Paganism

12 readers

6 users here now

A place for pagans of all shapes and sizes to discuss their faith and practice.

No bigotry of any sort will be allowed. That means NO FOLKISM.

Please keep the discussion respectful and pagan centric. You don't have to be a pagan to participate, but you must respect its adherents and tenets and keep the discussions relevant to paganism. Paganism is an umbrella term for a very diverse range of religious and spiritual beliefs, so please be inclusive and accepting of people's differing beliefs and opinions.

founded 3 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

/c/paganism thread about Easter (lemmy.ml)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

1 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Share what you know about Easter, its traditions, symbolism, history, etc.

My limited understanding is that it's a spring festival, celebrating resurrection/new life

There is a Germanic spring-goddess called Ôstara (in Old High German) and Ēastre (in Old English). I believe this has a Proto-Indo-European link to 'Aurora' and hence a connection between spring and dawn, both of which are times of new life and of brightening.

I might revisit this thread as I learn more over the weekend, until then tell me eveything you know!

top 1 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Ostara, the name of the holiday we actually celebrated, is on the equinox, Easter stole a ton of traditions but slightly changed the day.

It's a celebration of spring, new life and fertility. Eggs and rabbits are both symbols of fertility hence their co-option into Easter. The history of Ostara herself is really interesting as you can actually trace her beginnings back Ishtar, one of humanity's easiest known deities.