Wiccan Easter, also known as Ostara, is a holiday celebrated by practitioners of Wicca. It takes place during the spring equinox, a time when day and night are equal in length. This holiday is named after the Germanic goddess, Eostre, who represents fertility and rebirth. During Wiccan Easter, individuals come together to honor the changing of seasons and embrace the renewal of life. It is a time to celebrate the arrival of spring and the growth and new beginnings it brings. Many Wiccans participate in rituals and ceremonies to honor the earth, honor the goddess, and connect with the natural world around them.
The white house hosts its first Easter egg roll under the guidance of Rutherford B. Hayes. The activity of the egg roll symbolizes the rolling away of the stone that encased Jesus in his tomb. On a more decadent note, in 1885 The House of Faberge began designing and crafting jewel encrusted eggs for Russian nobility, creating a sparkly new twist for the rich to gift to their families.
As time moved onward Easter eggs began to take shape in the 18th century as German immigrants brought their tradition of the Osterhase - a bunny who brings brightly colored eggs to obedient children and lays them in nests. One of the stories recounted in this book mentions an Easter hare that hides coloured eggs for children to find the first written mention of an Easter egg hunt.
Many Wiccans participate in rituals and ceremonies to honor the earth, honor the goddess, and connect with the natural world around them. This holiday is seen as a time of balance, as it marks the transition from the darkness and cold of winter to the light and warmth of spring. Wiccan Easter is a celebration of life and the interconnectedness of all things.
The Origins and Practices of Holidays: Ostara, Holi, and Purim
Ostara is a Wiccan holiday and one of their eight Sabbats. Ostara celebrates the spring equinox. The word Ostara comes from the Anglo-Saxon goddess name, Eostre. Eostre represented spring and new beginnings.
The celebration of spring is present in many ancient customs, across all cultures, and it seems that Wicca has borrowed from many of them for Ostara. Like many other spring celebrations in other cultures, Ostara symbolizes fertility, rebirth, and renewal. This time of year marked the beginning of the agricultural cycle, and farmers would start planting seeds.
Photo of March Hares that are fighting. Photo Courtesy of Flickr user Nic Relton. Not for commercial use.
Many of the symbols of Ostara have roots in other traditions, and the use of rabbits and hares is one such example. In medieval times in Europe, the March hare was seen as a fertility symbol, and a sign of spring. This species of rabbit is nocturnal most of the year, but in March, it is mating season for the animal. During mating season, March hares are seen all day long. Additionally, females of this species can get pregnant with a second litter while pregnant with their first litter. This explains why they were used as symbols for fertility.
Modern day Wiccans or pagans might go outside to meditate and perform a simple ritual to welcome the spring. Another common way to celebrate the coming spring is to plant seeds. Some families incorporate seasonal candy, such as peeps and chocolate rabbits, with their kids to help them get in the spirit of the event.
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It is a time to embrace the beauty and magic of nature and honor the cycles of the earth..
Reviews for "Practicing Witchcraft on Wiccan Easter"
1. Mary - 2 stars
I was really looking forward to reading "Wiccan Easter is Titled" as I am interested in Wiccan practices. However, I was quite disappointed with this book. The author seemed to focus more on explaining the basic concepts of Wicca rather than diving into the topic of Wiccan Easter. The information provided was very basic and lacked depth. Additionally, the writing style was dull and did not engage me as a reader. Overall, I found this book to be a let-down and would not recommend it to those seeking in-depth knowledge on Wiccan Easter.
2. John - 1 star
As a Wiccan practitioner, I was excited to explore the topic of Wiccan Easter in this book. However, I found "Wiccan Easter is Titled" to be severely lacking in substance. The author barely scratched the surface of the subject, providing only vague and general information about the celebration. I expected to learn more about the rituals, customs, and significance of Wiccan Easter, but instead, I was left with more questions than answers. The book failed to provide any tangible information that would deepen my understanding of Wiccan Easter. I was extremely disappointed with this read and would not recommend it to anyone seeking in-depth knowledge about Wiccan practices during Easter.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
Having practiced Wicca for a few years now, I was hoping to explore the topic of Wiccan Easter in more detail through "Wiccan Easter is Titled." However, the book fell short of my expectations. It provided a very brief overview of Wiccan Easter, with minimal information on the customs, rituals, and history. The writing style was dry and lacked the passion I was hoping for. Moreover, there were several grammatical and spelling errors throughout the book, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the content. I believe there are better resources available for those interested in learning about Wiccan Easter, and I would not recommend this book as a primary source of information on the topic.