The Meaning and Origins of Easter
As the shops began filling up with chocolate Easter eggs, bunnies and bilboes, for me, it is time to think of a story for the season.
The word Easter comes from the old English eastre meaning a Festival of Spring. In pagan times this meant it was time to celebrate the fertility of the land. As hares are prolific breeders, they were a logical symbol of Spring fertility. (Hares are quite different to rabbits also. European hares are larger, faster and have taller ears than rabbits. They also have not been domesticated as rabbits have, so are a symbol of the wild.)
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| Persephone, Goddess of Spring |
The Autumn Equinox
The equinox occurs this year on Wednesday, March 20. On the equinox the duration of the day and the night are almost equal. So is a time of balance between light and dark. Traditionally in the northern hemisphere, this was a time to gather in the harvest, give thanks, rest and prepare for the winter ahead.
A Celtic Autumn Myth: Modron and Mabon
In the British Isles, the Celtic and Welsh the Goddess Modron, which means great mother, was celebrated. She was sometimes pictured at a triple Goddess, seated together on a throne. They were responsible for abundance and sustaining the life of the people.The Story of Mobon (the "great son of the great mother", Modron) to the Underworld is similar to the Demeter and Persephone myth. Modron was the Guardian of the Otherworld, the Healer, the Protector, the Earth.
The Equinox is the birth of Mabon, from his mother. Mabon was taken when he was a mere three nights old. Through the wisdom of the oldest living animals - the Blackbird of Cilgwri, the Stag of Rhedynfre, the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, the Eagle of Gwernabwy and the Salmon of Lyn Llyw -- Mabon is freed from his mysterious captivity.
The Eleusinian Mysteries
At this time, the ancient Greeks celebrated the Eleusinian mysteries. This celebration was held in the city of Eleusis, a city in Attica, north of Athens. The mysteries honored the great Goddess of Grain, Demeter, and her daughter, Persephone who was either kidnapped ny Hades God of the Underworld. (In Starhawk's version she went because she loved him and wanted a change.)
The festival is held here, because it is commonly believed that during Her search for Persephone, Demeter was welcomed by the King and Queen of Eleusis. Demeter nursed the sons of the King, and even tried to make one of them immortal by holding him over the sacred fire. She was interrupted by the Queen, and in fury, revealed Herself to the Queen and bid her to build a temple in Her honor in the city.
The temple was built, and in late Autumn, the Mysteries began. It is said that this is when Persephone returns to the realm of Her husband, Hades. Demeter begins to grieve once again for the loss of Her daughter. Source: mabon lore
Asian Autumn Moon Stories
In China and Vietnam, the Moon Festival is celebrated which is about giving thanks, praying and moon gazing. Years ago when I used to tour with a mediaeval and Renaissance music ensemble called Pastance, the recorder player, Matthew who's partner was Japanese, told me the story of the rabbit in the moon and the moshi cakes. "Tsukino Usagi" means "Rabbit of the Moon", which refers to the Japanese legend of a rabbit that lives on the moon and pounds moshi, to make rice cake. Possibly, the rabbit in the moon was first known in India, and has afterwards spread through out the rest of Asia, though it has become most popular in China and Japan.
In China and Vietnam, the Moon Festival is celebrated which is about giving thanks, praying and moon gazing. Years ago when I used to tour with a mediaeval and Renaissance music ensemble called Pastance, the recorder player, Matthew who's partner was Japanese, told me the story of the rabbit in the moon and the moshi cakes. "Tsukino Usagi" means "Rabbit of the Moon", which refers to the Japanese legend of a rabbit that lives on the moon and pounds moshi, to make rice cake. Possibly, the rabbit in the moon was first known in India, and has afterwards spread through out the rest of Asia, though it has become most popular in China and Japan.
The Rabbit in the Moon
In Chinese tales the rabbit is pounding elixir of life for the moon goddess Chang'e, the rabbit is also known as jade rabbit in China. In Japanese tales it is said that the rabbit is making moshi, a japanese rice cake.
In Chinese tales the rabbit is pounding elixir of life for the moon goddess Chang'e, the rabbit is also known as jade rabbit in China. In Japanese tales it is said that the rabbit is making moshi, a japanese rice cake.
The Hare - Jade Rabbit
In this legend, three fairy sages transformed themselves into pitiful old men and begged for something to eat from a fox, a monkey and a rabbit. The fox and the monkey both had food to give to the old men, but the rabbit, empty-handed, offered his own flesh instead, jumping into a blazing fire to cook himself. The sages were so touched by the rabbit's sacrifice that they let him live in the Moon Palace where he became the "Jade Rabbit."The Lady - Chang Er
The time of this story is around 2170 B.C. The earth once had ten suns circling over it, each took its turn to illuminate to the earth. But one day all ten suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. The earth was saved by a strong and tyrannical archer Hou Yi. He succeeded in shooting down nine of the suns. One day, Hou Yi stole the elixir of life from a goddess. However his beautiful wife Chang Er drank the elixir of life in order to save the people from her husband's tyrannical rule. After drinking it, she found herself floating and flew to the moon. Hou Yi loved his divinely beautiful wife so much, he didn't shoot down the moon.
Ethical Easter Eggs
Meanwhile, for those of us who buy Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies or bilbies, remember chocolate often contains palm oil, which as you know contributes to habitat loss for Orangutans. This Easter, be careful to buy orangutan friendly chocolate which doesn't use child labour. If you want an ethical Easter choccie feast- check out this resource and this one: Fair Trade.
Sources:
Starhawk; Baker, D; Hill, A (2000) Circle Round: Raising Children in the Goddess Traditions, Bantam Books, New York.
Chinese stories found at:
http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/midfallstory.htm
http://dreamsofalostspirit.deviantart.com/art/Moon-Rabbit-86012617
