Meaning of the Name “Eostre”

The name Eostre or Astara means “star” or “to shine.” Eostre is also a goddess of the dawn, a bringer of light after the dark night. Others consider her to be synonymous with Freya, the Norse goddess of fertility and love. Freya’s consort is the god Odur, brother of Odin.

Goddess of Fertility
Historically, the Babylonians, the Sumerians, and the Persians revered Eostre as the goddess of spring and fertility. They held feasts in honor of the miraculous rebirth of life on earth after the long winter. These feasts occurred at the Spring Equinox. More recently, this has become the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.

Creation of the Rabbit

Eostre is associated with many Easter customs. This includes rabbits and Easter eggs. According to Germanic folklore, the rabbit or March hare was originally a bird that pulled the chariot of the Goddess of Spring.

Symbolic Bird of Eostre
As time went on, the goddess Eostre discovered that the bird was too delicate for the constant toil. The chariot-pulling bird also suffered from the change in climate each year. As a result, Eostre changed the bird into a quick little animal with four legs and thick, warm fur.

Advantages of the Spring Rabbit
In addition, the long ears and short tail would help the hare to guide the chariot through the frozen wastelands of the north. In this way, the rabbit became the friend of Eostre, the source of movement for the chariot, and a key messenger of spring.

Invention of Stuffed Bunny Toys
In Germany, celebrants began to make toy rabbits or hares from flannel stuffed with cotton. They gave the toy rabbits as gifts on Easter morning. Today, the use of bunnies in Easter celebrations continues to symbolize spring, youth, new birth, and vitality.