Ostara - Spring Equinox

The holiday Ostara, or Eostre as it is sometimes referred, being named after the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring, is one of the Eight Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year.  It is celebrated at the time of the Spring/Vernal Equinox which is the First Day of Spring and falls on March 20 this year (2013). In ancient times, offerings of cakes and colored eggs were made as thanks for bringing in the Spring. Rabbits were sacred to her, especially white rabbits, and she was believed to take the form of a rabbit. This Pagan holiday has been adapted by Christians as the celebration of Easter (March 31 this year) in which Jesus, their Savior, rose from the grave. 

Pagans and Christians alike, celebrate this holiday by coloring eggs, eating sweets and decorations of white rabbits, and lets not forget those sugary confections, Peeps!  

Here is a bit of a fun story https://www.facebook.com/PaganNewsNow/posts/10151572399951518
I do hope that link allows you through.  It is a precious story about the selfless love of a small girl who tries to save a freezing bird.  She begs Goddess Eostre for help who pauses in her duties of bringing Spring and assists the freezing bird.  However, in her haste, Eostre fails to unfreeze the little bird's wings, leaving it unable to fly. The little girl in child like innocence demands the Goddess fix the birds wings. Amused by the child's insolence, Esotre instead, transforms the bird into a rabbit so that its frozen wings are no longer an issue.  And what do you suppose that leads to?  You guessed it, a Rabbit that lays brightly colored eggs every Spring.  Please do read the actual story as it is much more elegantly told by the author than my rudimentary summary here.

Ostara Blessings to All!
Rayven Michaels