Eostre pagan observances have their roots in ancient Germanic traditions and over time have become associated with the Christian holiday of Easter. Eostre is a pagan goddess of spring and fertility, and her name is thought to be the origin of the word "Easter." The observances of Eostre vary across different pagan traditions, but they generally focus on celebrating the arrival of spring and the renewal of life. One common custom is to decorate eggs, a symbol of fertility, in bright colors and patterns. These eggs are then hidden and children are encouraged to search for them, creating an Easter egg hunt. Another tradition is the lighting of bonfires, which symbolize the return of the sun's warmth and light.
To me Pagan reconstructionism is figuring out how to stay true to the ideas and traditions behind the ancient rituals and festivals even if we can’t celebrate them exactly as our Pagan ancestors would have done. We really don’t know that much about the Goddess Eostre and how the Pagans celebrated her, so the best thing to do is collect the information we do have and stay true to the underlying spirit of the traditions to best of our ability.
The bright colors are a reflection of the spring flowers blooming and egg itself may be linked to chickens return to laying after the long winter months where chicken s lay very few, if any, eggs. No doubt, her name sounds similar to Easter, which can play into where we got the original root of the word for the holiday, but who exactly is this goddess of pagan myth.
Another tradition is the lighting of bonfires, which symbolize the return of the sun's warmth and light. These fires are believed to bring blessings and drive away evil spirits. Additionally, many pagans observe Eostre by participating in rites and ceremonies that honor the goddess and express gratitude for the abundance of the season.
Eostre pagan observances
Ostara is the one of the eight pagan festivals throughout the Wheel of the Year. Each season is celebrated and regarded as equally important. It is also a way to understand the natural world and its changes and become more in-tune with the environment. This is one of my favourite times of the year – if I could choose!
The 21st March marks the Spring Equinox. The wondrous time of the year, parallel to Autumn Equinox. It is a time of balance – when the length of night and day are completely equal.
And it is the gateway into Spring! – the very first day of spring! The days will now get longer and the night shorter as we move into the summer season.
As well as the light and dark, other aspects come into balance – masculinity and femininity, inner and outer etc. But this festival marks the time of the year when light defeats the dark as we are coming out of the cold winter months. Where the world, which would have seemed like it was dying to our ancestors, begins to bloom again with life. It is a time of fertility, renewal and rebirth.
Ostara originally took its name from the Germanic goddess Eostre/Ostara, a representation of fertility and regrowth. And interestingly, the female fertility hormone has been influenced by the name of the goddess – “Eostrogen.” And this is where the Christian celebration of Easter evolved! – itself a celebration of rebirth.
And indeed, the things associated with modern day Easter are traditionally Ostara symbols – a Hare, Eggs and Hot cross buns!
The Goddess Ostara is most closely associated with a Hare – she is shown having the head and shoulders of a hare. The hare is particularly a symbol of fertility and abundance as in nature the hare is able to conceive even whilst pregnant! And over the centuries this hare symbol has become the Easter Bunny – who brings eggs to children on Easter morning, the Christian celebration.
Also, for many goddesses in Paganism, the Hare is a symbol of the moon. This also links to modern Easter celebrations as Christian Easter is determined by the phases of the moon.
The egg itself is very important! It represents potential and new life – symbolising fertility and all creation. It can optimise the masculine and feminine balance; light and dark in the yolk and egg white – the Sun God and White Goddess.
It is even seen by many traditions a symbol representing the entire universe.
It shows balance of all things for but a moment until the energy comes through bringing growth and rebirth to the world.
Finally, the hot cross bun too represents balance. The decoration of the cross on top can be seen as the Celtic Cross, the four armed cross within a circle. It represents the four seasons, the four directions of N, E, S, and W as well as the five sacred elements Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit in the centre.
And the circumference is the cycle of the year – the circle of life. Pretty cool right?!
And if you did decide to add a little pagan celebration to your home there are some traditional items and colour associated with the festival:
Flowers: Daffodils, primroses, violets, crocuses, celendine, catkins, pussy willow in profusion
Colours (for use with candles or simple decorations): bright green, yellow and purple
Altar/table top ideas: coloured eggs, seeds, feathers, all spring flowers, colours above, all foliage that is sprouting into leaf.
Returning to the topic of Eostre, the evidence for her as an actual goddess people worshipped is a bit uncertain. She’s mentioned in the writings of an 8th century monk known as Venerable Bede, who reported that pagan Anglo-Saxons in medieval Northumbria held festivals in her honor during the month of April. Other than this text, we don’t have much information about how she was honored by the Pagans. Whether Eostre was really worshipped as a goddess or not, by the 19th century she had become an important part of German culture and she was added into German literature, paintings, and folklore.
Overall, Eostre pagan observances are a time of joy and celebration, as pagans come together to welcome the return of spring and the promise of new beginnings..
Reviews for "The Role of Music in Eostre Celebrations: Pagan Songs and Chants for Springtime Rituals"
1. John - 1 star:
I attended the Eostre pagan observances out of curiosity, but I was sorely disappointed. The event lacked organization and clarity, making it difficult to understand the purpose and meaning behind the rituals. Additionally, the atmosphere was chaotic and overwhelming, with loud music and crowds making it impossible to focus or find a moment of peace. Overall, I found the experience to be overwhelming and unsatisfying.
2. Sarah - 2 stars:
I had high hopes for the Eostre pagan observances, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The rituals were poorly explained, leaving newcomers like myself confused and feeling out of place. The lack of structure and guidance made it difficult to fully engage in the practices and understand their significance. Furthermore, the event seemed more focused on entertainment and attracting a large crowd rather than genuine spiritual experiences. I left feeling unfulfilled and disenchanted.
3. Michael - 1.5 stars:
As someone who has attended various pagan observances, I was excited to participate in the Eostre celebration. However, I was disappointed by the lack of authenticity and depth in the rituals. It felt more like a commercialized event catering to the masses rather than a meaningful spiritual gathering. The lack of emphasis on education and understanding of the traditions was also disheartening. Overall, it failed to capture the essence and true purpose of pagan observances, leaving me unsatisfied and disillusioned.
4. Emily - 2 stars:
While I appreciate the effort put into organizing the Eostre pagan observances, I found it to be lacking in substance. The rituals and practices felt watered down and superficial, lacking the depth and complexity that I associate with pagan traditions. Additionally, the event was overcrowded, which made it challenging to fully immerse oneself in the experience and connect with others. I was left wanting more depth and authenticity from the observances.