Ostara - the festival of new beginnings

Ostara is the festival of new beginnings and is the 3rd sabbat in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year.

It's my favourite time of the year, when winter's icy grip starts to recede and the days get longer and warmer. Ostara is the ancient Germanic Goddess of spring. It's said that she would transform a bird into hare, this hare would then to go on to lay coloured eggs for her festival. The hare and the eggs are a often used to symbolise Ostara, as Christianity became more popular the hare turned into the famous Easter Bunny as they put their own influence on these traditions. 

Ostara honours the warmth of spring and light from the sun. It's the awakening of the earth, rebirth and renewal and brings the balance of night and day.

As the days become longer and our energy returns, and we feel the need to spring clean it's also a good time to plan for the future. Farmers start working in their fields again ready for the harvest season, flowers are planted ready to bloom and brighten the summer months, and vegetable patches are renewed with abundance for another year. I like to take time to think about what I want to achieve this year, and the outcome I hope for come the end of the year. It's a time to cleanse your home and refresh the energy, open windows and let the stagnant energy out. 

There are many ways to celebrate Ostara with as Christianity adopted a lot of Ostara traditions there's a lot of similarities, from decorating eggs and egg hunts to seasonal floral decorations (daffodils, lilies, tulips etc) with coloured candles and of course a feast with good food and happy celebrations. 

How will you be celebration?

Elentya