Ostara and Easter are so closely related and twisted that Easter is perhaps the only “Christian” holiday that still has a Pagan title. Easter gets its name from the Teutonic Goddess of spring and the dawn, whose name is spelled Oestre, Eostre, or Eastre.

 The ancient Saxons started most of this, actually. They celebrated the return of spring with the old adage, laugh, drink and make merry. This festival was held in tribute to their Goddess of fertility and springtime, Eastre or Ostara. When the early Christian missionaries met up with the northern Saxons, they attempted to convert them to Christianity. It's been a life long battle for the Christians, to convert Pagans into their beliefs system.

The Equinox and Easter are so close, those who celebrate Easter often see this holiday (which observes Christ's resurrection from the dead after his death on Good Friday) as being synonymous with rebirth and rejuvenation. However, look closer at some of the Easter customs, you will see that the origins are surprisingly Pagan! Eggs, bunnies, candy, Easter baskets, new clothes, all these "traditions" have their origin in practices which really have little or nothing to do with the Christian holiday.

Funny, I was raised Catholic and no one could ever explain the Easter bunny to me, or why we colored eggs. Let's take a look at those particular traditions:

• Coloring Eggs - eggs are clearly one of the most potent symbols of fertility, and spring is the season when animals begin to mate and flowers and trees pollinate and reproduce.
• Easter bunny - of course, another huge symbol of fertility. 
• Daffodils - represent new beginnings, rebirth or resurrection.

Depicted in modern goddess art with daffodils in her hair, a rabbit or hare by her side, holding a basket filled with eggs, Eostre is the beautiful goddess of fertility.


No matter what the faith, The Spring Equinox is viewed as a time of rebirth an new beginnings. This is a good time of year to start your seedlings. If you grow an herb garden, start getting the soil ready for late spring plantings. Celebrate the balance of light and dark as the sun begins to tip the scales, and the return of new growth is near.

Take some time to celebrate the new life that surrounds you in nature and as you do so, observe all the new things beginning around you.