Ostara

1st day of Spring

       Ostara is also known as the Vernal Equinox, Festival of The Trees, Alban Eilir, Rite of Eostre, Eostre (where the word "Easter" is derived) Day, Spring, & Spring Equinox. It is celebrated on the first daay of spring and is full of life, fertility,  gardens of flowers and other plants, and wild creatures creating new life. Its a time of beginnings, action, planting spells for future gains, and tending ritual gardens.  Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, is usually invoked on this day. Many witches place their alters facing east (as of the direction of the first light and dawning sun...and from "Easter" derived from Eostre) for this ritual. The Christian church transformed it into a time to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
          Witches also light new fires at sunrise, rejoice, ring bells, and decorate hard-boiled eggs---an ancient Pagan custom associated with the Goddess of Fertility, since eggs are a symbol of fertility (which is pretty obvious, since life comes out of them). The roots of the "Easter Bunny" are in that the hare was a symbol of rebirth and resurrection and was a sacred animal to many lunar goddesses in both western adn eastern cultures, including the goddess Ostara (German Goddess of Fertility), whose escort was a rabbit.

Incense: African violet, jasmine, rose, sage, strawberry

Stones/Gems: amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, red jasper

Deities: Eostre (Saxon goddess of fertility), Ostara (German goddess of fertility), the Green Goddess, and Lord of the Greenwood

Candles: green, yellow, gold, and all pastel shades

Herbs: acorn, celandine, cinquefoil, crocus, daffodil, dogwood, Easter Lily, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, rose, strawberry, tansy, and violets

Foods: hard-boiled eggs, honey cakes, the fruits of the season, and milk punch (In Sweden, Waffles are a a traditional springtime food)

Decorations: hard-boiled eggs (decorated with magickal symbols to symbolize fertility), a lucky rabbit's foot amulet, a bowl of green and yellow jellybeans,

Colors: pastels, yellows, greens, and gold