March 21st, Spring Equinox, Ostara, Pâques, Easter
Day and night are of equal length at the equinox. The weather becomes warmer, buds and flowers appear on plants, hibernating animals awaken, and migratory birds return. The goddess of spring, Eostre, or Ostara, also returns, her young girl’s or lover’s face beaming. This goddess of youth, love, and the greening earth brings with her the light of the first dawn of the year to occur due east.
When Christianisation took place, the name Pâques, from the Greek “Paskha”, meaning passage, was given to this festival. A mysterious treasure hunt has taken place on Easter morning since time immemorial: people of all ages rush outside to search for sweets in the garden: confectionary eggs, chickens, bells and rabbits, the latter symbolising the mating season. Wells and springs were decorated and people would go in early morning to bring pure water from these places. |
unknown author