Wiccan Easter, also known as Ostara, is a holiday celebrated by followers of the Wiccan religion. It is typically observed on the vernal equinox, which falls around March 20th or 21st each year. Ostara is regarded as a time of balance, renewal, and fertility. It signifies the arrival of spring and the awakening of nature from its winter slumber. Wiccans believe that the light and darkness are equal on this day, symbolizing the harmony and equilibrium in the universe. During Ostara, Wiccans celebrate the returning warmth and abundance of the earth.
Hislop’s logic becomes incomprehensible in places, and he made fundamental errors demonstrating his thinking to be false. For instance, he argued on a phonetic basis that Eostre from Saxony must be the same as Astarte, Ishtar, and Ashtoreth. This is a leap to consider their relationships based on the sound of the names alone. We might find many examples of words that sound the same in various languages but share no common root or meaning. Hislop attempted to make other connections, but they are unconvincing and do not take into consideration the time these goddesses were worshipped or the importance of the confusion of languages at Babel. He also neglected to consider the relationship between the English and German words used today.
Hislop attempted to make other connections, but they are unconvincing and do not take into consideration the time these goddesses were worshipped or the importance of the confusion of languages at Babel. However, in English-speaking languages and Germany, some historians have argued the word derives from a pagan springtime goddess called Ēostre, who is documented by an Anglo-Saxon monk who wrote during the 8th century AD.
During Ostara, Wiccans celebrate the returning warmth and abundance of the earth. They honor and pay tribute to the goddess of spring and fertility, also known as Ostara. This deity represents the feminine energy and the power to create life.
The pagan roots of Easter
Each and every Easter, children across Britain will go in search of eggs hidden around their house and garden by the Easter Bunny. Millions of chocolate eggs will be purchased, gifted and consumed whilst hot cross buns will fly off the shelves of every supermarket.
Read more about: Popular Culture
Five peculiar Easter traditions that don't involve chocolate eggs
by Jamie Dwelly
Easter is a Christian festival celebrated across the world, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. How then have bunnies, buns and eggs come to be associated with this religious event? The answer lies in pre-Christianity with many of the themes of Easter rooted in pagan traditions.
Easter falls at a time of the year known as the spring equinox when the length of the nights in the Northern Hemisphere becomes identical to the length of the days. Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth as winter begins to fall away with the promise of sunnier, longer days lying ahead. For thousands of years, people from varying cultures have marked and celebrated the equinoxes and solstices (longest and shortest days of the year).
Read more about: Popular Culture
What date is Easter 2024 and when are the school holidays?
by Jamie Dwelly
The pre-Christian ancient world is filled with stories of resurrection around spring. One of the world’s oldest civilisations, the Sumer who lived in southern Mesopotamia (modern southern Iraq), inscribed a story of their goddess Inanna onto a clay tablet some two thousand years before Christ.
The story goes that Inanna descended into the underworld to find her recently deceased husband. There she was killed before being brought back to life by other gods. She was permitted to return to the world as the sun for six months before having to descend into the underworld once again during the winter for a further six months. It is perhaps the first ancient story of resurrection and rebirth centred on spring.
Read more about: Popular Culture
Why do we eat hot cross buns on Good Friday?
by Jamie Dwelly
There were many more stories amongst ancient civilisations that followed a similar theme including the resurrection of Horus, the falcon-headed ancient Egyptian deity and the death and rebirth of the Greek god Dionysus. They are stories that share ideologies about renewal and light conquering darkness.
As Christianity began to sweep across Europe, many pagan festivals and traditions were absorbed and adapted into the Christian faith. It made sense that the already ingrained concept of new life being celebrated during springtime should become associated with Jesus conquering death and being reborn.
Read more about: Ancient History
The Wheel of the Year: the calendar of pagan festivals explained
by James Brigden
If you’ve noticed, the date of Easter changes every year and this is because it is governed by the phases of the moon and not a specific date on which Christ was said to have risen from the dead. It falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox making it a celebration of the seasons, a concept rooted in paganism.
Read more about: Seasonal
When is the first day of Spring?
by Jamie Dwelly
What about the name 'Easter', where did that come from? It is believed that in most European countries, the name came from the Hebrew word 'Pesach', otherwise known as Passover - the Jewish springtime holiday. However, in English-speaking languages and Germany, some historians have argued the word derives from a pagan springtime goddess called Ēostre, who is documented by an Anglo-Saxon monk who wrote during the 8th century AD. Ēostre was a goddess celebrated with a festival during the spring equinox and according to some scholars, her association with hares is the origin of the Easter Bunny story, although this is still hotly debated.
Read more about: Religion
Things you didn’t know about early Christianity: 8 surprising facts
Rabbits and hares have long been an ancient symbol of fertility and life, given their prolific ability to procreate. They are the perfect icons for spring and all that it represents. However, it took until the 17th century before a German tradition about an Easter hare, known as the Osterhase, which delivered eggs to good children caught on. The softer, more amenable looking bunny eventually replaced the hare as the tradition spread across the U.S. via German immigrants during the 1700s.
Read more about: Religion
'Remember that you are dust': The history of Ash Wednesday
What about the Easter egg? Where did that come from? Dating back to ancient times, eggs, like the rabbits, have also been symbols of new life and fertility in various cultures. As Christianity absorbed pagan spring traditions, the egg was also adapted to become the perfect representation of Jesus’ resurrection; the eggshell symbolising the tomb, whilst the cracking of it representing Jesus’ emergence; life-conquering death.
Read more about: Ancient History
From Ides of March to Mayday: Five ways to welcome spring
In western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks a period of penance and fasting for 40 days leading up to Easter known as Lent. During the Middle Ages, egg painting became a popular tradition around this time as eggs were forbidden during Lent. It is said that people began to decorate the eggs and enjoy them when the fasting was over during Easter celebrations. The custom of painting eggs during Easter is still very popular across the world today.
Read more about: Seasonal
The pagan roots of Pancake Day and Shrove Tuesday
The industrial revolution combined with the rise of commercialism during the 18th and 19th centuries saw the egg and the bunny cement their places in our Easter traditions. Greeting cards were adorned with their imagery, whilst the confectionary company Cadbury starting manufacturing chocolate eggs during the late 1800s. The rest as they say is history.
The hot cross bun, that delicious Easter staple, whose name and cross are said to symbolise the crucifixion of Jesus, is also believed to have pagan origins. A part of the pagan celebrations of Ēostre, buns marked with a cross would be baked across pre-Christian Europe to celebrate the springtime goddess. The symbolism of the cross on the bun was said to represent the four seasons as well as the four primary phases of the moon. The bun was absorbed by Christianity and the meaning of its cross was adapted.
Read more about: Ancient History
The most important Celtic gods and goddesses
So it’s clear to see that many of our Easter traditions do not have their roots in the Christian faith. Whilst many people today do mark the occasion by celebrating the resurrection of Christ, many others see Easter as a time to rejoice at the coming of spring - to celebrate with Easter bunnies, egg hunts and hot cross buns and embody the same spirit of hope, renewal and new life that has existed around this time of year for thousands of years.
One writer draws “parallels between the story of Jesus and the epic of Inanna.” This “doesn't necessarily mean that there wasn't a real person, Jesus, who was crucified, but rather that, if there was, the story [. ] is structured and embellished in accordance with a pattern that was very ancient and widespread.”
In rituals and ceremonies, Wiccans offer gratitude for the blessings of the earth and ask for her continued guidance and prosperity. The holiday is often marked by various customs and practices. Many Wiccans decorate their altars and homes with symbols of fertility and growth, such as flowers, eggs, and baby animals. They may also engage in gardening, planting new seeds, and tending to their outdoor spaces. Additionally, gathering for feasts, dancing, and making music are common activities during this festive time. Wiccan Easter is a celebration of nature's rebirth and the cycles of life. It serves as a reminder for Wiccans to reconnect with the earth and honor its cycles. Through rituals and traditions, Wiccans embrace the energies of spring and embrace the spiritual significance of growth and renewal..
Reviews for "Wiccan Easter Traditions from Around the World"
1. John - 1 star
"Wiccan Easter is called" is a poorly written book with an unclear plot and underdeveloped characters. The story jumps from one event to another without any cohesive flow, leaving the reader confused and disengaged. The author tries to incorporate elements of Wiccan practices, but it feels forced and out of place. Additionally, the dialogue is stilted and lacks depth, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, this book is in need of a major revision before it can be considered an enjoyable read.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
While "Wiccan Easter is called" had an interesting premise, the execution fell flat for me. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of slow-moving narrative followed by rushed and unexplained events. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear, making it difficult to connect with or root for them. The dialogue also felt unnatural and forced, detracting from the overall reading experience. I was disappointed by this book and would not recommend it to others.
3. Alex - 2.5 stars
"Wiccan Easter is called" had the potential to be an intriguing exploration of Wiccan practices during the Easter season, but it ultimately fell short. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with too many subplots that didn't seem to connect in a meaningful way. The writing style was also choppy and disjointed, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. While there were moments of creativity and unique world-building, they were overshadowed by the overall confusion and lack of cohesiveness. I was left feeling unsatisfied and unsure of what the book was trying to achieve.
4. Emily - 1.5 stars
I found "Wiccan Easter is called" to be a disappointing read. The story lacked a clear direction and the characters were poorly developed. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to engage with the story. Additionally, the pacing was erratic, with long periods of stagnation followed by rushed and haphazard events. Overall, this book failed to deliver on its promising premise and left me feeling unsatisfied. I would not recommend it to others looking for a well-crafted and engaging read.
5. David - 1 star
"Wiccan Easter is called" was a confusing and poorly written book. The plot was disjointed and filled with unnecessary subplots that only served to confuse the reader. The characters lacked depth and their actions often felt random and unexplained. The writing itself was clunky and there were numerous grammatical and typographical errors throughout. Overall, this book was a disappointment and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a coherent and enjoyable reading experience.