The Legend of Ostara

While we partake in the cakes and drink I will try to recite the legend of Ostara.

The modern belief that eggs are delivered by a rabbit, comes from the legend of the Goddess Eostre. Eostre was walking one fine Spring day and came upon a beautiful little bird. The poor bird's wing was badly injured and Eostre, feeling great compassion for the little creature, wanted to heal it. But the little bird’s wing was so badly damaged that Eostre knew it would never be able to fly again even after She healed it.

So, Eostre decided to help the bird by healing it in a way that would give it mobility and a little something more… She turned it into a rabbit!

During the transformation, the rabbit retained the ability to lay eggs. The rabbit was so grateful to Eostre for saving its life that it laid a sacred egg in Her honor, joyously decorated it and then humbly presented it to the Goddess. She was so pleased and so touched by the rabbit's thoughtful gift that She wished all humankind to share in her joy.

In honoring her wishes, the rabbit went all over the world distributing these beautifully decorated little gifts of life and continues to do so even today.

This is not the only Myth that I want to relate here today. The one that I wish to retell now is the one that I like the best. For you see it is one of love and devotion that I will retell.

You see Ostara was the Goddess of Spring. She brought life and rebirth to all living things. This is why She was so beloved by the plants and animals. They would bestow upon her gifts whenever and wherever she walked by. The flowers sprouted petals for her to gaze upon. The birds would whistle and chirp to entertain Her. The trees grew leaves to shade her from the sunshine as She walked.

But the Hare, oh how he loved her. So much so that he wanted to do something very special for her. But alas, he could never seem to think of anything special enough that would do.

“I know what I will do;” said Mr Hare, “I will go see Mr Owl, for he is very wise.” So Mr. Hare went to find Mr. Owl.

“Mr. Owl, Mr. Owl, oh what should I do oh what should I do?” and he proceeded to tell Mr. Owl his problem.

Mr. Owl thought, and he thought, and he thought some more.

Finally he said, “Why Mr. Hare, you jump and jump and jump, that is your gift to Ostara.” So dissappointed was Mr. Hare when he heard those words. “But Mr. Owl, that just isn't special enough.” and off he went.

He only went just a little ways when he saw Mrs. Deer and her new son eating in the field.

“Why, I'll ask Mrs. Deer, she is a mother and she will know what I should give the Great Mother.”

“Oh Mrs. Deer, Mrs. Deer, OH what should I do, oh what should I do?” and he proceeded to tell Mrs. Deer his problem.

Mrs. Deer thought, and she thought, and she thought some more.

Finally she said, “Why Mr. Hare, you jump and jump and jump, that is your gift to Ostara.” So dissappointed was Mr. Hare when he heard those words. “But Mrs. Deer, that isn't special enough.” and off he went.

Now, Hare was getting worried. “Ostara will be coming tomorrow, oh what could I do. Oh what should I do?”

Then he stopped, and suddenly he remembered Mr. Fox. “Ohhh I know, I will go see Mr. Fox. He is the most cunning and wily. He will know what to do."

Now it is desperate times indeed when a rabbit meets a fox, but this was one desperate bunny. So he went to find Mr. Fox who is the slyest one of all, and ask him what he should do.

“Mr. Fox,” said Hare, “what can I do to show Ostara how much I adore Her?” Mr. Fox looked at Mr. Hare and he could see how desperate this bunny was. And he sat there and thought, ”Yes I will help this little bunny.”

Mr. Fox thought and he thought and he thought some more.

“Why, Mr. Hare, why don’t you gather colored eggs from the birds that She loves so well. Ostara would love to have someone gather eggs of all the colors of the rainbow.”

“Why yes Mr. Fox, that is a wonderful idea.” and Mr. Hare went off in search of the birds.
“Mrs. Robin Mrs. Robin, May I have one of your eggs for Ostara.?”

“Now Mr. Hare, why should I give you one of my precious eggs?”

Then the hare told her his story and what he wanted to do. Finally Robin relented and gave him one of her precious blue eggs.

Next Hare went to the pheasant, then dove, then to a blue jay gathering egss from one and all. For this was a gift for Ostara and everyone adored her. Finally hare had gathered twelve different colored eggs.

“Oh how can I carry all these eggs to Ostara. I will surely drop them on the way. I know, I will go to the river bank and make a basket." So hare jumped down to the river and made a basket.

Finally when he was done, and gathered up all the eggs into the basket, he went off to find Ostara.

So trembling was he when he came before the Great Mother. He bowed low and pushed the heavy basket to Ostara's feet. “OH, what have we here,” said Ostara when she saw the basket, “Who has gathered such a wonderful gift as this? Why, this is magic from my feathered friends. Was it you, Mr. Hare?”

Mr. Hare was so scared that all he could do was nod his head yes.

“Mr. Hare, you have given me a beautiful present this day. For that I bequeath that from now on you will accompany me on my journeys.”

The Hare, upon hearing this, was so overcome with joy that he started to jump and jump and jump some more. He could hardly stop.

Ever since then, when spring is coming near and Ostara is around the bend, the Hares in the field jump for joy. For they know that they will be graced with Her presence and be her companion once again.