Ostara: An Introduction
Spring Equinox or Ostara takes place between march 20th -22nd, depending on the year. Similar to the Autumn Equinox, it is a time when light and dark are balanced. The Spring Equinox has been celebrated throughout history by many different culture throughout history as a time of renewal, light, and rebirth.
Ancient Celebrations
The ancient Persians celebrated the Equinox as Nowruz, a celebration of renewal still observed today in many Persian countries.
The Mayan people celebrate "The Return of the Sun Serpent" in honor of the serpent deity.
Ancient Roman followers of the goddess Cybele, mother of the gods, believed she had a consort, Attis, who died and was resurrected on this day.
The pre-Christian Germanic tribes of northern Europe worshipped the goddess of spring called Ostara. The Saxon tribes called her Eostre, and she is known for giving her name to the holiday Easter.
Eostre and/or Ostara?
The earliest traces of Ostara are from England when Anglo-Saxons celebrated Eosturmonath (Eostre Month/Ostara Month) and worshipped the spring goddess Ostara (Eostre). This comes from documentation by an English monk named Bede, who wrote about it.
Little is known about the worship of the spring goddess Eostre. Still, According to the Venerable Bede, Eostre was the Saxon version of the Germanic goddess Ostara.
Ostara is the goddess of the shining dawn, spring, and fertility. She is known to bring joy and blessings. During the first signs of spring, bonfires, dances, egg games, and pastries would be enjoyed. It would have been celebrated on the full moon after the spring equinox.
Since there is very little evidence of worship of the Goddess Ostara or Eostre, it has created debate among historians whether or not this story was exaggerated and the goddess invented.
Eggs
The egg is essential to Ostara because it symbolizes rebirth, fertilization, and a staple food source. Chickens quit laying in winter and resume in the spring, with peak months in March and April.
The tradition of painting eggs has existed for thousands of years in Persia as part of the spring celebration of Nowruz, or New Year. The colored eggs are placed on the dinner table, and a mother eats one cooked egg for each child she has.
Pysanka eggs are a tradition in Ukraine. In honor of the sun god Dazhboh who was associated with birds, eggs were covered in wax and decorated in the spring. Since people could not catch birds, as they were the god's chosen animals, they could collect the eggs, which were considered magical.
Easter Bunny
The character first appeared in 16th-century German writings stating that well-behaved children would be visited by a rabbit who would give them colored eggs on Easter. This tradition was adopted when german immigrants settled in America. However, this is based on a misunderstanding of our ancestors. Rabbits create a nest on the ground, and the nest is abandoned when the babies are grown. Some types of birds come in and re-use the nest, so when a rabbit nest was found, they would discover eggs inside.
Correspondances
Color: light blue, green, pink, yellow
Stones: Aquamarine, Moonstone, Rose Quartz
Plants: Birch, Daffodil, Honeysuckle, Lily, Maple, Rose, Violet
Gods: Adonis, Cernunnos, The Green Man, Odin, Pan
Goddesses: Aphrodite, Athena, Cybele, Demeter, Diana, Gaia, Hera, Isis, Juno, Ostara, Persephone, Venus
Animals, Hare, Rabbit, Sheep, Snake, Hawk, Sparrow, Swallow
Intentions: Balance, Beauty, Fertility, Growth, Love, Rebirth, & Renewal
Let me know what Ostara traditions you share with your family!
