Easter is a widely celebrated holiday in the Christian tradition, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, the origins of Easter can be traced back to pre-Christian pagan traditions, specifically the celebration of the spring equinox. The Easter Ostara connection. One of the most prominent pagan celebrations of the spring equinox was the festival of Ostara, which was named after the Germanic goddess of spring and fertility.
Ostara was a prominent figure in Germanic mythology, and was associated with the rebirth and renewal of nature in the springtime. Her name is also thought to be related to the word “east”, as the spring equinox marks the point at which the sun rises due east.
The festival of Ostara was typically celebrated on or around the spring equinox, which falls around March 20th or 21st each year in the Northern Hemisphere. It was a time of great celebration, as it marked the end of the long, dark winter months and the beginning of the lighter, warmer days of spring.
Many of the traditions associated with Easter can be traced back to the festival of Ostara. For example, the tradition of decorating eggs can be traced back to the pagan belief that eggs were a symbol of fertility and new life. The egg was also seen as a representation of the potential for new beginnings, just as the springtime represented a time of new growth and renewal.
Another tradition that can be traced back to the festival of Ostara is the use of the hare or rabbit as a symbol of fertility. In Germanic mythology, the hare was associated with Ostara, as it was believed to be a symbol of fertility and new life.
Interestingly, the connection between Easter and Ostara can also be traced back to the goddess Ishtar, who was worshipped in ancient Babylon. Ishtar was a goddess of fertility, love, and war, and was associated with the planet Venus. She was also associated with the springtime, as it was believed that she would descend into the underworld during the winter months and then emerge again in the spring, bringing with her new life and fertility.
Over time, the celebration of the spring equinox and the goddesses associated with it were absorbed into Christian tradition, and the holiday of Easter was born. However, many of the pagan traditions and symbols associated with the spring equinox and the goddesses of fertility and new life still remain a part of Easter celebrations today.
Easter and Ostara can be traced back to the pagan celebrations of the spring equinox and the goddesses of fertility and renewal that were worshipped during this time. The goddess Ostara, who was associated with the rebirth and renewal of nature, was a prominent figure in Germanic mythology and her name was given to the festival that was celebrated around the spring equinox.
Many of the traditions associated with Easter, such as the use of eggs and rabbits as symbols of fertility, can be traced back to the pagan beliefs and practices of the festival of Ostara. In addition, the goddess Ishtar, who was worshipped in ancient Babylon and associated with the springtime and fertility, also played a role in the development of the Easter holiday.
While Easter is now primarily celebrated in the Christian tradition as a commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the pagan roots of the holiday are still evident in many of the symbols and traditions that are associated with it. The connection between Easter and Ostara is a reminder that many of our holiday traditions have deep roots in ancient pagan beliefs and practices, and that these traditions continue to influence our celebrations and rituals today.
grow shorter and the animals prepare for hibernation. It is a time of quiet reflection. As the grass and the trees go dormant or turn all their energy inward, we are led to do the same. We reflect on the events of our lives that have come to past. This is also a great time of year to do shadow work. One of my favorite authors is Debbie Ford. She has an excellent book called, The Dark Side of the Light Chasers. It is a book that I highly recommend at this time of the year. She explains how we deny and hide the darker side of our nature rather consciously or unconsciously and reject that part of ourselves we are not comfortable with, thus creating an inauthentic self.
As we approach the midpoint of February there is a little bit of Spring anticipation in the air. With the first Spring Sabbat having already passed (and do I hope everyone had a blessed Imbolc/Candlemas), you can definitely feel the gentle stirrings of Mother Nature as she begins to awaken. This year so far in the South we have had a very mild winter. The Temperatures here in Tennessee stayed in the high 60’s to low 70’s for about 3 weeks which was awesome. Unfortunately, there has also been the blooming of many early spring bulbs including Daffodils which I am hoping are not destroyed by a late frost. But with all of the beautiful weather for the past few weeks I am in full on Springtime mode. And what do I like to do best in the Spring? Gardening! Yes. Realizing it is too early to start my garden or even my seedlings at this point, I have decided that now is the perfect time to plan the layout of my garden as well as check up on my seed stores. This year I plan on making my garden a bit bigger. Not only will I continue to do my container gardening on the back deck, I also want to expand my front flower beds to include more herbs. Maybe, I’ll even include a fairy garden bed.
There comes a time in every practicing witch’s life that you have to make a little trip to the graveyard. For some, I know this can be a very anxiety laden chore and for others it’s quite exhilarating. I tend to fall into a different category. Visiting graveyards for me has always been a very peaceful, calming and grounding experience. There is a certain calm that exists only in a cemetery. I find that most reassuring. Most people like to go to a park and relax, have a picnic lunch or just commune with nature. Me, I would much rather enjoy and share my lunch with the spirits of those who have passed on. I see this as a perfect way to establish a relationship with the spirits who live there in the cemetery.
Upon entering the cemetery I ask Baron Samedi’s permission to enter. Once granted, I proceed on. The best time to collect or “pay” for some graveyard dirt is between the hours of 9:00 pm and 12:00 midnight. There are occasions when you would need to do your work between Midnight and 3 am. I usually reserve that time for my “dark energy” work. Most cemeteries close at sunset so you would need to be very discreet in your actions. Always bring flowers. Most times if you’re caught at the gravesite after hours the simplest explanation would be that you are simply there to pay your respects to a loved one as you are on your way home from work. At that point you would simply leave the flowers on one of the gravesites and exit the cemetery quietly and call that little trip a wash or a “water haul” as my Mama used to say. If you don’t attract the attention of those passing by or security then it’s time to get to work. Locate the grave of the spirit you are most comfortable with and ask their permission to collect a little bit of dirt from the site. Upon getting that approval then proceed to collect a small bit of dirt into a clean bottle. Don’t be greedy, take only what you need. After collecting I usually deposit nine dimes in the disturbed dirt and gently cover it back over. Thank the spirit for the help and quietly leave the site.
There are numerous reasons you can go to the cemetery to do work, this was just two reasons I shared in which I visit. As you become more comfortable with communing with the dead you will develop your own ways of doing this blessed work. As a general rule however I make it a point to thank Baron Samedi as I enter and as I leave the graveyard. He is after all the keeper of the graveyards and of the crossroads. Also it’s important to remember to never look back. Don’t doubt. Trust that the work you have done is sufficient and trust that your will be done.