Ostara/Easter

Okay, so it's coming up to ostara (or as you may know it as, easter) in the northern hemisphere, so like I always get when it comes to these sorts of things, I am frustrated.
Ostara is yet another pagan holiday that christians converted to their own to try convince people to change religion. Paganism was just too popular for them to compete so they stole half our things so it would be familiar - although they shifted the dates a little.

But Ostara should be a time of celebration not tantrums, so lets talk about the positive side of it.
Ostara. The spring equinox. The middle of spring.
Now, to tell the truth, ostara actually falls on March 21 - the christians pushed the date of easter into april -, but I've been asking around and alot of pagans push it and celebrate it on 'easter' instead, because it is more convenient; the holidays are here, and chocolate eggs are on sale.
So lets go through some ways to celebrate this wonderful, lovely (yet terribly frustrating) holiday:
> Spring is the time of growing plants, so many pagans plant vegetable gardens. However, that's not possible for everyone - especially people living in apartment buildings - so another thing you can plant is goals. Set yourself a goal you want to achieve by the time next spring comes around - perhaps you want to save up money, or change job, or keep your garden alive -, whatever it is, now is the time to focus on it. If you're still shaky about that, then just start something new, a drawing, diary, a diet.
> Egg Painting. This is where easter eggs came from. It is a traditional activity because eggs represent fertility - new life. So boil yourself an egg and pull out the paints.
> If you have kids or young ones - or are a young one - go on an easter egg hunt.
> Some people light fires in the light of the new sun in hope of bringing luck and protection to their home, so thats another activity you can try,
> Do a ritual. It is a very common thing amoung pagans to participate in a ritual and perhaps make an offering to the goddess.
> You can also just say a prayer if you want, at your alter. Make sure you decorate with ostara correspondences though, and put some eggs on your altar.

Ostara correspondences:

> Stones/Gems: Jasper, amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone and red jasper.

> Incense: African violet, jasmine, rose, sage and strawberry

> Herbs/Flowers: Honeysuckle, Iris, Peony, Violet, Woodruff, Gorse, Olive, Iris, Narcissus, Daffodils, Jonquils, Primrose, Forsythia, Crocus, all spring flowers, pine tree

> Colors: Green, Yellow

> Symbols & Decorations: four leaf clover, baskets, eggs, lambs, flowers, chicks, bunnies, budding twigs, flowers, pussy willows, sprouting bulbs, colored ribbons

> Foods: jelly eggs (jelly beans), chocolates, lamb, eggs, seeds, leafy green vegetables, spiced or flower cupcakes, fruits, hot cross buns, sprouts, honey cakes, unleavened bread

So there you have it. Everything Ostara (for the northern hemisphere). I'm very sorry to those of you in the southern hemisphere, I know it's autumn right now, but I can't cover them both at the moment. Don't worry though, I will work on getting it up. I'm actualy writting this on a full moon. Please comment and tell if you did anything in celebration of the full moon!

D.R.

Pagan Celebrations

(I don't know why a christian would be reading this, but if you are, you may want to skip this section, because it may become offensive - chances are I've already offended you though.)
Another area of paganism are the celebrations. This part really gets to me, because Christians converted them to their own. (See if you can spot the similarities - keep in mind, paganism came first, they stole from us, not the other way around)
We call them the sabbats. It depends on what hemisphere you're in on when during the year they fall, so I will put the dates for both. (South = southern hemisphere. North = northern hemisphere)

The sabbats are:

1> Yule - North: December 21. South: June 21 (Christmas) [Winter Solstice]
This is the Winter Solstice. It is the longest night of the year, in the middle of winter. It is when the seasons start to change and spring approaches. Pagan activities at this time included gift giving, tree decoration, wreath making, and feasting (sound familiar?).
Main Tradition(s): lighting the yule log.

2> Imbolc - North: February 2. South: August 1 (Saint Brigit's day/Groundhog Day)
The first glimpses of spring are begining to show. It is neither winter, nor spring; the season is on the brink of change. This is generally the time you go about 'spring cleaning'.
Main Tradition(s): candlemas.

3> Ostara/Eastre - North: March 21. South: September 21 (Easter) [Spring Equinox]
The Spring Equinox, the middle of spring. This is a time of planting, whether it be seeds in the garden, or goals in the mind. People go about bread making (*cough* hot cross buns *cough) and seeing family.
Main Tradition(s): egg colouring/hunting.

4> Beltane - North: May 1. South: November 1 (Christians refused this celebration)
Beltane is a celebration of fertility, growth, love and passion. Celebrate this day with joy and happiness. It is a time of handfastings (marriage). It is between spring and summer.
Main Tradition(s): May Pole

5> Litha - North: June 21. South: December 21 (no christian corrospondence) [Summer Solstice]
Litha is in midsummer. Longest day of the year. On this day you wear many flowers and bright colors.
Main Tradition(s): collecting herbs

6> Lammas/Lughnasadh - North: August 1. South: Feb 1
It's the end of summer and the begining of autumn. Some people bury a bottle by their front door for good luck, it is also common to have family picnics.
Main Tradition(s): Harvesting/baking

7> Mabon - North: Sept 21. South: March 21 (Thanks Giving) [Autumn Equinox]
Some celebrate this day with arts, crafts, and games; also, a meal made with fresh vegetables (from the garden if possible). It is the middle of autumn.
Main Tradition(s): drinking of wine

8> Samhain - North: Oct 31. South: April 30 (Hallowe'en)
Many confuse the pronounciation of this one; it's pronounced 'sow-en' rather than 'sam-hay-in'. It is believed that at this time, the veil between the spirit real and the physical is thinnest. It is common to say a prayer to be heard by loved ones past, and to put candles in the windows to guide guest spirits. An activity you might try is apple bobbing. It is the turning from Autumn to winter.
Main Tradition(s): carving Jack o' Lanterns, Divination, honouring the dead.

And I know that if you know your stuff, you're probably thinking I forgot essbats - but i didn't.
Essabats is a monthly celebration of the full moon. Some also celebrate the new moon, but it's not as common.

D.R.