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We have no idea if the Goths—the ancient Germanic tribe, that is, not the eye-liner'd latter-day Dark Romantics—worshiped a Goddess of Dawn and Spring as did their (later) Anglo-Saxon and Continental German cousins.

If they did, they would have called her Austrô (OW-stroe).

The Goths were the very first of the Germanic-speaking peoples to be converted to Christianity, so very little survives concerning their traditional religion. But if they did indeed honor the Lady Austrô, we can, by way of comparative method, make some educated guesses about what that might have looked like on the ground.

• They would have worshiped Her toward the East.
• They would have offered (i.e. sacrificed) to Her before Sunrise on the Spring Evenday/Vernal Equinox.
• They would have viewed Her as Goddess of both Dawn, the daily Spring, and of Spring, the yearly Dawn, and hence of new beginnings generally.
• They would have spoken of Her as an ever-young Maiden, sister (or daughter) to the Sun.
• Given morning's erotic associations, they would probably also have viewed Her as Lady of Love.
• They would have associated Her with birds, who sing in Her honor every morning, and with the eggs that they lay: as fine a symbol of new beginnings as anyone could ask for.

Who knows? They may even have colored eggs in Her honor, just as we do today.

Hail to thee Austrô, Lady of Love: ever-young goddess, sister to the Sun.

1500 years ago, the English-speaking ancestors worshiped (or at least, knew of) a Goddess of Spring and Dawn Whom they called (depending on which dialect of Old English you spoke) either Éostre or Éastre.

(Their Continental cousins, of course, called Her Ôstara.)

So: let us say that Her worship had continued, unbroken, down to the present day. If Her Name had remained in constant usage and undergone all the usual sound changes, what would we call Her today?

The question is easily answered. We would today call Her Easter.

Personally, I think that we still should.

I know, I know, that name has been co-opted and misused by others. For some, Her modern Name is too tainted by association to be taken back.

I don't agree. The Name is Hers, and—as Her people—it's ours to know Her and call Her by. When I hear non-pagans use the term, the sheer irony of it delights me. If only they knew.

It also rather delights me that, around here, we have (in most years) Three Easters (Ôstarûn, the Old Germans would have said): Pagan/Heathen, Catholic/Protestant, and Orthodox.

Guess whose comes first?

...is that you get all the leftovers.

My festive First-Day-of-Spring breakfast:

• Steamed asparagus
• Toasted sesame egg bread
• Fresh farmer's cheese with garden chives
• Ostara eggs with hot sauce
• Fresh strawberries

Now that the Neo-pagan holiday of Ostara is behind us, the secular/Christian celebration of Easter looms ahead. I know that many of us celebrate the mainstream holiday with the rest--especially as it has become a more secular event where all kids expect an Easter basket, and probably to take part in an egg hunt.

Due to our avoidance of eggs, we vegans have to adapt this holiday a bit more than other Neo-pagans. Here is an article that I wrote up about the season, and ways vegans can join in the fun. 

Hail Dawn, goddess of many names!

Éostre (Old English, West Saxon dialect) AY-aw-streh (ay as in say, aw as in awe)

Éastre (Old English, Northumbrian dialect). AY-ah-streh (ay as in say)

Both forms are used by contemporary pagans. Occasionally—probably under the influence of Ostara—written Oestre. (Technically, this form is historically incorrect, if you care about such things.)

*Ôstarâ (Old High German) OH-sta-ra (but most English-speakers say oh-STAR-a; technically, this is historically incorrect, if you care about such things.)

Name reconstructed by the Brothers Grimm. Probably the most frequently-used name for the goddess, and her springtime festival, among contemporary pagans and heathens.

English

Easter is risen! Indeed she is risen!

Old English

Éastre arás! Sóþlice héo arás!

Greek

Kórê anéstê! Alêthós anéstê!

Change is in the air! Today's Faithful Fridays brings to you stories of how the world's religious landscape is changing, both locally and globally. Read on to learn more about how the world's religious landscape will look in 2050, how Hinduism is affecting India's economic policy, and why young women are turning to Wicca.