The Wheel of the Year holds several purposes, both theological and practical. Theologically, the story of the Wheel often varies depending on the Tradition. The Wheel gives the accounts of the mythological events that repeat throughout the year as well as a vague "history" of the Gods and Goddesses involved within the pantheon. For the newbies, by "Tradition" we mean "denomination"; for example Wiccan, Celtic, Druid, Native American, etc. On the more practical side, the Wheel trains us to be able to deal with death and the inevitability of re-birth that follows. Paganism teaches that death, a natural function of the universe, is a part of life; a dramatic change that is the beginning of a new experience, and something to be celebrated at the proper time not feared (not condoning Suicide!) Through the ideas of Heaven and Hell, Christianity teaches a deep fear of death, and this spurs our society's horror of death. We are always trying to find new and improved ways to beat death, but we will never succeed. It is sad our society portrays death as such a terrifying experience; we would certainly have less emotional pain and suffering in the world if death could be seen as what it is: a transformation, nothing more.
In this section you will find a rendition of the upcoming quarter of the Wheel of the Year. Included will be the mythological lore and some traditional practices for the celebration, along with some ideas for activities and decorations.
*Date/Name:
March 21, 1998 holds the date for the next Sabbat: Ostara (pronounced "o-STARH-uh") or Lady Day is the beginning of Springtide, and once again day and night stand in balance. (September 21 in southern hemisphere.)
*Background Information:
This minor Sabbat celebrates the Vernal Equinox and the blessed coming of SPRING! After we've managed to freeze our various appendages off for an entire winter, the Pagans of old were always looking forward to this day that heralds the coming of warmth and return of life. The most prominent traces of its origin are in the British Isles but most likely was separately originated in the Southern Mediterranean areas around the same time. This is "properly" celebrated on the date of the Equinox, which tends to vary in-between the period of about 2 days each year. If you really want to get technical, the holiday occurs when the Sun crosses the Equator and enters Aries. In earlier times, before all our fancy technology, it was often celebrated on the fixed date of March 25th. To point out a traditional "mistake," many people use the name Ostara as synonymous with Eostara. Eostara is in fact the a Esbat (Lunar celebration) and is appropriately applied to the Vernal Moon, the closest Full Moon to the Vernal Equinox. Similarly, Lady Day is sometimes mismatched with Beltane (April 30th). This Sabbat can also be known as: Vernal Equinox, Spring Equinox, Alban Eiler, Eostre ("OHS-truh" or "EST-truh"), the Rites of Spring, the Rites of Eostre, the Festival of Trees, and Esther.
*Meanings:
The quests we set ourselves on at Yule will start showing prominent results now and while we work through them and enjoy we must keep the balance within ourselves. Mirror the equality of the light and the dark, don't shut out "bad" emotions or cling to strongly to the "good" ones. You're human, you're allowed to feel both. From your newly gained rewards produce more buds of progress, just like the trees will soon start sprouting for Summer magnificence. Energy alignment in favor of relationships and inner growth. It is also a celebration of life over death, both plant and animal surviving the dangers of Winter and pushing forward to a promising heat. Free yourself from obstacles that prohibit progress.
*History/Mythology -- Celtic (and Christian counterparts):
If you have read the Mabinogion myth, this is where the God of Light conquers his darker twin. The Goddess who has become the Maiden again since Candlemas, welcomes her Child and soon to be spouse. She watches him grow proudly. Pagans of old would light fires at dawn for protection of crops to come, renewed life, and cures to aliments they battled with over the hard Winter months.
The Roman Catholic Church adopted two holidays from the pagan celebrations. The first being the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was part of the family (fixed date of March 25th). It was fixed at this date because it needed to be the exact and perfect nine months to December 25th, when the Son of God was said to be born. Even though she was birthing the Son of God, she's still human. I suppose an irregular gestation period would have been seen as Satanic. For this reason many Christians seem to think that any mention of "Lady Day" refers to this Christian Holiday, when it is referring to Ostara if coming from a Pagan mouth. If you take a closer look this mythology was used before Christian times. The Goddess returning to her Maiden, a.k.a. Virgin (in this case meaning the original 'unmarried'), was already established in Celtic lore. This is the time that the Young God and Maiden mate and conceive a child that will grow to become the Dark God. See any similarities yet?
The second holiday that gets inappropriately combined with Ostara is Easter. Not so surprisingly, Easter is also a celebration of life over death as Jesus rises again; just like the God of Light rises again to defeat the God of Darkness. Does Easter seem to have an oddly familiar ring to it? That's because it is derived from the Teutonic Goddess Eostre, (which incidentally is where we also get the name "estrogen" from -- yep, the female hormone), who's symbols were the Egg and the Rabbit. I know lights are going off, so yes... exactly where the Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs came from. Rabbits are a symbol of fertility (as in 'they are worse than rabbits!' in reference to sexual habits) and Eggs are a symbol of creation. As stated before, Her day is Eostara, the night of the Vernal Full Moon. The Church doesn't do Full Moons, but Easter is on the Sunday after the Vernal Full Moon each year, and that's why it is never set on the calendar. Furthermore, if Easter Sunday did happen to be the Vernal Moon, the Church was very pointed in being sure it was moved to the Sunday after so there would be no suspected associated with "wicked" Pagan holidays. Of course, there was anyway, so why not just stick with a constant schedule? Donno.
Another not so striking similarity between Celtic mythology and Christian mythology: Jesus, after being killed on Good Friday, 'descends into Hell.' After the third day he rises again and proceeds to Heaven. Many Celtic myths of old speak of the Goddess descending into the Underworld for three days, continuing the Trinity trend. Furthermore, it is said to coincide with the Vernal New Moon, which is not visible for three days, both the day before, the day of, and the day after. These myths had existed for many thousands of years before the coming of Christianity. Furthermore, similar descents into the Underworld are all over folklore and other cultural traditions (including King Arthur).
*Mythology -- Wiccan:
The Goddess transfers her fertility to the Earth and takes on the Maiden aspect. The God grows to maturity and will soon become the Goddess' lover at Beltane. For most Wiccans it is a celebration of fertility and growing Light.
*Decorations and Activities:
Some fun and appropriate traditions could include the classic Painting of "Easter" (really Ostara) Eggs. Always a great hit with the children. Basket weaving was a common practice until the super market chains swept all the creativity out of it by providing us with plastic as opposed to wicker and fake grass as opposed to hand picked flowers. What is the world coming to? *smile* I had hoped to find some instructions on construction of weave baskets but my seeking came up short. Therefore, my best suggestion is to check out a book at your local public library. While there you might look up some work on Gardening... Starting your garden work is excellent on this day, and can be even more beneficial if you help your child begin a garden of their own; (perhaps right along side yours) so you can grow together. Fresh picked flowers are great for altar decorations and household adornment. Lighting fires at sunrise and ringing bells can be worked into ritual also. And never underestimate the spirituality of a simple walk through a garden, wood, or park.
*Symbolic of Ostara:
Article by Markus