Thirteen Things About Ostara

1. Ostara is a pagan celebration of spring, normally celebrated on March 20th or 21st, at the spring equinox. The equinox is a time when night and day are equal on Earth. The Spring equinox marks the beginning of the light half of the year, where day gradually grows longer than the night.
2. The name Ostara is thought to have come from the goddess Eostre. All this probably sounds familiar - as Easter is yet another name supposedly stemming from the same.
3. At its heart, Ostara is a fertility rite, celebrating the return of life in the spring.
4. Eggs and rabbits - two ancient fertility symbols - are its main themes. Both remind us of new beginnings, new life, and growth. These are present in modern day Easter, as well, in case you ever wondered what the heck bunnies and colored eggs have to do with it.
5. In certain pagan lore (mostly Wiccan), the young God at the Goddess choose this time to mate. A child is concieved: the young sun god that will be born nine months later, at Yule.
6. Modern day Easter is always set according to the spring equinox, as well - it set each year on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the equinox, which is why the date varies so much.
7. Rumor has it that at the exact equinox (down to the minute), the world spins just right, and you can balance an egg on its tip. Curious. I’ve never had the opportunity to try it.
8. Pagans often choose this time to plant magical or herb gardens, or at least prepare for them, to concescrate their tools, and to bring balance to their lives and their spiritual workings.
9. Traditional Ostara colors: pastel green, yellow, and pink.
10. Some Ostara gods and goddesses: all love, fertility, and virginal gods and goddesses.
11. Traditional foods: Eggs (especially hardboiled), fruit, leafy green vegetables, dairy foods, apples, nuts, sprouts, hot cross buns, honey cakes.
12. Plants and herbs associated with Ostara: Acorn, celandine, cinquefoil, crocus, daffodil, dogwood, Easter lily, gorse, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, jonquils, narcissus, olive, peony, rose, tansy, violets, woodruff and all spring flowers.
13. Decorate for Ostara with spring flowers, bunnies, eggs, and garden motifs.

5 Comments »

1. Hi I love this list and the celebration of Ostara…also known from the goddess Ishtar! I love decrating eggs and think this is one of the most beautiful celebrations all year. I love the Pagan history too.

   Great post.

   Mine is top male rock singers.

   Cheers,
   Candy

   Comment by Candy Minx — March 14, 2007 @ 9:31 pm

2. Wow! Your TT is chock full of great information. I like the Greek name for Ostara - Asteri (star).

   Mine is up too. I’m all about chickens this week.

   Comment by Christine — March 14, 2007 @ 10:33 pm

3. you can learn so much thirteening! thanks for a great educational post! happy TT, mine’s up!

   Comment by Uisce — March 15, 2007 @ 5:57 am

4. Thanks for reminding me to get my washi eggs out!

   Comment by Janet — March 15, 2007 @ 10:15 am

5. While it isn’t traditional in anyone’s book but mine, I’ve celebrated the last few spring equinoxes by putting flea goop on the cats…because the weather warms up enough to begin letting them out on the patio again.

   Comment by Laughing Muse — March 16, 2007 @ 11:31 am

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