Thoughts on Ostara and Easter

[valarltd]

Ostara, unlike Imbolc, is a holiday I can actually get behind. (and jlm121 is snarking "And push?" Little sisters are such a mixed blessing)

By now spring is well on the way, a foot of snow at my parents' houses notwithstanding. Daffodils are blooming. Tulips are up, except the one our yardman mowed down. The Bradford pears are all snowy white and lovely next to the pink tulip trees.

Celebrating the arrival seems the thing to do. It is a season of rebirth, a promise that even warmer days (too awful hot days as well) are coming and the gardens will grow with all the good things of summer: cantaloupe and tomatoes, eggplants and watermelons, corn and beans and peas.

Yet, I find myself a little sad at this time too. It's hard to remember I don't celebrate Easter anymore. It's hard to decide if there will be baskets this year. Are they secular enough? Are they pagan enough? Should I have done them this weekend instead of in 2 weeks?

This all came to a head at the Dollar store the other day. They have Easter goods out. I saw a sheet of stickers of Jesus. All sorts of different paintings of him, from the child in the Temple to the Crucifixion. The one in the middle was this handsome, laughing man. He had just heard the funniest story ever from Peter or John or Judas and was laughing, because it was funny and because he loved the one who told it to him.

And I had a moment, like the moment when you bump into an old boyfriend you dearly loved, and still do. And he is still good-looking and still funny and still loves you too. (I have an ex like that) You remember how much you loved him them and wonder for a moment why you broke up. You wonder what you've lost and think about how things would be with him now.

Then you remember the break-up and why and exactly how ugly it got. And all the good memories and laughter in the world can't overcome the whys of the breakup.

I didn't buy the stickers.

But my kids are getting Easter baskets.

Comments

[jlm121.livejournal.com]

Younger sisters are the tricksters of families, we're not here to make your life easier but we are mildly amusing.

Current weather not withstanding it's felt like spring the few days before the snow fell. I think this was (hopefully) the last hurrah of winter.

[ravenskye8.livejournal.com]

FWIW:

1) You can always look at Jesus as a good teacher and divinely inspired (though not god, obviously).

2) My parents gave me an Easter basket every year, even though we're Jewish.

3) Easter eggs were stolen from the Passover seder plate... which was stolen from Pagan spring rites... so - hell, take back your tradition! :)

It's very hard being a creative outdoor-loving type and not enjoying the whole easter egg spring things...

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Or even as a god, just not the right god for me.

[ravenskye8.livejournal.com]

That works too...

I'm doing some self-study about Christianity, and I'm coming to the conclusion that
"the real Jesus"(TM) and his teachings should have probably made the cut into Jewish talmudic writings, but because he was turned into something so antithetical to Jewish belief, he was excised from everything... Which is a shame...

[(Anonymous)]

Kids like goodies & Easter baskets.

They don't partifularly care (if at all) about the traditions and/or mythology behind them. Time enough for all that stuff (and head-scratching) later. For now... let them be kids.

[(Anonymous)]

That would--of course--be the D-Man checking in...

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

You underestimate the need for myth. And the curiosity of my kids. But you always did.

Myth is one way of making sense of the universe and kids in general--Oli in particular--find it very useful.