March 29, 2002, Newsletter Issue #45: Ostara - The Pagan Easter

Tip of the Week

Vernal or Spring Equinox, the Rites of Spring, Lady Day, Alban Eiber and Bacchanalia
March 20

The Spring Equinox occurs between March 19th and 21st. Ostara marks the day when night and day are equal and balanced. The Sun God`s strength increases. The Maiden celebrates her fertility. Ostara, her symbol the egg and her animal the rabbit, is the Norse Goddess of fertility, and it is Ostara that is honored this day. Life begins anew at this time. This is a time to plant the seeds of our flower, herb and vegetable gardens.

Symbols: eggs, New Moon, rabbits or a hare and butterflies
Foods: Eggs, honey, bread,seeds, sprouts and green leafy vegetables
Animal: Hares, rabbits, snakes,unicorn,pegasus
Goddesses: Virgin Goddesses, Moon Goddesses, Goddesses of Love, Androgynous Deities, some Fertility Goddesses. Some Ostara Goddesses are: Aphrodite (Greek), Eostre (Teutonic), Ma-Ku (Chinese), Lady of the Lake (Welsh-Cornish), Minerva (Roman), Isis (Egyptian), Rheda (Anglo-Saxon), Coatlicue (Aztec).
Gods: Gods of Love, Moon Gods, Gods of Song & Dance, some Fertility Gods. Some Ostara Gods are: Adonis (Greek), Lord of the Greenwood (English), Ovis (Roman Etruscan), Dylan (Welsh), Odin (Norse), Osiris (Egyptian), Attis (Persian), Mithras (Greco Persian).
Altar decorations: Colored eggs, seeds, earth, flowers and herbs appropriate
Traditions Planting seeds, working on magickal or herbal gardens, herbal work, taking walks through gardens, parks, woodlands, decorating and coloring eggs.

This gives you a bit of an insight into the Pagan world and a little more truth to the history of Ostara/Easter.

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