How do you celebrate Easter

Aww poor claire - I HATE restrictive diets! I wasn't 'churchy' at all as a child but I am involved in our church now although even before I joined the church I celebrated Easter big style! i have never bought my kids Easter Eggs - I always buy them gifts! This year my eldest is getting a wireless adapter for his pc and my daughter is getting a Bratz vanity case and makeup - they still get tonnes of chocolate eggs from other people! Have a great weekend! xxx

I like the idea of the baskets - we don't really tend to do that here! I do hope you have a great Easter sweetyxxx

we celebrate Ostara in this house as well. eggs are dyed the day before and etched with runes for health and well being, and my husband and i err "the easter bunny";cough; hides them and little gifts throughout the yard. while hunting for the shiny presents and such, the yard is also inspected to find the new flowers sprouting up. my litle girl spends a good hour looking for whats come to life and chit chattering to the birds. we dont have a "traditional" dinner, this year im making ham simply because we havent had it in a while.

added note, the equinox doesnt always fall on the 21st.. it varies same as the solstices. this year it was the 20th=o)

Darkwing honey you know I love to hear about your beliefs and celebrations - especially when you and your family can combine celebrations while still respecting the others faiths! I do remember a little about Ostara from last year but thank you for filling in some more of the details! I hope that you and your family have a wonderful Ostara?easter celebratioon!
ps Don't you think that the words originate from the same place - they sound very similar!

Tessah thank you for contributing! I hope the 'Easter Bunny@ is good to your daughter and that she finds much new life to chat about in your garden! xx

I'm aware, of course, that the Equinox itself can fall between 20th and 22nd, but I don't change my dates for Ostara. I begin at dusk on 20th, and end at dusk on 21st, regarless, as 21st is the first day of Spring to me.

I like the rituals you follow for this Festival... I'm going to plant seeds or beans in rune shapes this year, selecting runes which are relative to what I want to develop within myself. I guess this is similar to the runes you mark on your eggs?

Brightest Blessings for a Happy Ostara, to you and your family.

Oooops Mummymo, we posted at much the same time. Yes, Easter and Ostara sound similar, because the Christians took the Festival name from the "old beliefs". The word Ostara derives from the Goddess Eostre, an Anglo Saxon Goddess associated with the Dawn. The Dawn is in the East, hence Eostre. She was/is the Goddess of Spring, and new beginnings, so we honour her on the first day of Spring. In the Christian World, of course, Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ, from the dead, which I guess denotes a new life dawning? So, you can see why in the case of most pagan festivals, the Christians have a corresponding one; the only real difference being that the Christian festivals relate to the Bible, and the Pagan festivals, to their beliefs that there is an Earth Mother and a Sky Father, basically.

I'm getting deeper and deeper here... helllllllllllp!!! I'm beginning to feel like I'm preaching. Please forgive me... I don't mean to, but just to explain the difference.

Let's just enjoy what we each believe in, huh? A very Happy Easter, to you and yours, my dear friend. xxxxx

Please, please. please my dearest friend do not apologise! You are not preaching simply extending to knowledge to someone who loves to learn! It would seem that Ostara is almost upon is as it is not too long til Dusk! Again sweety Happy Ostara (if that is an appropriate greeting) with much love xxx

Thank you my dear friend. Yes, a very appropriate greeting and Spring is supposed to be a very happy time. Take care. xxx

Thank you so much for BR, Mummymo... a much appreciated gesture. Thank you also for listening... Beltaine next!

LOL Glad to know you have Saturday mapped out with egg decorating too! We don't tend to get the plastic eggs or baskets here - it is more boxed chocolate eggs than anything! Sounds like a real family day on Sunday and I hope it is all you could wish for! Happy Easter! xxx

I love the idea of such a relaxed day Mom, sure wish we could drop in! I love the idea of baskets - maybe next year, they aren't a very big thing here! Hope you have a great Easter and here is a basket just for you Mom with love from all of your family here in Scotland! xxx

That sounds so lovely and such a fun thing to do! Do you help your nephew? Have a great Easter Shaun!

Ps How are your eyes doing now?

Hugs xx

I don't since my balance is really bad walking on outdoors but my sister usally does. Last year he acted confused hopefully this year he understands things better.

Sorry shaun - I really didn't think then did I? I am sure he will love it this year and just watching must be a lot of fun! Enjoy yourself sweety! xxx

It's alright a lot of people with ms get around really well. I am doing a lot better since I went to physical therapy though and doing the exersices everyday helps a bunch.My eyes are doing better except my right eye is blurry which happens with ms blurred vision.I'm glad the double vision is gone though.

It is good to know that the physical therapy is helping - sorry about the blurred vision although it is good to know that it is only one eye that is blurred and the double vision has been cured! xx

Welcome to mylot Ren - I really hope you find this community as wonderful as I do! We usually go to church but our own church will not be having a service this Sunday and i cannot get to another, I will however still celebrate and thank God for all he has given us! It sounds like you will have a lovely time with your family - make the most of it! Happy Easter! xxx

We also will be goiing to Church as we do every Sunday and Thursday, the difference this Sunday is we will be celebrating the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ....as it is the day we as Christian have set aside to do this, we call it Easter as has been said already.
May be a pagann holiday to some, but our Lord did resurrect and whatever day we have set aside to celebrate it is well. We actually celebrate his resurrection all year long not just at Easter.
He did resurrect and He is coming back to get His Church(the saved).
Happy Easter everyone!

That sounds as though it is a very interesting celebration my friend - I have never hear of the pocession of the saints before! Sorry there is no egg hunt but I do hope you have a very happy Easter! xx

I know it isn't an easy time for you right now honey and that your husband is obviously finding the situation very difficult and stressful. I hope that whatever happens and wherever you celebrate Easter that you can enjoy yourself as you celebrate! I will be thinking of you and wanted to send you this Easter basket!

Awww thank you! It is lovely! You're so very thoughtful!! Bless you!

You are welcome sweety and I so wish it was a real one! xxx

Now that is spooky sweety! I always buy the kids an Easter outfit and new shoes and it is always something they will get to wear in the better weather! Although we don't really do Easter baskets here I always buy my kids an Easter gift, this year I have gotten Niall a wireless adaptor so he can go online on his pc and Niamh is getting a very fancy Bratz vanity case with accesories and make up! Another couple of things we have in common! xxx