Do pagans have anything special they do for Easter? I've heard of something called Orastar or something. Any ideas?

Kell

actually we tend to celebrate imbolc- feb 2 and the spring equinox- but there are other older religions- or reconstructionist (as in asatru) and eclectic ones that do- and it is called Ostara. that is when the new rabbits open their eyes. eggs are used to celebrate fertility. an old slavic custom- pysanky eggs- is a direct line back to the old ways. I guess it's whatever blows your pagan skirt up nowadays. Actually wiccan really have a lot of holidays- 4 major sabbats- the equinoxes and solstices plus 4 more whereas witches do not-only 2. eclectics celebrate anything and everything. so have at it and do as the great mother moves ya!

sundog

OSTARA (circa March 21) (Eostar, Spring Equinox, March 20-23 dependent on actual astronomical event) The Goddess blankets the Earth with fertility as the God stretches and grows to maturity. The hours of day and night are equal and light is overtaking darkness. This is a time of beginnings, action, planting spells, and of tending the gardens. This is the start in the pagan year of spring, at least among Wiccans and Celtics. The first flowers are praised and the God and Goddess thanked for the true return to happier times for all. Ostara is one of the more colorful holidays, not one of the somber colors found in Yule and Candlemas. Feasting and socializing are the important factors in this holiday as well as the celebration of the return of color to the natural world. In the Christian calendar, again to draw early worshipers, they marked this as the final days and rebirth of Jesus (when according to history he died in June!)

Here's a link to other holidays:

http://www.witchway.net/days/days.html[/URL]

Thanks for the info guys - you've satisfied my curiosity! I'll have to check out that page on other holidays too, Connie. =)

Kell

=) =) =D =) =)

I was going to say something sarcastic about what Christianity and Islam says about any of the old religions but none of them sounded humorous enough. So I just wanted to post some smiles and say thanks.