Ostara
Also Known As: Eostar, Vernal Equinox, Spring Equinox
Ostara in General
Ostara is a holiday celebrated by many pagans as the rebirth of the world and beginning of spring. Ostara is a festival of the Vernal equinox, the time of the year when day and night are of the same length. Ostara is often celebrated by dying and hiding eggs, eating sweet things, and working fertility rites/magic. Since Ostara is the second (middle) spring festival, it is often used for a blessing of the seeds that will soon be sown in gardens and the plants already springing up out of the ground. Many people leave out sweets for the faeries and other local spirits.
Ostara and Christianity
Its always seemed funny that the crucifiction and death of Christ was celebrated with chocolate, bunnies, and dyed eggs. In reality, these were additions to Easter - were attempts to make the holiday more accessible to former Pagans and bring in new converts. Even the timing of Easter is dependent on Ostara - it’s always celebrated on the Sunday after the first full moon after the Equinox.
Some Ideas for Celebrating Ostara
Many people celebrate Ostara as a fertility festival. They have blessings for the land, seeds, and early shoots just coming up. You may want to incorporate plants, planting, or seeds into any celebration that you have.
Another common activity is dying eggs in intricate and colorful patterns. The eggs can be hidden and hunted for as well.
Foods traditionally eaten at Ostara consist of fresh greens and early vegetables - basically a vegetarian celebration of all growing things. For some pagans, Imbolc marked a time to fast or eat more bland foods (as a way of clearing out their system and preparing for the new spring. This fast comes to an end at Ostara, where they allow themselves to indulge in many sweet foods - like cakes, candy, and chocolate.
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