The Anglo-Saxons knew her as Ostara. To the Germans she was Eostre. Undoubtedly both cultures greeted her joyously. Ostara was the dawn. She was Spring and everything that went with it: joy, blessings, youth, up-springing light, fertility and procreation. She could even be found in that extra bounce you find in your step on a bright, lovely spring day.
April was the month belonging to Ostara and her name lends itself to our English word "Easter". Though it’s always difficult finding information on many of the older deities, this seems pretty good evidence of just how important and revered she was to her followers. Jacob Grimm writes that only the Anglo-Saxons ("Eastre") and the Germans ("Ostara" or "Ostern") referred to the day as anything other than "Pasha," the Biblical word used in neighboring countries. In an area known for its cold, dark winters, the goddess of the dawn would be most welcomed indeed and it’s no surprise that she survived the coming of the Christians.
On Easter, bonfires were lit to Eostre in the mountains of Germany. Probably they were originally lit at the beginning of May. The fire would be sparked with a flint and steel and was considered quite powerful. People brought crosses, or even crossed sticks, which were set afire and then kept for the year, possibly as a form of protection. In a connection with Bel and Beltain, the crosses and sticks were usually of oak. These fires were so important to people that Grimm gives this as one reason that midsummer fires never gained any popularity in Germany.
Other symbols connected to Ostara/Eostre include rabbits, eggs, and buns. Rabbits were sacred to her undoubtedly because of their fertility, and the "Easter bunny" is often thought to be a survivor of her worship. The same can be said for eggs, yet another popular Easter symbol that has little to do with the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Hot cross buns were eaten in her honor. Either the cross was added later to make them more Christian or it originally was an equal-armed solar cross representing the sun.
Lindeman, Micha. Encyclopedia Mythica [http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/] (See articles on Bel and Bile.)
Sykes, Egerton. Who's who in non-classical mythology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.
Thompson, Sue Ellen. Holiday symbols. Detroit, Mich. : Omnigraphics, 1998.
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Originally
composed 4 April, 2000.
Copyright
Laurel Reufner, 2000. Comments? Email me!