Ostara Links!

I am so new at this blogging for the public thing (as opposed to LiveJournal or Tumblr, where I mostly blog just because, and it's more reposting than anything else...)

Here are a couple of links to things to do for Ostara!

Ostara ideas from The Blasphemous Homemaker

All sorts of Ostara related things at Sacred Mists

Ostara Recipes

Like many holidays, no matter the religion, Ostara can (and should!)be celebrated with food! It is traditionally a time when we can stop living off of stored apples, cabbages, root vegetables and cured meats and start eating fresh again!

Here are some of my family's favorite recipes!

Herb Stuffed Eggs
This recipe is loosely based on a medieval one, and is good for buffets. It is similar to deviled eggs, but with no mayonnaise to worry about. It's also more of a how-to than a recipe!

Hard cooked eggs (boiled, baked, or steamed this last is a great test of boiling vs steaming eggs over at http://nantucketepicure.com/)
Apple cider, rice wine, white wine or other mild vinegar
Fresh herbs (I like basil, rosemary and oregano, but use what you have)
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Peel the hard cooked eggs, rinse and pat dry. Slice long ways in half and put the yolks in a large-ish bowl. Set aside the whites for now.

With a fork, mash the egg yolks and add about 1/8 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup olive oil for every 12 eggs, plus some salt and pepper. Stir this until well mixed and about the consistency of thick mashed potatoes. Add about 1/4 cup or more of finely chopped herbs and stir again. Taste and add oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and herbs to taste. Fill the empty egg whites with this mixture, and if you want, dust with paprika or cayenne.

Hot Cross Buns - the equal arm cross represents the Solar Wheel of the Year.

Bunny Bread - more or less any bread or roll recipe, shaped like bunnies. Here are lots of images of different ways to shape the bread!

Sauteed Asparagus
1 lb fresh asparagus, washed and trimmed, cut in 2" pieces if desired
2 tbs butter
1/2 lemon, zest and juice
1 tbs capers (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter, add asparagus and sautee until it is bright green. Quickly add the lemon juice, zest and capers, and allow to cook just until the asparagus is at the desired tenderness (usually just another minute or two). If you are using capers, you will probably not need much salt, but add salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Preparing for Ostara

Ostara is the celebration of the Vernal (or Spring) Equinox. It occurs on or about March 20th/21st in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also celebrated as Lady Day, Eostre, Nu Ruz (Zoarastrian/Persian), and many others. Ostara (or Eostre) also gives her name to the Christian holy day of Easter, celebrating the rebirth of Jesus Christ.

Ostara is the second Spring celebration (after Imbolc on February 1), when the Light and Dark of day and night are balanced, and new life begins. The flowers are starting to bloom, animals are starting to have babies, and the weather is tempestuous! Some days it is warm, other days still chilly, and there is still a possibility of snow!

Some Ostara correspondences I use in my practice:

Deities
Goddesses associated with fertility, agriculture, fertility or youth
Ostara herself is the most obvious
Demeter and/or Persephone
Flora
Freya

Gods associated with the wild and fertility
The Green Man
Cernunnos
Pan
Dionysus

Symbols
Eggs
Chicks
Rabbits
Lambs
Baby animals of all types
Flowers
anything that is equally light and dark

Flowers
Pretty much anything that is blooming at this time of year, which around my house usually includes some of the following:
Daffodils or Jonquils
Crocus
Peach
Hiacynths
Violets
Henbit
Speedwell
(those last three are considered weeds by many)

Incense
"Ostara"
Anything Floral
Rose
Jasmine
Nutmeg
Anything that evokes "spring"

Magic 
New beginnings
Growth
Renewal
Fertility (not just babies and plants, but ideas, new habits, and finances)

Food and Drink
Anything with eggs
Lamb
Chicken
Leafy greens
Herbs
Asparagus
Radishes
New carrots
New peas
New potatoes
Strawberries (they aren't really in season unless you live in Florida or California, but they are readily available in most grocery stores)
Mead
Wine
Spring water
Milk

Spring is here...

I know that most consider the equinoxes and solstices to be the beginning of the season, but here in South Carolina, they align more with the midpoint of the season.

We've had daffodils for weeks, my peach trees started blooming last week, and the first violet has popped!

Friday we celebrate Ostara, the spring equinox, and there will definitely be lots of flowers for the altar!

Trying out bloggeroid.

We will see how this goes...maybe with this client, I'll actually blog?