Ostara is alot like many religious pagan holidays. Something that is
celebrated but not really understood. So allow me to explain what exactly
Ostara is.
Ostara was the Goddess of Springtime Fertility in the Norse Mythos. The
name is truly spelled Oestre or Eastre (the origin of the word "east" comes
from various Germanic, Austro-Hungarian words for dawn that share the root
for the word "aurora" which means " to shine"). She was celebrated on the
Vernal Equinox which is the beginning of spring. This Goddesses symbols
were the Hare and the Egg. Two of the most strong symbols of fertility.
I'm still, to this day, trying to find out exactly what the reason is for
coloring the eggs. Obviously it is an old tradition. The Greeks would color
the eggs dark red and give them as gifts. That could have something to do
with it as the Catholic church was trying to incorporate many religions at
once in the process of converting the masses. But I know there has to be a
connection someplace in the Northern / Viking religion as the holiday
itself comes from them. But since most of the religion was lost it is hard
to track down.
Alittle more history on that.
The viking religion was passed down by word of mouth from generation to
generation. Finally some monks in Iceland decided to write it down. These
are now called the Sagas and Eddas. They are studied and worshipped by a
religion now called Asatru which is still trying to this day to get their
religion recognized by the US government. But it is not limited to the
United States of America. It is worshipped all over the world.
These monks submitted their work to the Catholic church (Note: I still have
more research to do on this part of the history so please excuse the lack
of detailed information) and the Catholic church removed many sections.
If you find a book about the Sagas and Eddas you will find parts where
there are ****'s. These are portions that were removed by the Catholic
church.
I should honestly stop here as I could on for pages. The history of many
pagan holidays worshipped today can find their roots in the Northern
religions. Such as Yule, which was the Norwegian winter solistice holiday.
It lasted 12 days and was a celebration / sacrifice to the Gods in hopes of
surviving a rather harsh winter in Norway, Northern Germany and Iceland.
All rather difficult places to live in history.
So I hope this has been educational. And if you find any gaps in my
research on past religions celebrated today. Please educate me but also
provide sources. I tend to ignore hear say as I'm a fact kinda girl
And if you are interested in the Sagas and Eddas of Viking Mythos. I
suggest the book called "Masks of Odin". It is a great source. Just
remember that they were passed down as poems in german so finding true
translations is VERY difficult as many languages don't translate accurately
into english.
Anya
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posted on 23/3/2004 at 03:57 PM
I find the story behind the origins of Ostara very interesting. Ostara to
me (probably the accepted Neo-Pagan view on it) is when the God is done
with maturity and like the past tradition, it is the beginning of Spring.
Mating season is just around the corner.
This is my view on it, though and I am sure each individual Pagan has their
thoughts on it.
Thanks for sharing the story. Even me who tries to look for the history
behind certain things did not know about the origins of Ostara. I learn
something new every day, hehe.
Blessings,
Anya
Lestat
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posted on 22/3/2004 at 10:26 AM
I loved this story...^_^ Thanks for letting us know about it, I'll try to
check "Masks of Odin" cause I'm quite interested in all this. It is quite
inspiring in many ways. Thank you
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Zero
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posted on 22/3/2004 at 10:15 AM
Is that the reason why I keep hearing people moaning...."oh god, oooh
Jesus" and "who's your messiah, bitch"....when I go to the Inkeeper on a
friday night??
____________________ "It is a fool's prerogative to utter truths that no one else will speak." ~
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EyeCandyRayce
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posted on 22/3/2004 at 10:06 AM
And the tooth faerie is some 300 pound hairy construction worker with a bad
cough who has a fetish for teeth. You can buy santa or jesus for only 2
teeth for the entire hour!
nono... santa is the plucky comic relieve, pimped out along side jesus with
their pimp, the tooth faerie
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Zero
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posted on 22/3/2004 at 09:58 AM
that was just wrong on so many levels.
where does Santa clause come in on that one.....or is he jesus's pimp when
jesus is in drag??
____________________ "It is a fool's prerogative to utter truths that no one else will speak."
~
The Sandman, Dream Country
EyeCandyRayce
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posted on 22/3/2004 at 09:48 AM
That was great! I like your holiday story too! It took everything I had not
to crack up laughing at work.
Meranda_Jade
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posted on 22/3/2004 at 07:52 AM
*going into a giggling fit* You tell the best holiday stories....
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Rogue
Member
Posts: 199 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 22/3/2004 at 07:48 AM
Ostara is the spring festival of lights, where Jesus goes around on his
magic broomstick and lights fire to one rabbit each night using his magic
burning bush that never burns or extinguishes. The bush is normally kept
in the tomb of John F. Kennedy, who died for our sins, and its flame can be
seen emerging from a vent so all can know that there will be an Ostara the
following year and rabbits should mind their manners lest they be the ones
ignited. Most of the year, Jesus spends his days at the West Pole, where
his army of talking doves make plastic Jesus figurines for the kiddies and
so the faithful will have these powerful talismans to place upon their
dashboards to ward off rain and freeze.
When he's not busy giving motivational speeches in Pigeon English, Jesus
pursues his Passion of stamp collecting and competing in drag shows. The
eggs and chocolate are there because they are the only known cure for a
vodka and red bull/amyl nitrate hangover. And thus is the story of Ostara.
Meranda_Jade
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posted on 22/3/2004 at 07:37 AM
Speaking of which, while I was dyeing the eggs night before last, my oldest
daughter asked if they were going to get lots of candy in their baskets. I
said, "well, that's up to that malicious little bunny who keeps sneaking in
here every year leaving loads of sugar for you kids to get high on." She
looked at me and said, "Mom, I'm not a baby. I know who does it. It's you."
I said, "Really? Why on earth do you think I would give you guys all that
sugar?" She said, "A bunny is too small to open doors and carry eggs and
baskets." I said, "Ah, but its a magic bunny. Like Santa. How do you think
Santa gets in here? That bunny gets in here and steals these eggs that I
decorate, and hides them all over the house for no good reason. Why would I
want eggs all over the house? We don't even find all of them." She said,
"I'm too old to believe in that stuff." I laughed and said, "And you say
you want to be a witch. You have to believe in magic for that." my other
daughter piped up from the other room, "I believe in the bunny!" I
whispered to Rogue, "See, she has sense enough to believe in things that
give her goodies." I think I have my oldest daughter convinced for another
year or so now. And I myself am not discounting the possibility that there
was a magical bunny hopping around the house that night. Those eggs seem
to get rearranged all too conveniently sometimes...
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Meranda_Jade
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posted on 22/3/2004 at 04:33 AM
I've heard a story about how once the Goddess Ostara found a bird, frozen
and dying in the snow. To save its life, she turned it into a hare. The
hare still laid eggs like a bird, though. That's why we have a bunny
bringing us eggs.
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Starlight
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posted on 22/3/2004 at 02:02 AM
Some people dye the eggs to mimic the various types of wild bird eggs which
were in older times gathered for ritual use, and the baskets are to mimic
the nests in which the eggs would naturally rest. At least that is the
reason for some people doing that.
____________________ "When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never
tried before." ~Mae West