Eostre's Bunny

The Easter Bunny has its origin in the tradition of honoring of rabbits during spring as an animal sacred to the goddess Eostre. According to lore, she is the goddess of spring who presides over the birth of babies, both animal and human, and of the pollination, flowering and ripening of fruits in the plant kingdom.

The modern belief that eggs are delivered by a rabbit, comes from a popular Pagan legend about Eostre. According to the legend, Eostre was walking one fine spring day and came upon a beautiful little bird. The poor bird's wing was badly injured and Eostre, feeling great compassion for the little creature, wanted to heal it....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Powers That Be, and can be found in its entirety here: The Easter Bunny

Chocolate Bunny Ostara Ritual For Children

For this ritual, you'll need the following:

• A bag of jellybeans
• Marshmallow Peeps -- chicks, bunnies, etc.
• A chocolate rabbit for each particpant
• A glass of milk for each participant

Arrange your ritual supplies on your altar so they look pretty. Kids can do this -- typically the chocolate rabbits end up in the center, surrounded by an army of Peeps and several rings of jellybeans. A quick note -- you might want to perform this ritual well in advance of mealtime, or all the kids will be too full of candy to eat a real dinner....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Chocolate Bunny Ostara Ritual For Children

Easter Sunday Ace in the Hole

Many spells demand discretion, if that's a concern for you, you'll never be able to cast this Russian gambler's spell. It can only be accomplished at church on Easter Sunday. If, however, you don't mind making a bit of a commotion - it just might work for you.

Here's how it goes:

Go to church on Easter Sunday morning. Be alert and pay attention...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Easter Sunday Ace in the Hole

Fairy Dust

This is one of the easiest projects, and was created by our 8-year-old, Willow. Take colored eggshells (she was partial to blue), and grind to a fine powder. Toss in a pinch of rose petals, and you have ...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Apothecary, and can be found in its entirety here: Fairy Dust

The Russian Butter Festival

Maslyanitsa means butter in Russian, and it is also the name of the festival that says goodbye to winter and welcomes summer. From Moscow to St. Petersberg, Russians celebrate Butter Week just before their Lent fast days. (In 2013, this festival begins on March 11)....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Russian Butter Festival

The Legend of Pancake Marion

There's been a lot of talk of late about Pancake Marion, and the whole "Shrove Tuesday" phenomenon. But just who is she? And why did she do the horrible things that she did? Historian Marcus Ploughmans looks back at the history of one of England's darkest secrets.

"Pancake Marion, Pancake Marion

Now's the time to fry them

Pancake Marion, Pancake Marion

Now's the time to fry...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins, and can be found in its entirety here: The Legend of Pancake Marion

Easter Monday - Dyngus Day

The spirit of Poland's Dyngus is captured in this description from the Poznan region during 1800s:

Poland's Dyngus, or Smigus, Day is said to hark back to the baptism of the founder of Polish Christianity, Prince Mieszko I (c. 935 - 992), and his entire court, on Easter Monday, 966. Dyngus is an ancient celebration which is still observed both in country villages and the big cities, with singing, pranks, visiting friends' houses, and the custom of dousing.

The custom of pouring water is an ancient spring rite of cleansing, purification, and fertility – at this time of year ...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Easter Monday - Dyngus Day

Egg Charms:

Eggs are an ancient symbol of fertility, new life, and the cycle of birth, death and rebirth of the Universe. As such, they make terrific charms for fertility, pregnancy, new endeavors, and similar types of magick. These types of charms are fairly easy, and very versatile.

Start with raw eggs. My favorite tool to pierce the shell is a small nail ~ for some reason, I've never had good luck piercing the shells with needles.

Pierce the narrow end of the shell with a tiny hole. At the wider end of the egg, use the nail to pierce a wider hole. This is the trickiest part of the operation, but I've been lucky and only lost a few eggs. Just handle the eggs gently, and once you make the hole in the wider end, use the tip of the nail to gently enlarge the hole.

Then, for those of you who have never done this before, simply place your lips over the smaller hole and blow. (No, you don't want to know what it looks like! LOL)...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Egg Charms

Magickal Colors for Ostara Eggs

• Black - Absorb and dispel negative influences, Mystery, Rememberance, Eternity, Constancy
• Blue - Healing, Peace, Astral projection, Fidelity, Sleep, Unity
• Brown - Animals, Helps connect to the rythms and energies of the Earth
• Gold - Activity, Money, The God, The Sun...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Magickal Colors for Ostara Eggs

The Pagan Easter

The Easter Fire is a custom of pagan origin spread all over Europe. It is a symbol of victory, the victory of beautiful and sunny spring over the cold days of winter. The fire is lit usually on the top of the mountains – Easter mountain, Osterberg – and it is obtained from wood by friction....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Easter Fire

An Easter Monday Bìcáben

In the old days (back in the 1800's), this is how the Hungarian Gypsies celebrated Easter Monday. They made a wooden box or receptacle called the bìcáben, pronounced like the English gypsy word bitchapen and meaning the same, that is ~ a sending, a thing sent or gift.

In this, at the bottom, two sticks were placed across, "as in a cradle," and on these were laid herbs and other fetish, or meaningful stuffs which every one touched with the finger...

,,, I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Gypsy Magick and Lore, and can be found in its entirety here: An Easter Monday Bìcáben