Bunnies Bring Springtime – Ostara

Part of my rededication to my path is observance of the Wheel of the Year again.  It’s been a while since I’ve noted the Sabbats as anything more than, “Hey, do you know what day it is today?”

This year we have the little one, and even though she won’t remember it, I want her first Ostara to be special.  And rather than write yet another post on what other people think Ostara is, I’m going to write about what Ostara is to me, and how we celebrate it here in the little blue house.

So, we all know that the word Ostara is Germanic.  I find it doesn’t roll off the tongue as nicely as Easter does, so I tend to use the two words interchangeably. This has a dual function: 1) it keeps down the weird looks from strangers and 2) it lets my little Witchlet not have to worry about being left out of any of the celebrations that her friends are having.  She’s the lucky girl who gets two Easters.

For us, this lets Ostara be the ‘at home’ holiday where we get to have a big dinner, do fun crafts, hunt for the eggs left by the Ostara Bunny, and open our special Ostara basket (which I think may end up being a bucket – because buckets are awesome).

Secular Easter will be when we go out to visit relatives, do community egg hunts and colouring contests, play in the park, and maybe have another big dinner (I’m big on the big family meals).

With only a few days left to plan, I’m going to be cutting it close this year.  I’m hoping to be more organized next year (watch me say that again next Ostara). I think that our dinner will probably be a pork roast – asparagus with peas and slivered almonds, and a wild mushroom pilaf on the side.  For dessert, pink meringues with raspberry cream.  Yum!  And gluten-free!

Then the decorations!  There are so many awesome springtime crafts, I hardly know where to begin – or how many I should limit myself to.  My little one is still too little for dying eggs, and traditional dyes don’t really do it for me.  Though, I might give a few shibori eggs a try this year (or tie dyed, as most will probably know them).

Once done with the decorated eggs, the shells can be reused as mini planters for your seedlings!  I’ll be starting my herbs on Ostara, and I think that this is a great idea on so many levels – a little egg/fertility magic, upcycling, composting, you really can’t go wrong.

If you’re not into edible eggs, you can make these fabric covered eggs.  It’s a lot less mess, and just as brightly coloured.  Let your kids (or your inner child) run wild with colours and patterns.  Your local fabric store will should have bits of scrap that you can pick up for less than $5.

Have your little ones autograph these, and you can keep them as part of your annual springtime decorations to see how their talents and tastes change as they get older.

Another great use for the fabric covered eggs would be to use them to decorate your own Ostara egg tree!  Pile them in the bottom of a hurricane vase to hold up springtime branches (I’m partial to pussywillow, myself), or find a downed branch in your local park, paint it white, and hang them from ribbons just like you would at Christmas/Yule time.

If your Ostara is warm and sunny, get outside for a walk.  In the local woods, or just a local park.  Get your kids to see how many budding trees they can spot while you’re out.  Whoever wins can get first choice of coloured string when making your Yarn Eggs!

There are easily dozens more craft/decor ideas I could add to this article, but I think I’d better stop before I end up buried under a mountain of craft supplies. After the decorations are up, and the dinner is eaten, I think that we will probably bring our Ostara celebrations to a close by retiring to the backyard for our first fire of the year.

Roasted Peeps on a stick, and wishes* for the growing season.  Perhaps a bunch of spring wildflowers, or an herbal blend for the season as an offering in thanks of all we have and for continued guidance on the path ahead.

Many blessings this holiday season.  Have a fun and fulfilling Ostara!

*Simple Spell to Manifest Desire

Tear strips of paper in colours that correspond to your intent or the season (white will do if that’s what you have).  Write down your wishes while focusing your will to see the desires done.

Burn in the flame of a candle or toss into a bonfire.  See your desire become reality.  Chant whatever words come to you as the ashes are caught on the wind.