March 2008

OSTARA - EASTER
by Heather Maureen Millott

The arrival of spring is marked by the Spring Equinox, the date when day and night are equal lengths. Depending on the year and time zones, this equinox falls between March 20 and 23. This year, March is also the month for Ostara or Easter.

Pagans named the Spring Equinox after Ostara, their goddess of spring and rebirth. In some places Ostara is known as Eostre. Eostre was a Teutonic goddess whose reign over the earth began in the spring appearing as a beautiful maiden with a basket of bright colorful eggs. Her magical companion, a rabbit, accompanied her as she brought new life to dying plants and flowers by hiding eggs in the fields.

Eggs are another Pagan symbol of Easter. From the earliest of times, the egg has represented rebirth and immortality. Pagans decorated the first eggs for springtime. They were often wrapped in leaves or brightly colored by boiling them with petals of flowers or vegetables.

As Spring is the season of nature's rebirth, the symbol of the egg became significant. The Druids dyed eggs scarlet to honor the Sun, and Pagan Anglo-Saxons made offerings of their colored eggs to the Goddess Eostre. They also (like many Pagan cultures before them) placed patterned eggs in tombs or on fresh graves, to ensure the rebirth of the deceased.

Coloring eggs for Easter was the custom in England during the middle ages. Edward I, in the year 1290, ordered four hundred and fifty eggs to be gold-leafed and colored for Easter gifts.

The most famous decorated Easter eggs were those made by a well-known goldsmith, Peter Faberge in the 1800's. Russian Czar, Alexander, commissioned Faberge to make something special for Empress Marie, his wife. It was to be an Easter gift. The first Faberge egg was an egg within an egg. The outer shell was platinum and enameled white which opened to reveal a smaller gold egg. The smaller egg, opened to display a golden chicken and a jeweled replica of the Imperial crown. The Faberge egg so delighted Marie that the Czar promptly ordered the Faberge firm to design more eggs every following Easter. Alexander's son carried on the tradition and fifty-seven eggs were made all together.

Ornamental egg designers believe in the symbolism of the egg and celebrate the egg by decorating it with superb artistry. Although the omens and the mystery of the egg have disappeared today, the symbolism remains, and artists continue in the old world tradition of adorning eggs.

Eggs are a universal symbol around the world in all cultures and walks of life. No matter what country or continent you live on, the egg means something to all of us. So I leave you with an old Latin proverb: Omne vivum ex ovo. Meaning "all life comes from an egg".

Till next time,
Heather

About the Author:
Heather Millott is a Halloween artist who admits to being shamelessly addicted to primitive folk and vintage Halloween art. Each month she plans to bring us another "Curious Good.." column. If you have a story suggestion for her, feel free to email her. Visit Heather here on HalloweenArtists.com or on her website at www.witchhollowprimitives.com.