Jodi - posted on 03/15/2012 ( 14 moms have responded )
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Okay, I am a non-traditional Pagan. To sum up my beliefs, I think mother nature is to be revered, and since we are a part of mother nature, we need to revere ourselves and one another. I believe that no matter what religion you are, we all believe in the same God, he just comes to us in different versions, different names etc etc. I believe in many Gods and Godesses, but, like the Holy Trinity in the Catholic Religon, they are all one and the same and come down to one God.
Okay, so next week is Ostara. It's the celebration of the Vernal Equinox, the celebration of the coming of spring, the lengthening of days, the end of winter, etc etc. Traditional rituals include egg dying and usual worship type things (I'm just not going into indepth detail!) I was raised Catholic, and celebrated Easter every year until I moved away. I have celebrated Easter with children, simply because I didn't know how "not" to with my family. This year, I want to celebrate Ostara with my children. BUT, part of Easter growing up, was getting a basket of toys to get us through summer. You know, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, rocket balloons, that kind of thing. I have all these "supplies" for my children, and I would like to give it to them in a basket form from the Easter bunny, but on Ostara.
My family is having an issue with this, and to a point I can understand. If I'm going to celebrate Catholic Holidays, why call myself anything but right? Here's my way of thinking, I don't actually celebrate the catholic Easter, the Easter Bunny is a more modern invention, and to the best of my knowledge, has nothing to do with Jesus rising from the dead. It's like Santa Clause, Santa Clause doesn't *actually* have anything to do with the birth of Jesus. Yes, there's a St. Nicholas, but he has his own holiday aside from Christmas.
I am not asking if I have the right to do so, It's a free country and try to stop me! lol I am asking your opinion on the matter. Seeing as how the Easter Bunny is not a religious figure, does it really matter? I plan on telling my daughter(s) (the twins won't remember or care!) that most people celebrate Easter, but we don't, we celebrate Ostara, and the Easter Bunny knows this and comes to our house early to help us celebrate. I've started talking to her about Ostara and what it means (on a deeper level, I havn't even brought up the Easter Bunny) with my 3 year old already, and she's excited to dye eggs, and plant some seeds and make bird feeders and whatever. What do you think?
Also, I would love feedback from other Pagans, to know what you do with your children for the Equinox. I'm new to this, and have yet to physically meet another Pagan (that I know of) and would love hear how you all do things!
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