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Anglo-Saxon Goddess
of Spring
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- Eostre is thought to have been the Anglo-Saxon
goddess of Spring and of Rebirth, but we don't know much
about her.
- She is only mentioned once in Anglo-Saxon
literature.
- She seems to have been associated
with the countryside waking up after Winter, and perhaps also
with the Moon.
- Her sacred animal was probably the
hare. Her other sacred symbol was probably the egg.
- Hares are famous for their
complicated partner-choosing rituals that they do in Spring.
Most birds begin to lay eggs again in Spring.
- Eostre's special month was April,
which in Early English, was called 'Eostre's Month'.
- Easter is named after her. Easter
eggs and the Easter Bunny come from her symbols.
- Hot-cross buns may also originally
have been pagan offerings. They would have represented the four
quarters of the Moon.
- Christians took over this pagan
festival. They replaced the rebirth of the countryside with the
resurrection (rebirth) of Jesus.
- Activity
Sheet available.
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