OSTARA -- (Give or take pronounced oh-star-ah) One of the Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year. It takes place on the spring equinox. It may derive from the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring, Ēostre. Her name means "moving with the waxing sun." Her symbols are eggs and bunnies.One story goes that a bunny wanted to give a gift to the goddess. He found a fresh egg. He wanted to eat it, but he thought it would make a great gift. He decorated the egg and gave it to the goddess. She loved it. This is why the Easter Bunny delivers decorated eggs.
Culturally speaking, spring is one of the most prolific celebrations. All ancient peoples had some version of a spring celebration.
It is a time of renewed fertility and sacred sex rites were and are performed for those who wish to participate.
It has been associated with Cú Chulainn, Dagda, Taranis, early Christian beliefs, Thor, and a host of others. Ancient oaks found there way into many names of places. Places like Holy Oaks, Derry, and Kildare derive their names from it.
Many early Christian churches were built in oak groves probably because they may have been places of pagan worship.
Romans generals were given oak crowns in victory, which a version is still used in modern military.
One pagan tradition celebrates the Oak King and Holly King. They battled for dominance as the old year passes and and new year begins. The Holly King's power wanes as the Yule comes and the Oak King's power waxes to bring forth fertility by impregnating the Earth Goddess. It symbolizes the cycle of life and death as the Wheel of the Year passes.
OLD ONES -- A term used to encompass all aspects of the God and Goddess.
Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me. I found them on Google.
