Ostara

Mar 20

What is Ostara?

Ostara is the celebration of the Spring Equinox, a time of year when the day and the night are in equal length, the chill of winter slowly fades, and flowers begin to bloom. Around March 19-23, festivals celebrating balance, renewal, and fertility are held, honoring the Germanic goddess Esotre. Symbols like rabbits, eggs, flowers, and light, are used to observe the return of Spring.

A Little History:

Ostara is the celebration of the awakening of nature, rooted in Paganism and pre-dating Christianity. It’s influences can be seen in the modern, widely celebrated, and familiar Spring time celebration of Easter. Ostara honors the German goddess Esotre, who is associated with fertility, dawn, and new beginnings. Bede, an 8th-century monk, documented Esotre and the celebrations of Ostara in his work “The Beckoning of Time”, in relation to an Anglo-Saxon Spring festival. According to Bede, the month of April was once called Eosturmonath in her honor. Unfortunately, like many other ancient traditions and festivities, there is little documented history.

A few other notable goddesses associated with springtime, fertility, love, and rebirth include Freya, Demeter, & Persephone. Freya (Norse Mythology) also connected to rabbits and hares, symbols later linked to Easter. Demeter & Persephone (Greek Mythology) whose journey between the underworld and earth represent seasonal change and rebirth, much like Ostara.

Celebrate Ostara

Symbology:

Hares & Rabbits – fertility, abundance, energy, springtime
Eggs – birth, potential, the balance of the equinox
Flowers & Seeds – growth, potential, abundance, hope
Balance & Light – harmony, transition from winter to summer
Colors – shades of green and yellow, pastels - new growth, sunshine, spring

Activities and Rituals:

Nature Walks & Foraging – take time to observe the return of wildlife and collect seasonal herbs.
Sunrise Rituals - welcome the sun and honor the balance of light and dark.
Egg Decorating – an activity that dates back to 320 B.C., paint or decorate eggs to honor the traditional fertility symbols in a magical or personal way.
Planting Rituals – start a blessings garden. Dig each hole and place each seed with purpose, to manifest goals and intentions.
Decorate - use fresh flowers like daffodils and tulips to decorate your home or an altar. You can use imagery of Esotre, rabbits, etc.
Feasting – Feasts in honor of Esotre and to welcome the springtime were held. Host your own by preparing seasonal foods like fresh greens, honey cakes, and eggs.

Did Ostara Influence Easter?

There is significant debate over whether Ostara directly influenced Easter, but the overlap of symbols seems undeniable. The name Easter is derived from Eostre and both holidays share themes of resurrection, rebirth, and fertility. The Christian observance of Easter coincides with the Paschal Full Moon, a timing that aligns with older lunar-based celebrations.

The Paschal Full Moon is the first full moon after Ostara, or the Spring Equinox, and is used to determine the date of Easter Sunday in the Christian liturgical calendar. Easter can occur as early as March 22 or as late as April 25. The word Paschal comes from the Hebrew Pesach, meaning Passover, reflecting Easter’s connection to the Jewish festival. The Paschal Full Moon’s connection to fertility, rebirth, and divine feminine figures suggests that many of today’s Easter customs—such as eggs, rabbits, and spring celebrations—have origins far older than Christianity itself.

Stories of an Easter bunny surfaced around the late 1500’s in Germany, later evolving to a bunny hiding eggs around 1700 when this folklore made its way to America as “Oschter Haws” (Easter Hare).

Conclusion

Ostara is a time to embrace new beginnings, renewal, and the beauty of balance. It is also the beginning of Aries season, viewed by some as the beginning of a new year. Whether through historical traditions or modern celebrations, this equinox festival continues to inspire those who honor the cycles of the Earth. As we welcome longer days, may we also welcome personal growth, creativity, and the seeds of new opportunities.