Ostara - The Pagan Spring Feast

"Ostara" (1901) by Johannes Gehrts. The goddess Ēostre/Ostara flies through the heavens surrounded by Roman-inspired putti, beams of light, and animals. Germanic peoples look up at the goddess from the realm below.(Source: Wikimedia Commons).

Ostara, also known as the Spring Equinox, is a pagan feast celebrated by various pagan and Wiccan communities around the world. This festival marks the arrival of spring, and the celebration typically takes place around March 20th or 21st. The spring equinox symbolizes the end of winter and the beginning of a new cycle of growth and renewal. In many cultures, Ostara is associated with the goddess Ostara, who is known as the goddess of spring, renewal, and fertility. She is said to bring new life to the earth and help flowers and crops grow. The goddess Ostara is also associated with the rising sun and the arrival of spring, and she is often depicted as a young woman with a basket of eggs and flowers.

The celebration of Ostara often includes rituals, such as spring cleaning, planting new crops, and decorating homes with flowers and other symbols of renewal. People may also decorate eggs, a symbol of new life, and exchange them with friends and family. In some communities, Ostara is also a time for reflection and renewal, as people take stock of the past year and make plans for the future.

Another common feature of Ostara celebrations is feasting. Foods associated with spring, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, are often served, and many people also enjoy traditional Easter foods, such as ham and Easter eggs. In some communities, there are also traditional Ostara recipes, such as hot cross buns, which are said to symbolize the sun and the moon.

Easter card, 1907. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

Ostara is also a time for divination and magic, as people look for signs of what the future may hold. This might include reading tarot cards, scrying, or performing other divination rituals. In some communities, Ostara is also a time for initiation or dedication, as people take on new spiritual practices or make commitments to their faith.

Ostara is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the renewal of life. Whether through rituals, feasting, or divination, Ostara is a time for people to come together and celebrate the new cycle of growth and renewal that spring brings. If you're interested in learning more about this pagan festival, there are many books and websites available that can help you explore the history and traditions of Ostara in greater detail.