#Ēostre/Ostara

[onenakedfarmer]

Daily Painting

Artist Unknown THE LORD AND SAVIOR OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANS - DONALD J. TRUMP, KING OF THE THIEVES

[the-mortuary-witch]

WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE SABBATS

IMBOLC (CANDLEMAS)

Clean your home and space to welcome the coming of spring.

Bake a traditional Imbolc loaf of bread or other seasonal foods.

Use the colours white and yellow in your decorations and outfits.

Light a bonfire or light candles to represent the returning light.

Plant seeds or bulbs to symbolize the rebirth of nature.

Honour deities associated with Imbolc, such as Brigid, Cailleach, Danu, Persephone, Demeter, Pan, The Morrigan, and Freyja.

Perform a ritual to honour the coming of spring and ask for protection and blessings.

Make a Brigid's cross or other handcrafted decorations with herbs and other natural materials.

Perform a blessing of your home and surroundings with holy water or smoke cleansing.

Set up an altar or sacred space to honour the Celtic goddess Brigid, associated with Imbolc.

Make Brigid's bed, a traditional ritual of placing straw under your bed to bring fertility and growth into your life.

Connect with nature and spend time outside to honour the changing season.

OSTARA (SPRING EQUINOX)

Participate in fertility rites and rituals to celebrate the coming of spring and the planting season.

Honour deities associated with Ostara, such as Ēostre, Aphrodite, Persephone, Dementer, Flora, Pan, Hecate, and Freyja.

Create baskets filled with seasonal treats and decorations for loved ones.

Decorate your altar or sacred space with symbols of Ostara, such as eggs, bunnies, daffodils, and pastel colours.

Perform a spring cleaning of your home and life, releasing old habits and welcoming new beginnings.

Light a fire or light candles to honour the return of lighter, longer days.

Bake a traditional honey cake or other seasonal sweets to celebrate the sweetness of spring. 

Plant seeds or herbs for new growth and prosperity.

Go for a nature walk or hike to connect with the natural world.

Participate in an egg hunt or egg rolling, traditional Ostara games.

Celebrate the coming of spring with those you care about by sharing a meal.

Perform a protection spell or ritual to honour the increasing light and longer days.

Create a spring bouquet or wreath by using flowers like daffodils, crocuses, and other spring blossoms.

Practice self-care rituals to nourish and rejuvenate your mind and body.

BELTANE (MAY EVE)

Celebrate the fertility of the earth with bonfires and rituals honouring the fire god, Belenos.

Make a maypole and decorate it with colourful ribbons.

Participate in a maypole dance, a traditional celebration of fertility and joy.

Make a wish list and tie it to a tree on Beltane eve.

Collect flowers, especially May blossom or hawthorne flowers, and make a garland or crown to wear.

Honour deities associated with Beltane, such as Belenus, Cernunnos, Freyja, Pan, Flora, Aphrodite, Lilith, Daina, Artemis, and Green Man.

Create a flower crown or wear one made of wildflowers to honour the faery folk and fertility spirits.

Perform a ritual to bless your home and land for prosperity and protection.

Jump over the Beltane bonfires, symbolizing jumping over obstacles and embracing new beginnings.

Have a picnic or gathering with friends and family to celebrate the abundance and growth of the season.

Create a sacred space or altar for Beltane, decorat with flowers, herbs, and other nature-related objects.

Perform a cleansing ritual to rid yourself of negative energy and welcome the energy of new beginnings.

Make a bouquet of wildflowers or herbs, and hang it on your front door to welcome the spirits of Beltane.

Go for a walk in the woods or a natural setting and connect with the beauty and energy of the season.

LITHA (SUMMER SOLSTICE/MIDSUMMER)

Participate in a bonfires or lighting a sacred fire, celebrating the arrival of the longest day of the year.

Collect herbs and flowers, especially ones associated with the sun, such as calendula, yarrow, and St. John's wort, and make a solstice garland.

Perform a ritual to honour the sun and ask for protection and blessings.

Dance around the bonfire or engage in other traditions associated with the Summer Solstice, such as singing and drumming.

Have a solstice feast, filled with summer bounty, seasonal foods, and family.

Celebrate in the natural world, go for a walk, or have a picnic during the longest day.

Honour deities associated with Litha, such as Gaia, Freyja, Sol, Lugh, Sulis, Apollo, Belenus, Lucifer, Danu, Hestia, Asmodeus, Hades, and Ra.

Start summer resolutions. 

Get your hands dirty and embrace the earth. Consider planting a vegetable garden for fall harvest or add to your flower garden to mark the occasion. 

LAMMAS (LUGHNASADH)

Baking bread. 

Crafting corn dolls. 

Pick wild flowers. 

Honour the earth and the cycles of nature. 

Perform Sun magick. 

Give thanks to the spirits and/or deities for the beginning of the harvest season. 

Collect and honour the first fruits of the harvest, such as grains, corn, and apples.

Perform a ritual to honour Lugh and thank the gods and goddesses for the harvest.

Hold a harvest festival or feast, sharing the bounty of the land with family and friends.

Make a Lughnasadh altar or shrine with symbols of the harvest, such as corn, grains, and apples.

Participate in a traditional Lughnasadh celebration, such as a harvest dance or ritual.

Honour deities associated with Lammas, such as Lugh, Demeter, Ceres, Tailtiu, Danu, Persephone, Freyja, The Morrigan, and Green Man.

Collect herbs and plants for healing and protection, as Lughnasadh is traditionally a time for preparing for the winter months.

MABON (AUTUMN EQUINOX/FALL HARVEST)

Celebrate the balance between light and dark, and the onset of the harvest season.

Participate in a harvest celebration, collecting and honouring the fruits of the land.

Gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods.

Make a corn dolly or a straw figure as a reminder of the abundance of the harvest.

Perform a ritual to honour the balance of the seasons and thank the gods and goddesses for their blessings.

Spend time writing in your journal. You could reminisce about your summer experiences, reflect on the shifts you feel with the changing season, contemplate what you're ready to release, or express gratitude for the blessings in your life.

Adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.

Honour deities associated with Mabon, such as Demeter, Persephone, Ceres, Freyja, Pomona, Green Man, Loki, Modron, Freyr, Osiris, The Morrigan, Dionysus, Epona, Donn, the Muses, Hermes, Thor, Mabon, and Thoth.

Participate in a nature walk or ceremony, taking time to connect with the natural world and the turning of the seasons.

Enjoy your favourite fall beverages. 

Make a gratitude list or write a gratitude letter, expressing your appreciation for the abundance and beauty of the harvest season.

Connect with nature. 

Bring the beauty of fall indoors by decorating your home with seasonal touches. 

Make wine.

Performing a gratitude or release ritual. 

SAMHAIN (ALL HALLOWS/FINAL HARVEST)

Carving pumpkins with friends. 

Relax and watch some horror movies. 

Treat yourself to sweets. 

Participate in a haunted house, hayride, or corn maze event.

Declutter/organize your home. 

Focus on letting go to make space for the new year. 

Honour deities associated with Samhain, such as the Morrigan, Hecate, Cerridwen, Persephone, Hades, Lucifer, Pomona, Lilith, Cailleach, Santa Muerte, Odin, Loki, and Hel.

Collecting leaves. 

Bake treats that contain pumpkin. 

Creating a spooky, atmospheric decor for your home or workspace, such as cobwebs, faux spiders, and other creepy décor items.

Gathering friends and loved ones for a Samhain feast, feasting on symbolic foods like apples, pumpkin, or corn.

Visit a local pumpkin patch. 

Making personalized altar items and decorative pieces for your sacred space, such as witch jars, mandalas, sigils, symbols of the harvest, items associated with death, etc. 

Participating in a divination practice like tarot reading, scrying, or rune casting to gain insight and connect with the energy of the night.

Go to a harvest festival or carnival.

Hold a Samhain seance or mediumship session to contact the spirits of loved ones who have passed on.

Participate in a potluck dinner with witches and pagans, dressing in traditional Samhain garb.

RESPECTFULLY visit a graveyard. 

YULE (WINTER SOLSTICE/MIDWINTER)

Burn a Yule log. 

Make an evergreen Yule wreath.

Decorate a Yule tree. 

Make a Yule wish list or a Yule resolution, as Yule is a time of reflection and intention setting.

Practice Yule carol singing, participating in a community sing-along or carolling event.

Celebrate in candle light. 

Give back to nature. 

Exchange nature-based gifts. 

Host a feast for those you love with foods associated with Yule, such as: roast goose, Yule ham, nuts, berries, spices, squash, and potatoes. 

Cook/bake or eat Yule ham, gingerbread, mulled wine, roast goose, spiced cakes, shortbread, snowball, caraway, ginger snaps, honey cakes or pastries, and biscuits. 

Eat or give sweets flavoured with nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, or peppermint. 

Participate in the longest night of the year and prepare for the return of the light.

Honour deities associated with Yule, such as Odin, Baldur, Hel, Loki, Sol, Freyr, Njörðr with lights, candles, and bonfires.

Participate in a Yule spell or ritual, asking for blessings and protection for the coming year.

Decorate your home with evergreen boughs and wreaths, representing the evergreen nature of the sun and eternal life.

Host a Yule log ceremony. 

Participate in an outdoor activity, like sledding or ice skating, to honour the winter season.

[babysfirstpentagram]

Ostara, The Beginning of Spring:

Deities:

Brigid

Celtic

Goddess of fire, the home, and the end of Winter. 

Her holiday is technically Imbolc, but I felt the need to add her because she is, in fact, a spring goddess

Ēostre/Ostara

Anglo-saxon/Germanic

Goddess of Spring

This is her holiday, as it was named after her. There are myths about her spanning from Germany to England. 

Persephone

Greek

Goddess of Spring and the Queen of the Underworld. 

Her celebration of the return to the overworld is April 3rd. 

Flora

Roman

Goddess of flowers and the season of Spring

Jarylo

Slavic

God of vegetation, fertility, and springtime

He is called many different things depending on the country he is being spoken about in. 

Eiar

Old Greek

Hora of Spring

A hora is the goddess of a season.

Crystals of Spring:

Emerald

Known for its calming nature, bright green color, and the rest it takes to get an emerald shiny. 

May’s birthstone and a gemstone associated with Mercury. 

Aquamarine

A stone of rebirth, peace, and wisdom

March’s birthstone and a gemstone associated with Saturn

Moss Agate

A stone known for its connection with Earth, confidence, and creativity.

Moss agate is a stone of the Moon and of Earth.

Green Aventurine

A stone of wellness, prosperity, and abundance. 

Associated with Venus

Golden Apatite

A self help stone that boosts creativity, confidence, and manifestation. 

This stone is associated with Mercury

Herbs of Spring:

Chervil

Chives

Dill

Lemongrass

Lime leaf

Mint 

Marjoram 

Oregano

Parsley

Rosemary

Tarragon

Thyme

[crazycatsiren]

Ostara is a Wiccan holiday.

Ēostre (Austrō) may have been a West Germanic spring goddess. She also might have never existed.

Spring equinox is a thing.

None of the above is Easter.

That's all. Happy spring!

[underthetreeshade]

Today is spring equinox and the chance to see northern lights increases ( at least where I live ) so I'll be staying up hoping to catch some.

Not sure how I'll celebrate the spring equinox... but I decided to do a lil drawing keeping my thoughts on Ostara ( Ēastre/Ēostre), Sól and Máni.

I would love to attends a spring blot for frej , freja, sol and ljósálfar but I'm currently not in a situation where that is doable .

Perhaps I should dedicate today's time to read more of the Edda and read about how other celebrate the spring equinox

[talonabraxas]

Deities & Demons: Ostara and the Dawn

THE DAWN

Ostara, Ēostre who stemmed from Astarte is both an Ancient Germanic Goddess and one of the eight Neopagan Sabbats which make up the Pagan Wheel of the Year. The Sabbat, or Holiday celebrates the re-birth of Spring after the barren winter season. The face of the Goddess Ostara is the Virginal Maiden of Spring, the smiling celestial crescent, emerging in the sky from the black horizon of winter.

One must imagine the ancient European Winters to truly appreciate the return of this gentle fertility Goddess. To get through the barren season, families would store grains, nuts, dried meats and herbs for their survival. This preserved prosperity directly from the land equated with the sustaining of life when external conditions i.e. weather did not support it. Ēostre emerges from the rich Pagan canon of deities who came about when survival truly depended on the fertility and abundance of the land and humanitie’s harmonious relationship with it. She is and was and is a Goddess of the People, the Workers, the Creators, the Stargazers, and the Bacchanalian Merry makers. Now more than ever, in our modern age of convenience, and urban aversion to the laws of Nature’s Cyclic cornucopia, do we need the return of an abundant feminine force.

Even in modern astrology, the wheel of the zodiac starts with Aries, which correlates to March (the Sun enters Aries around the Equinox).

This means that you can think of March as a new beginning, too. If your year hasn’t started on the right footing, if you feel like you’re already behind, if you need some of that New Year energy again, here it is for you. Take it!

Ostara ☀️ Talon Abraxas

[sailtomarina]

Will it fit?

Hermione stood in front of the mirror nervously smoothing the pleats of her dress, a floaty, ephemeral thing hitting just above the knees that Luna insisted appropriately fit the pagan holiday. Hermione had never been one for celebrating anything aside from birthdays, Christmas, and New Year’s, but ever since entering the Wizarding world she found herself on a treadmill of festivals and holidays almost every month of the year. This time, it was Ēostre, or Ostara, or Easter, whatever you preferred to call it. It was one of a handful of celebrations of spring.

This year, rather than celebrating at one another’s homes like usual, their friends had opted to sign up for the Ministry-sponsored event. Guests were invited to frolic in fields and plant literal seeds for harvesting produce later in the season. A feast would follow that same evening under the ceiling of the night sky. It all seemed terribly whimsical and romantic, and normally Hermione would be excited if not for one more pesky detail.

In addition to the event signup was an optional service: matchmaking. And of course, her friends scribbled her name down for both.

So what if it had been months since her last romantic relationship? She was perfectly pleased with her life at the moment. Her days consisted of work, meals, reading, and evening walks. She even included socialization with semi-weekly trivia at the Leaky Cauldron and Flourish and Blotts’ monthly book club meetings. 

It was with irritation and swiftly growing horror that Hermione discovered not only was she to attend the silly Ēostre event, and she would do so with a blind date. Pairs were provided with thin golden arm bands that slipped over the elbow and twinkled with a color matching only one other. Hermione’s armlet sparkled white gold.

“Does it fit?” Luna’s head poked into the washroom where she continued to examine herself.

Gesturing to the band that magically sized to fit snugly around her bicep, Hermione nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. Let’s hope whoever I end up with fits just as well.”

“Oh, you needn’t worry about that. The matches include compatibility charms,” chirped Luna, as she braided small white blossoms into Hermione’s curls.

“Compatibility…charms? Is that even legal?”

She tittered as she waved a wand over her handiwork, ensuring Hermione’s hair and makeup would stay in place for several hours. “Yes. It doesn't affect your choices or anything sinister like that. Just points you in a promising direction and lets you figure out the rest.”

“Hmph. Well I suppose I could use the help given my poor choice in partners.”

“Your last one wasn’t that bad, Hermione, and Oliver was definitely worth the time.” Hermione blushed at Luna’s knowing wink. Oliver certainly did give her some delicious memories, and their breakup was friendly enough given the circumstances. “No more dilly-dallying! It’s time to go.”

Slipping on a pair of leather Grecian sandals and taking one more peek in the mirror, Hermione took a deep breath and tried to smile. Compatible sounded like a good thing, didn’t it?

***

“Oh, my god.”

Draco Malfoy stood frozen in front of her in a similar state of shock. An identical arm band fit around his arm. He cut a fine figure, if she was being honest with herself, in his cerulean chinos and tailored white oxford, sleeves rolled up to bare his muscled forearms with prominent veins cording the length of them. Shaking his head as if waking himself from a trance, he stepped closer to wave his hand over her arm. The resulting pulse of light confirmed their suspicions.

“Uh…” Could she be any less dull-witted? Where were the words that usually flowed out of her mouth like a bloody flood? Her mouth clicked shut—hanging open earlier like an imbecile—when he lifted his elbow to offer an escort.

“You look lovely, Hermione. It would be my pleasure to accompany you.”

Her tongue loosened at last. “Malf—Draco. What a…pleasant surprise.”

He smirked at her obvious difficulty at pleasantries.

“I would have never expected you of all people to require matchmaking.”

“Yes, well, I suspect we both have well meaning, meddlesome friends.” 

She had to share a smile at that.

It wasn’t that she loathed Draco Malfoy. Quite far from it, actually. She had definitely noticed him over the years as their circles occasionally bumped and overlapped. First it was the occasional work collaboration, then it was friends dating. The formerly thin and haunted young man filled out, his eyes lightening and gaining confidence. He was now the object of many a glance when circumstances threw them together, and even a friendly word now and then.

She just couldn’t fathom any dimension where he’d be interested in dating her, and she’d rather bite her tongue off than admit to fancying his appallingly good looks.

Damn Luna.

“Shall we go pick our seeds?” He guided them towards the tables where others gathered.

“Not quite done sowing your oats?” 

Why in Godric’s name did she have to be so nasty?

Rather than getting insulted, he surprised her by chuckling softly. “Long past that stage of my life—does that disappoint you?”

He picked up a small basket and guided them towards the root vegetable section.

“So are you actually looking to settle down? Find the next Lady Malfoy?” Hermione snagged parsnip seeds, to which he nodded approvingly.

“I’m strongly considering it.”

“I’m not exactly Malfoy material.”

“I know.” 

Turnips made their way into the basket. She licked her lips imagining sharp bites of the taproot in a bed of arugula and prosciutto. She couldn’t find any fault in his chosen produce. If anything, they’d make a fantastic salad together.

“But you’re my preferred material.”

Jerking to a stop, she looked fully up into his eyes for the first time. He gazed back, not a hint of humor on his face. He was serious.

She could barely breathe the question shouting against her skull. “Since when?”

He reached forward with one hand to tuck a wayward curl behind her ear before running his fingertips down her arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. Grasping her hand in his, he prompted her to resume walking out towards the fields.

“For longer than I’d care to admit right now.” He didn’t elaborate, and Hermione found herself utterly devoid of any courage for further inquiry.

Following the rows of carefully labeled signs, they made their way silently to the appropriate section to cast their seeds out into the dirt, where they magically burrowed into the earth.

“Well that was much easier than expected,” he mused, glancing around to watch as others similarly finished.

“It’s more symbolic than literal planting, isn’t it? No digging into the dirt by hand here.”

Appraising her form with an appreciative eye that resulted in a pretty flush, he responded, “And a good thing, too, given our attire.”

She snorted in agreement. “I don’t know what Luna was thinking, picking this dress out.”

“Probably what I’m thinking right now. I meant what I said earlier, Hermione. You are lovely.”

She couldn’t take it anymore. Where did he get off being so…charming? So complimentary and intriguing? With a scoff, she pushed him back a step, her palms flat against his chest.

“Stop it, Malfoy. You don’t have to force yourself to be nice just because we were coincidentally matched together.”

Warm hands grasped her wrists, gently holding them in place.

“I’m not forcing anything. And even if neither one of us were signed up for today, I would’ve asked you out on my own soon anyways.”

There he went grabbing her attention again. It felt like rather than her wrists he was holding, it was her heart in a tight fist.

“All these years I've always wondered why I’m constantly drawn to you. Why I started out unable to stop teasing you, saying anything that came to mind to catch your attention. Stupid things. Regrettable things.”

“So stupid.” Her soft interjection pulled a wry smile from him in the middle of his speech.

“And after all the shite, the war, the trials, the slog of adulthood, I realized something.”

She could barely breathe listening to his words.

“I like you. I more than like you. I want to get to know you. See if we fit together as much as I think we will.”

Standing in the middle of a field, an uncharacteristic British sun beating down on them and people milling all around casting seeds in the hopes they’d take hold and grow into more, Hermione’s breath came back all at once. Pulling one hand loose from his grip, she returned his favor from earlier and brushed a silken strand of platinum hair off his forehead.

“I think we will, too.”

Or perhaps it wasn’t the sun that shone so brightly, but Draco himself as he smiled wider than she’d ever seen before.

[luminous-gemstone]

Pagan Holidays

Origin

The Wheel of the Year is an annual cycle of seasonal festivals, observed by many pagans, consisting of the year's main solar events, solstices and equinoxes, and the midpoints between them. While names for each festival vary among diverse pagan traditions, they often refer to the four solar events as "quarter days", with the four midpoint events as "cross-quarter days". Observing the cycle of the seasons has been important to many people, both ancient and modern. Contemporary Pagan festivals that rely on the Wheel are based to varying degrees on folk traditions, regardless of actual historical pagan practices. Among Wiccans, each festival is also referred to as a Sabbat, based on Gerald Gardner's view that the term was passed down from the Middle Ages. Modern conceptions of the Wheel of the Year calendar are heavily influenced by mid-20th century british paganism. Historical and archaeological evidence suggests ancient pagan and polytheist peoples varied in their cultural observations; Anglo-Saxons celebrated the solstices and equinoxes, while Celts celebrated the seasonal divisions with various fire festivals.

Dates and Offerings

Dates may be on the days of the quarter and cross-quarter days proper, the nearest full moon, the nearest new moon, or the nearest weekend for secular convenience. The festivals were originally celebrated by peoples in the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Consequently, the traditional times for seasonal celebrations do not agree with the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere or near the equator. Pagans in the Southern Hemisphere often advance the dates 6 months to coincide with their seasons. Offerings of food, drink, various objects, etc. have been central in ritual to and for deities for millennia. Modern pagan practice strongly avoids sacrificing animals in favour of grains, herbs, milk, wines, incense, baked goods, minerals, etc. Burying and leaving offerings in the open are also common in certain circumstances. The purpose of offering is to benefit the deity, show gratitude, and give something back, strengthening the bonds between humans and divine and between members of a community.

Festivals

Winter Solstice (Yule, Saturnalia, Midwinter)

Midwinter, known commonly as Yule or within modern Druid traditions as Alban Arthan, has been recognised as a significant turning point in the yearly cycle since the late Stone Age. The reversal of the Sun's ebbing presence in the sky symbolizes the rebirth of the solar god and foretells the return of fertile seasons. From Germanic to Roman tradition, this is the most important time of celebration. Practices may vary but common offerings, feasting, and gift giving are common elements of Midwinter festivities. Bringing sprigs and wreaths of evergreenery (such as holly, ivy, mistletoe, yew, and pine) into the home and tree decorating are also common during this time.

Imbolc (Candlemas)

The cross-quarter day following Midwinter falls on the first of February and traditionally marks the first stirrings of spring. It aligns with the contemporary observance of Groundhog Day. It is time for purification and spring cleaning in anticipation of the year's new life. For Celtic pagans, the festival is dedicated to the goddess Brigid, daughter of The Dagda and one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Among Reclaiming tradition Witches, this is the traditional time for pledges and rededications for the coming year.

Spring Equinox (Ostara)

Derived from a reconstruction produced by linguist Jacob Grimm of an Old High German form of the Old English goddess name Ēostre, Ostara marks the spring equinox in some modern Pagan traditions. Known as Alban Eilir to modern Druid traditions, this holiday is the second of three spring celebrations, the midpoint between Imbolc and Beltane, during which light and darkness are again in balance, with light on the rise. It is a time of new beginnings and of life emerging further from the hold of winter.

Beltane (May Eve)

Traditionally the first day of summer in Ireland, in Rome the earliest celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times with the festival of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers. Since the Christianisation of Europe, a more secular version of the festival has continued in Europe and America, commonly referred to as May Day. In this form, it is well known for maypole dancing and the crowning of the Queen of the May. Celebrated by many pagan traditions, this festival recognizes the power of life in its fullness, the greening of the world, youthfulness and flourishing.

Summer Solstice (Litha)

Midsummer is one of the four solar holidays and is considered the turning point at which summer reaches its height and the sun shines longest. Among the Wiccan sabbats, Midsummer is preceded by Beltane, and followed by Lammas or Lughnasadh. Bede writes that Litha means gentle or navigable, because in both these months the calm breezes are gentle and they were wont to sail upon the smooth sea. The sun in its greatest strength is greeted and celebrated on this holiday. While it is the time of greatest strength of the solar current, it also marks a turning point, for the sun also begins its time of decline as the wheel of the year turns.

Lughnasadh (Lammas)

Lammas or Lughnasadh is the first of the three Wiccan harvest festivals, the other two being the autumnal equinox, or Mabon, and Samhain. Wiccans mark the holiday by baking a figure of the god in bread and eating it, to symbolise the sanctity and importance of the harvest. The Irish name Lughnasadh is used in some traditions to designate this holiday. Wiccan celebrations of this holiday are neither generally based on Celtic culture nor centered on the Celtic deity Lugh. This name seems to have been a late adoption among Wiccans. In early versions of Wiccan literature the festival is referred to as August Eve. The name Lammas implies it is an agrarian-based festival and feast of thanksgiving for grain and bread, which symbolises the first fruits of the harvest.

Autumn Equinox (Mabon)

The holiday of the autumnal equinox, Harvest Home, Mabon, the Feast of the Ingathering is a modern Pagan ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and the Gods during the coming winter months. The name Mabon was coined by Aidan Kelly around 1970 as a reference to Mabon ap Modron, a character from Welsh mythology. Among the sabbats, it is the second of the three Pagan harvest festivals.

Samhain

Samhain is one of the four Greater Sabbats among Wiccans and Pagans. Samhain is typically considered as a time to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on, and it often involves paying respect to ancestors, family members, friends, pets, and other loved ones who have died. Aligned with the contemporary observance of Halloween and Day of the Dead, in some traditions the spirits of the departed are invited to attend the festivities. It is seen as a festival of darkness, which is balanced at the opposite point of the Wheel by the festival of Beltane, which is celebrated as a festival of light and fertility. Many Neopagans believe that the veil between this world and the afterlife is at its thinnest point of the year at Samhain, making it easier to communicate with those who have departed.

Dates

Yule~ December 20-23

Imbolc~ February 1

Ostara~ March 19-22

Beltane~ May 1

Litha~ June 19-23

Lughnasadh~ August 1

Mabon~ September 21-24

Samhain~ October 31- November 1

[voraciouskingdom]

"In Germanic Polytheism Ēostre or Ostara (Old English: Ēastre, Northumbrian dialect Ēostre; Old High German: *Ôstara) is the Goddess of Spring and Dawn. The Germanic month bearing her name (Northumbrian: Ēosturmōnaþ; West Saxon: Ēastermōnaþ; Old High German: Ôstarmânoth), is the namesake of the festival of Easter. Ēostre is attested solely by Bede in his 8th-century work The Reckoning of Time, where Bede states that during Ēosturmōnaþ (the equivalent of April), pagan Anglo-Saxons had held feasts in Eostre's honor, but that this tradition had died out by his time, replaced by the Christian Paschal month, a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. Old English Ēostre continues into modern English as Easter and derives from Proto-Germanic *austrōn meaning 'dawn', itself a descendent of the Proto-Indo-European root *aus-, meaning 'to shine' (modern English east also derives from this root). In Northern Europe, Easter imagery often involves hares and rabbits. Citing folk Easter customs in Leicestershire, England where "the profits of the land called Harecrop Leys were applied to providing a meal which was thrown on the ground at the 'Hare-pie Bank'", late 19th-century scholar Charles Isaac Elton theorizes a connection between these customs and the worship of Ēostre. In his late 19th-century study of the hare in folk custom and mythology, Charles J. Billson cites numerous incidents of folk custom involving the hare around the period of Easter in Northern Europe."

🌙💙🌙

[irunevenus]

Festivais Pagãos: A Transição para Festividades Cristãs

Ao longo dos séculos, a Igreja Católica incorporou e adaptou várias festividades pagãs em um esforço de cristianização, um processo que transformou ritos e celebrações ancestrais em datas do calendário cristão. Esse sincretismo religioso teve profundas implicações culturais e sociais, moldando tradições que ainda praticamos hoje. Este artigo examina alguns dos principais festivais pagãos que foram transformados em festividades cristãs, destacando os detalhes de cada um.

Solstício de Inverno e o Natal

Festividade Pagã: Saturnália e Yule - Saturnália: Celebrada em dezembro na Roma antiga, a Saturnália honrava Saturno, o deus da agricultura. Durava vários dias e incluía banquetes, troca de presentes, decoração de casas com plantas e uma suspensão temporária das normas sociais, onde escravos podiam participar das festividades como iguais. - Yule: Nos países nórdicos, o Yule celebrava o solstício de inverno. Costumes incluíam acender o tronco de Yule, que queimava por vários dias, e realizar rituais para assegurar o retorno do sol e a fertilidade no ano seguinte.

Cristianização: Natal - A escolha do dia 25 de dezembro para o nascimento de Jesus Cristo foi adotada no século IV. Elementos como a árvore de Natal, presente nos festivais de Yule, e a troca de presentes, similar à Saturnália, foram integrados nas celebrações natalinas.

Equinócio da Primavera e a Páscoa

Festividade Pagã: Ostara - Ostara: No paganismo germânico, Ostara (ou Ēostre) era a deusa da primavera e da fertilidade. Festividades em sua honra incluíam rituais para assegurar a fertilidade dos campos, ovos decorados simbolizando novos começos e coelhos, associados à fertilidade.

Cristianização: Páscoa - A Páscoa comemora a ressurreição de Jesus Cristo, ocorrendo após o equinócio da primavera. Os símbolos do ovo e do coelho foram incorporados às celebrações cristãs, mantendo suas conotações de renascimento e fertilidade.

Samhain e o Dia de Todos os Santos

Festividade Pagã: Samhain - Samhain: Celebrado pelos celtas em 31 de outubro, Samhain marcava o fim da colheita e o início do inverno. Acreditava-se que o véu entre o mundo dos vivos e dos mortos estava mais fino, permitindo a comunicação com espíritos. Costumes incluíam acender fogueiras, vestir fantasias para afastar espíritos malignos e oferecer comida aos mortos.

Cristianização: Dia de Todos os Santos e Halloween - Com a cristianização, Samhain foi transformado no Dia de Todos os Santos (1º de novembro) e no Dia dos Fiéis Defuntos (2 de novembro). A véspera, 31 de outubro, tornou-se o Halloween, mantendo tradições como fantasias e lanternas de abóbora, derivadas das práticas pagãs.

Lupercália e o Dia de São Valentim

Festividade Pagã: Lupercália - Lupercália: Um festival romano de purificação e fertilidade, realizado em 15 de fevereiro. Rituais incluíam o sacrifício de cabras e cães, seguido de uma corrida onde os jovens batia nos transeuntes com tiras de pele de cabra, supostamente para promover a fertilidade.

Cristianização: Dia de São Valentim - O Dia de São Valentim, em 14 de fevereiro, foi associado a São Valentim, um mártir cristão. As celebrações de amor e romance, incluindo a troca de cartas e presentes, substituíram os rituais de Lupercália, mas mantiveram a temática de união e fertilidade.

Solstício de Verão e o Dia de São João

Festividade Pagã: Solstício de Verão - Solstício de Verão: Celebrado em 24 de junho em várias culturas europeias, envolvia fogueiras, danças e rituais para honrar o sol e assegurar proteção e boa colheita. Na tradição pagã, essa era uma época de abundância e luz.

Cristianização: Dia de São João - A celebração foi cristianizada como o Dia de São João Batista. Fogueiras de São João ainda são comuns em muitas regiões, refletindo a continuidade dos rituais pagãos adaptados ao contexto cristão, com fogueiras, danças e festas comunitárias.

Conclusão A adaptação dos festivais pagãos pela Igreja Católica é um testemunho do processo de sincretismo religioso que marcou a história do cristianismo. Ao absorver e transformar as tradições pagãs, a Igreja não apenas facilitou a conversão de novos fiéis, mas também garantiu a continuidade de muitas práticas culturais. Compreender essas origens pode enriquecer nossa apreciação das celebrações contemporâneas e revelar as camadas complexas de nossa herança cultural compartilhada.

Este artigo reflete a rica tapeçaria de tradições que compõem o nosso calendário festivo, oferecendo uma visão profunda de como as celebrações pagãs foram entrelaçadas com as festividades cristãs para formar as datas que conhecemos hoje.

A usurpação de festivais pagãos pela Igreja Católica foi uma estratégia deliberada e multifacetada, motivada por razões de conversão, consolidação do poder, e integração cultural. Aqui estão algumas das principais razões:

Facilitação da Conversão

Sincretismo Religioso: - Ao adaptar festivais pagãos em festividades cristãs, a Igreja tornou o cristianismo mais palatável para os convertidos pagãos. Mantendo datas festivas e incorporando elementos familiares das celebrações pagãs, a transição para a nova fé tornou-se menos disruptiva e mais atraente.

Reconhecimento e Familiaridade: - Ao substituir ou transformar festivais populares, a Igreja pôde introduzir conceitos cristãos em um contexto que já era significativo para as pessoas. Isso ajudou a promover uma aceitação mais rápida e uma adoção mais fácil das novas práticas religiosas.

Consolidação do Poder

Unificação Cultural: - Integrando as festividades pagãs, a Igreja Católica pôde unificar diversas culturas sob um calendário religioso comum, fortalecendo a coesão social e religiosa em áreas recém-convertidas. Isso facilitou a administração e controle das comunidades cristãs emergentes.

Supressão de Práticas Pagãs: - Ao substituir os festivais pagãos por celebrações cristãs, a Igreja tentou suprimir práticas e crenças pagãs que eram vistas como concorrentes ou heréticas. Transformando rituais pagãos em práticas cristãs, a Igreja enfraqueceu as tradições religiosas concorrentes.

Integração Cultural

Preservação de Tradições Locais: - A Igreja muitas vezes adotou práticas culturais locais em suas festividades cristãs, criando um senso de continuidade cultural. Isso ajudou a preservar elementos das culturas indígenas, ao mesmo tempo em que promovia a identidade cristã.

Apego às Datas Significativas: - Muitas celebrações pagãs estavam vinculadas a ciclos naturais, como solstícios e equinócios, que eram profundamente significativos para as comunidades agrícolas. Ao cristianizar essas datas, a Igreja manteve a relevância dessas celebrações para o cotidiano das pessoas.

Exemplos de Estratégia

Natal e Saturnália/Yule: - A escolha do dia 25 de dezembro para o Natal, que coincidiu com festividades como a Saturnália e o Yule, foi uma forma de absorver essas celebrações populares. Isso ajudou a integrar a veneração de Jesus com tradições já estabelecidas de alegria, troca de presentes e festividades familiares.

Páscoa e Ostara: - A Páscoa, celebrada perto do equinócio da primavera, foi facilmente integrada com festividades pagãs que celebravam o renascimento e a fertilidade. Os símbolos de ovos e coelhos, ligados a Ostara, foram assimilados na tradição cristã, mantendo a relevância desses símbolos para a nova religião.

Dia de Todos os Santos e Samhain: - Transformar Samhain em Dia de Todos os Santos e Dia dos Fiéis Defuntos permitiu à Igreja cristianizar um dos festivais pagãos mais importantes, associado à morte e ao além. O Halloween, mantido na véspera, retém muitos elementos das tradições pagãs.

Conclusão

A usurpação dos festivais pagãos pela Igreja Católica foi um processo complexo e estratégico, destinado a facilitar a conversão, consolidar o poder e integrar culturas. Ao adaptar e transformar festividades pagãs, a Igreja não apenas conseguiu suprimir práticas concorrentes, mas também preservou elementos culturais que ajudaram a unificar as comunidades cristãs. Essa abordagem de sincretismo religioso moldou a forma como muitas tradições festivas são celebradas hoje, refletindo a continuidade e a transformação cultural ao longo dos séculos.

[onenakedfarmer]

The reason for the season: Ēostre --> Ostara --> Easter

[the-mortuary-witch]

PAGAN AND SATANIC HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

PAGAN:

IMBOLC (CANDLEMAS): (February 1st-2nd) a festival dedicated to the goddess of the New Year (Brigid).

OSTARA (SPRING EQUINOX): (March 19th-23rd) marks the Spring Equinox, which happens on March 19th-23rd. Ostara is a Pagan celebration of the German goddess Ēostre.

BELTANE (MAY EVE): (April 30th-May 1st) the Gaelic May Day festival, marking the beginning of summer. It is traditionally held between April 30th-May 1st, or about midway between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice.

LITHA (SUMMER SOLSTICE/MIDSUMMER): (June 20th) Litha occurs during the Summer Solstice held on June 20th-21st. More commonly referred to as Midsummer's Night, Litha is believed to be a time when faerie folk pass into the human world at Twilight and offer blessings. Litha is a time to celebrate the abundance and beauty of Mother Earth.

LAMMAS (LUGHNASADH): (August 1st) a Pagan holiday and one of the eight Wiccan sabbats during the year. Each sabbat marks a seasonal turning point. The sabbat occurs on August 1st, which is about halfway between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Fall Equinox (Mabon).

MABON (AUTUMN EQUINOX/FALL HARVEST): (September 20th-23rd) represents the height of nature's abundance and usually falls on September 20th-23rd. It is seen as the height of the harvest season and is a time to celebrate nature's bounty. Many also celebrate the balance in nature during Mabon.

SAMHAIN (ALL HALLOWS/FINAL HARVEST): (October 31st-November 1st) a festival dedicated to the dead and a celebration of the New Year.

YULE (WINTER SOLSTICE/MIDWINTER): (December 21st-25th) a Winter Solstice festival. The longest night of the year followed by the sun's "rebirth" and lengthening of days. In most traditions, Yule is celebrated as the rebirth of the Great God, who is viewed as the newborn solstice sun. Some Pagans consider Yule to be the beginning of the New Year

SATANIC:

LUPERCALIA: (February 15th) celebration of bodily autonomy, sexual liberation, and reproduction. Based on the Roman festival of the same name, Lupercalia falls on February 15. In keeping with the ancient tradition, February 13th and 14th are observed as feast days leading up to the actual holiday. What we are translating this to in TST is a "hail yourself" day. This idea offers a parallel to the "others-centered" traditions of Sol Invictus.

HEXENNACHT: (April 30th) occasion honoring those who fell victim to superstition and pseudoscience, whether by. In Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust: a Tragedy (1808), Mephisto and Faust attend the Walpurgisnacht revelry atop Mount Brocken. TST's Hexenacht is a solemn holiday to honor those who were victimized by superstition.

UNVEILING DAY: (July 25th) celebration of religious plurality and shedding archaic superstition. A centerpiece of our religious movement and icon of modern Satanism, the Baphomet with Children statue was commissioned by The Satanic Temple in 2014 and created by Mark Porter with "respect for diversity and religious minorities" in mind. On July 25, 2015, The Satanic Temple unveiled Baphomet to a large crowd of devotees in Detroit, signaling the beginning of the new Satanic era. We observe this milestone in Satanic history by celebrating Unveiling Day.

DEVILS NIGHT (MISCHIEF NIGHT): (October 30th-November 4th) an informal holiday on which children, teenagers and adults engage in jokes, pranks, vandalism, or parties. It is known by a variety of names including Devils Night, Gate Night, Goosey Night, Moving Night, Cabbage Night, Mystery Night and Mat Night.

HALLOWEEN: (October 31st) holiday to celebrate indulgence and embrace the darkness and its aesthetic. Halloween is consistently described as evil, demonic, and satanic by those steeped in religious dogma. Costumes, candy, and facing fears are to be embraced.

SOL INVICTUS: (December 25th) a holiday to celebrate indulgence and embracing the darkness and its aesthetic. The cult of Sol existed within Rome since its early days as a republic, and Invictus was an epithet used for Jupiter, Mars, and Apollo (among others). The festival celebrated these Gods and may have also been used to celebrate the winter solstice.

[the-witchy-housewife]

A Khthonic Wiccan Guide to Ostara

This is an article from my website, The Witchy Housewife. You can read it at the source here or look under the cut to read it here on Tumblr. If you enjoy my work, please consider subscribing (at the bottom of this page) to receive articles as they're posted via e-mail, exploring the shop, leaving a tip, or reblogging this post. I run this all myself, so all support is greatly appreciated. 💜🔮✨

To those living in the Northern Hemisphere, I bid Ostara’s blessings to all who celebrate! As we move into spring, we are reborn anew and overwhelmed by the energy of Divine Creation. It is time for us to plant the seeds we wish to see bear fruit over the year ahead, to get ourselves up and moving again after the stillness of winter. Today, I share with you not only the history of this sabbat, but how I observe and celebrate it on my own path as a Khthonic Wicca (which you can read about here).

History & Folklore

Named for the little-known (and dubious, even) Germanic Goddess Ēostre – which may be the namesake for the Anglo-Saxon month of April, ‘Ēosturmōnaþ‘ (to shine or dawn) – Ostara (pronounced ‘oh-star-ah’) is one of the eight sabbats of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year which is inspired by older celebrations honoring the first days of spring. As it occurs during the vernal or spring equinox – one of two days of the year in which day and night are equal in length – it is considered a Greater Sabbat, though this does not imply that it is any more important than the four Lesser Sabbats. As far as Ēostre is concerned, the sole historical mention which exists of her comes from the 8th-century writing of the English monk, Bede the Venerable, wherein he claims that during the month of April, the Anglo-Saxons held feasts in her honor. He claims, though, as well, that the tradition had died out and given way to Christian practices by the time he’d written about it. The only other bit of information we have on her, her association with hares, wasn’t speculated until much later in 1874. Scholars have linked the name itself to a variety of individual names, locations, and goddesses with other varying titles (such as Haéusōs, Proto-Indo-European Goddess of Dawn). Though, with recent developments in Indo-European studies, Ēostre has come to be generally accepted as a genuine goddess, her existence has previously been a long-standing topic for debate. Until further discoveries are made, additional information which can be found on her is dubious at best. If we move our focus away from the etymology and lean toward the observation of the equinox, however, we see there is very much a basis in history for this practice. Whether for agricultural time-keeping purposes, spiritual/religious observances, or a combination of the two, cairns, stonehenges, and other stone structures across the globe are arranged in such a way as to acknowledge the positioning of the sun during some or all of the solstices and equinoxes. Some examples of these include America’s Stonehenge in New Hampshire, the Calendar Stone and Calendar II in Vermont, Fajada Butte in New Mexico, the Temple of Kukulcan in Mexico, the Loughcrew Cairns in Ireland, Stonehenge and Fernacre Circle in England, Mnajdra in Malta, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and many more. The energy around Ostara – and, indeed, throughout spring – is about awakening, rebirth, rejuvenation – the creation of something new. Plants are sprouting. Chicks are hatching. Feelings of whimsy overwhelm us. It is fitting, then, that the Christian holiday of Easter (also called Pascha), is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These themes are observed not only in the act of the resurrection itself, but also in the idea of being reborn in aligning yourself with him as a result of this sacrifice. Additionally, if you observe much of the décor crafted for modern day Easter, it’s hard to miss the fertility symbolism and celebration of the features of vernal equinox which are rampant throughout it. There was a time when the vernal equinox was considered the beginning of the new year. This explains then why Aries is considered the beginning of the zodiacal year and why the later months – October, November, December – are named as they are. In fact, for the Zoroastrians of Persia, this day had its own name: Nawruz (نوروز, pronounced ‘noh-rooz’ and meaning new day). Today, the holiday is still observed by modern day Zoroastrians, the Isma’ili, and followers of the Baháʼí Faith.

In Khthonic Wicca

Named for the little-known (and dubious, even) Germanic Goddess Ēostre – which may be the namesake for the Anglo-Saxon month of April, ‘Ēosturmōnaþ‘ (to shine or dawn) – Ostara (pronounced ‘oh-star-ah’) is one of the eight sabbats of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year which is inspired by older celebrations honoring the first days of spring. As it occurs during the vernal or spring equinox – one of two days of the year in which day and night are equal in length – it is considered a Greater Sabbat, though this does not imply that it is any more important than the four Lesser Sabbats. As far as Ēostre is concerned, the sole historical mention which exists of her comes from the 8th-century writing of the English monk, Bede the Venerable, wherein he claims that during the month of April, the Anglo-Saxons held feasts in her honor. He claims, though, as well, that the tradition had died out and given way to Christian practices by the time he’d written about it. The only other bit of information we have on her, her association with hares, wasn’t speculated until much later in 1874. Scholars have linked the name itself to a variety of individual names, locations, and goddesses with other varying titles (such as Haéusōs, Proto-Indo-European Goddess of Dawn). Though, with recent developments in Indo-European studies, Ēostre has come to be generally accepted as a genuine goddess, her existence has previously been a long-standing topic for debate. Until further discoveries are made, additional information which can be found on her is dubious at best. If we move our focus away from the etymology and lean toward the observation of the equinox, however, we see there is very much a basis in history for this practice. Whether for agricultural time-keeping purposes, spiritual/religious observances, or a combination of the two, cairns, stonehenges, and other stone structures across the globe are arranged in such a way as to acknowledge the positioning of the sun during some or all of the solstices and equinoxes. Some examples of these include America’s Stonehenge in New Hampshire, the Calendar Stone and Calendar II in Vermont, Fajada Butte in New Mexico, the Temple of Kukulcan in Mexico, the Loughcrew Cairns in Ireland, Stonehenge and Fernacre Circle in England, Mnajdra in Malta, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and many more. The energy around Ostara – and, indeed, throughout spring – is about awakening, rebirth, rejuvenation – the creation of something new. Plants are sprouting. Chicks are hatching. Feelings of whimsy overwhelm us. It is fitting, then, that the Christian holiday of Easter (also called Pascha), is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These themes are observed not only in the act of the resurrection itself, but also in the idea of being reborn in aligning yourself with him as a result of this sacrifice. Additionally, if you observe much of the décor crafted for modern day Easter, it’s hard to miss the fertility symbolism and celebration of the features of vernal equinox which are rampant throughout it. There was a time when the vernal equinox was considered the beginning of the new year. This explains then why Aries is considered the beginning of the zodiacal year and why the later months – October, November, December – are named as they are. In fact, for the Zoroastrians of Persia, this day had its own name: Nawruz (نوروز, pronounced ‘noh-rooz’ and meaning new day). Today, the holiday is still observed by modern day Zoroastrians, the Isma’ili, and followers of the Baháʼí Faith.

In Khthonic Wicca

In Persephone’s cyclical seasonal journey, Ostara marks the first steps of Persephone onto Gaia’s surface. Every step she takes changes the ground beneath her. Every breath she breathes changes the air around her. From the Realm of Death springs the Goddess of Life. With her, she brings rebirth, fertility, vibrance, balance, and transformation. Demeter is reunited with her daughter, and Haides pines for her once more from afar. As day overcomes night, Hemera, Aither, and Helios take up domain over their half of the year, casting light all around us. We can assist with and attune to this process by sewing our own seeds and ensuring an abundant bounty for all. In domain, if we consider the connection between Ēostre and Haéusōs, the logical conclusion in parallel is the frisky Goddess of Dawn, Eos, who rises from Okeanos at dawn to scatter the mists of Erebos. In some mythos, she was cursed by Aphrodite for consorting with Ares. As a result, she has an irresistible and unquenchable desire to make love with beautiful men. She ultimately settled down with the Trojan prince, Tithonos, whom was turned into a grasshopper by a poorly-worded request to Zeus for his immortality but not his eternal youth. In addition to Eos, Persephone, Aphrodite, and perhaps Khloris may be given special honors during this time of year. I would also add Eunomia, per my personal associations for her. As with every Khthonic Wiccan observance of the sabbat, we also take time during Ostara to offer prayer to the Sacred Triad, to the Olympioi, and to the Protogenoi in accordance with seasonal shifts in energies. As acts of service around this time of year, it is recommended to donate the old to be reused anew, set out birdfeed, plant for endangered and local insects, and continuing tending to any community gardens you have given your attention to.

Sabbat Correspondences

As mentioned in the previous section, if we look at what little we know of Ēostre, it is possible that the best parallel for her at this time is Eos. Though, given the transition into spring, it is also appropriate to recognize and honor Persephone for her role in the matter, as well. In Wicca, are moving toward the more adolescent stage of Divine Youth. The fertile Maiden Goddess becomes the highly sought-after prize in the eyes of the virile Youth God. The Void Womb of Khaos is fertilized by the organized momentum of Kosmos. Ouranos covers Gaia to give life to the Tangible. Persephone brings about the Season of Spring.

Plants: Tulip, Daffodil, Lily, Lemongrass, Apple Minerals: Moss Agate, Rose Quartz, Carnelian, Aquamarine, Silver Colors: Pastel Pink, Pastel Purple, Pastel Blue, Pastel Green, Pastel Yellow Animals: Chick, Lamb, Rabbit, Butterfly, Phoenix Symbols: Greek Cross, Basket, Egg, Baby Animals, Pastel Flowers Tarot: The Fool, The High Priestess, The Magician

Ostara Ritual Ideas

The most important part of my Ostara observations begins with a little bit of a welcoming ritual for Persephone. It’s a great time to share a meal with her and to bring in some freshly picked wildflowers to greet her upon her arrival to the surface. You may also choose, if you are a morning person, to wake with the sunrise to greet Eos on this day, as well. Not to mention, sunrise is a wonderful and quiet time of day which is perfect for setting your intention for the remainder of the day. If you are someone who enjoys dying eggs with natural or otherwise biodegradable cluttering, you can ground and bless them for what I might call “faery dust” for the garden. You could, of course, add some faery and agriculturally relevant herbs to the blend, as well as some eco-friendly glitter if you’re the sparkly sort. Then you’d add them to your garden bed for the added calcium they provide as well as with the intention for your garden – and your goals – to grow big and strong. This also sets the tone of the fae being welcome into your space as we move towards Beltane. Along with my personal prayers at this time, it would also be a good time to prayer to Aphrodite and Ares for both the feminine and masculine aspects of the developing Inner Child. We want to romanticize and rejuvenate our lives and bring a bit of whimsy and magick into the world around us. Finally, as a follow-up to my Embodiment of the Dragon Ritual, I do something I call the Rebirth of the Phoenix Ritual. As I called the spirits of the dragons in said previous ritual, I call the spirits of the phoenixes in this one, and I ask that they help to grow the seed of the Spark within my heart that was initially stoked at Imbolc. We are attempting to grow into a more authentic and ideal version of ourselves. In this way, we are reborn, discarding or reworking what caused us issues in the past and starting fresh as a result.

Ostara Spread Ideas

As you can imagine, Ostara often involves lamb, eggs, and lots of greenery in the dishes I prepare. For the day – or for some time throughout the season – I like to make Polish lettuce soup (as I myself am partly Polish), or ‘sałacianka’, and some spring radish salad. You might also wish to make some floral deviled eggs with any of the eggs you dye to snack on throughout the day. For dinner the night of, lamb chops with a creamy dill sauce pair well with some steamed lemony asparagus – one of the first vegetables to grow this time of year – and some traditional hot crossed buns. For dessert, I’d recommend a nice, vibrant lemon lavender cake with a grasshopper (a popular mint chocolate dessert cocktail) as a nod to Eos and her lover. You may even choose to save some to offer her. This meal could otherwise be served nicely alongside an herbal liquor or spirit of choice.

For Your Reference

The Digital Grimoire provides a plethora of free resources on witchcraft, Khthonic Wicca, and more. As of today, a quick reference for Ostara has been added to the Sabbats subsection, available here on my website any time you should need it. Until my next article, have a very blessed Ostara!

[pastedpast]

Illustration by Danielle Barlow, 2013.

Today is the festival of Ostara celebrated the world over by modern pagans. I'm kinda drawn to paganism myself and I celebrated by sowing some sunflower seeds in our garden and dotted around the fields across from our home. 🌻 The following notes are from 'Llewellyn's 2021 Sabbats Almanac: Samhain 2020 to Mabon 2021', (p.128). Note: a 'sabbat' is one of eight holidays which appear in Wicca (a religious movement developed in England in the first half of the 20th century) and other related Neopagan religions, upon which the phases of changing seasons are celebrated.

Ostara is celebrated on the Spring Equinox when day and night are poised in momentary balance and it heralds new beginnings. It is named after the Germanic Ēostre, goddess of the dawn and associated with creation and fecundity.

On page 138, contributer Charlie Rainbow Wolf writes:

Ostara is when the Western calendar marks the "official start of spring, but to me it is the middle of the season. The early flowers are already blooming and the early planting has already started. It is a time of growth and preparation, a time of expectancy and anticipation.

Also - Ostara can be spelt Ēostre or Eastre - it's not a stretch to see where the name for the Christian holiday came from! Eggs are a big part of the season's decorations, symbolic of renewal and new life.

The writer provides examples of how the festival is celebrated in various countries around the world, specifically Bosnia, Switzerland, Poland, Japan, Mexico and England, as well as a similar sacred festival held by members of the Native American tribe, the Cherokee.

Tess Whitehurst asserts on page 147 that Ostara is the second of three festivals [which appear in the Pagan Wheel of the Year] that celebrate the Spring; the first is Imbolc [February 1st] and the third is Beltane [May 1st - Note: other sources tend to recognise the date as the beginning of Summer]. She writes: "While Imbolc observes the earliest stirrings of Spring and Beltane commemorates [its] full expression, Ostara is Springtime in its adolescence."

[i-am-theseeker]

Ostara (The Spring Equinox)

Ostara (oh-staa-ruh) is a modern Pagan holiday that celebrates the spring equinox. The equinox is celebrated around March 20th-22nd in the northern hemisphere and September 20th-22nd in the southern hemisphere. During this time the length of night and day are equal. Ostara is named after the Germanic goddess Ēostre but she may have been avariant […]Ostara (The Spring Equinox)

[elektrostantsiya]

Ok, so first: Easter is on Sunday, not on Monday. The Easter Monday is the second day od these holidays, just like St. Stephen's day is the "second day of Christmas". Second: it has nothing to do with Ishtar, the name "Easter" comes from the Germanic spring goddes Ēostre (also known as Ostara), but this, or similar names (like German "Ostern") are only used in Germanic languages. In Polish, for example, it's called "Wielkanoc" (literally "The Great Night").

Not everything the Christians do is stolen from some anonymous pagan culture. I'm sorry y'all but the Christians did actually come up with a bunch of shit on their own.