and March 25). Around the same time, the Germanic tribes honored a lunar goddess known as Ostara, who mated with a fertility god around this time of year, and then gave birth nine months later – at Yule. The indigenous Mayan people in Central American have celebrated a spring equinox festival for ten centuries. As the sun sets on the day of the equinox on the great ceremonial pyramid, El Castillo, Mexico, its "western face...is bathed in the late afternoon sunlight. The lengthening shadows appear to run from the top of the pyramid's northern staircase to the bottom, giving the illusion of a diamond-backed snake in descent." This has been called "The Return of the Sun Serpent" since ancient times. According to the Venerable Bede, Eostre was the Saxon version of the Germanic goddess Ostara. Her feast day was held on the full moon following the vernal equinox -- almost the identical calculation as for the Christian Easter in the west. One delightful legend associated with Eostre was that she found an injured bird on the ground one winter. To save its life, she transformed it into a hare. But "the transformation was not a complete one. The bird took the appearance of a hare but retained the ability to lay eggs...the hare would decorate these eggs and leave them as gifts to Eostre."
Modern Celebrations: This is a good time of year to start your seedlings. If you grow an herb garden, start getting the soil ready for late spring plantings. Celebrate the balance of light and dark as the sun begins to tip the scales, and the return of new growth is near. Many modern Wiccans and Pagans celebrate Ostara as a time of renewal and rebirth. Take some time to celebrate the new life that surrounds you in nature -- walk in park, lay in the grass, hike through a forest. As you do so, observe all the new things beginning around you -- plants, flowers, insects, birds. Meditate upon the ever-moving Wheel of the Year, and celebrate the change of seasons.
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