The name "Easter" originated with the names of the pagan Goddess Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe.
Similarly, the "Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos." 1 Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre."
Similar Goddesses were known by other names in ancient cultures around the Mediterranean, and were celebrated in the springtime. Some were:
Aphrodite from ancient Cyprus
Ashtoreth from ancient Israel
Astarté from ancient Greece
Demeter from Mycenae
Hathor from ancient Egypt
Ishtar from Assyria
Kali, from India
Ostara a Norse Goddess of fertility.
The Easter bunny and the hiding of eggs are symbols of fertility and the emergance of the spring bloom.
Happy pagan observance of spring!
