The True Meaning of Easter: From Ostara to Resurrection

Easter is often seen today as a cheerful holiday filled with chocolate eggs, bunnies, and family brunches. But beneath the surface of pastel colors and springtime treats lies a rich and ancient story—a sacred celebration of life, death, rebirth, and light returning after darkness.

In this blog, we explore the true essence of Easter, tracing its roots back to pre-Christian spring festivals, ancient Norse rituals, Jewish tradition, and early Christianity. We’ll also take a deeper look at symbols like the egg, the rabbit, and beloved Swedish customs like påskkärringar and påskris.

Ostara: The Pagan Origin of Easter

Long before Easter became a Christian holiday, people across Europe celebrated the arrival of spring and the balance of light and dark during the Spring Equinox. One of the most well-known goddesses associated with this time is Ostara (or Eastre), a Germanic spring goddess whose name lives on in the English word Easter and the German Ostern.

Ostara was a goddess of fertility, renewal, and light. Her sacred animal was the hare, and her festival marked the return of life after the dark, cold months of winter. Eggs—symbols of fertility, birth, and potential—were sacred offerings during these seasonal rites.

This was a time to honor the earth awakening, seeds sprouting, and the promise of abundance. Life was returning—and it was holy.

The Egg & The Rabbit: Ancient Symbols of Life

The egg has been a symbol of rebirth and resurrection across countless cultures and eras. From a lifeless shell emerges new life—what better metaphor for transformation?

In Christian tradition, the egg became a symbol of the resurrection of Christ, mirroring the soul breaking free from the tomb. But this symbolism existed long before Christianity. In pagan spring rituals, eggs were painted, buried, or gifted to celebrate new beginnings.

The hare or rabbit, known for its incredible fertility, was also deeply sacred. In Norse and Germanic folklore, it represented the power of life itself, and was believed to bring luck in love and abundance. The hare was Ostara’s companion and, in some versions of the myth, even laid the first colored eggs.

Norse Traditions & Magical Fire

In the pre-Christian North, the arrival of spring was celebrated with rituals, bonfires, and symbolic tools. Fire was used to banish the dark spirits of winter and usher in the fertile season.

The birch twig, for example, was a magician’s wand, used to ward off evil spirits and purify the space. People would light fires, dance, and celebrate renewal, calling on the ancient gods and goddesses to bless their land and livestock.

In Norse mythology, seiðr women—powerful priestesses and witches—were believed to fly between realms, especially during liminal times like the spring equinox. These figures share echoes with the påskkärringar, Sweden’s Easter witches, who fly to Blåkulla on broomsticks.

Easter in Christianity: From Pesach to Resurrection

The Christian celebration of Easter has its roots in Pesach, the Jewish Passover, which commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt. In fact, the word påsk in Swedish comes directly from the Hebrew word Pesach.

For early Christians, Easter was deeply linked to Jesus’ suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection. The Greek word paskein, meaning “to suffer,” was joined with pesach, and eventually transformed into the Christian concept of Easter as the victory of light over darkness, life over death.

With Rome as the spiritual center of the Western Church, Easter evolved into a celebration of joy, focusing on the resurrection of Christ, the promise of eternal life, and divine love.

Swedish Easter: Folklore, Fireworks & Feathers

Sweden offers a unique blend of Christian and folkloric Easter traditions, many of which date back centuries and are still alive today.

Påskkärringar – Easter Witches

In parts of Sweden, children dress up as witches—påskkärringar—and go door to door offering hand-drawn cards in exchange for candy. This playful tradition is rooted in older beliefs about witches flying to Blåkulla (the Blue Mountain) during Easter to consort with the Devil.

To protect themselves, people would dress even scarier than the spirits they feared—mirroring similar traditions like julbocken and valborrar. Fires were lit, gunshots were fired into the sky, and crosses painted with tar guarded homes from dark forces.

Påskeldar – Easter Bonfires

Still celebrated in many parts of Sweden, especially on the west coast, Easter bonfires and fireworks were meant to scare away witches and other evil beings. Historically, even rifles were fired skyward to ward off dark energies flying overhead.

Påskris – Birch Magic

The Easter twig, or påskris, originally symbolized penitence and purification, possibly echoing the flogging of Christ on Good Friday. Some scholars trace it even further back to pagan rituals of transferring spring vitality through birch twigs.

Later, it became more playful—children would “whip” their parents on Easter morning with laughter and teasing, or flirt by playfully whipping a romantic interest. Over time, this evolved into the tradition of decorating birch branches with colorful feathers, now a hallmark of Swedish Easter decor.

Easter Eggs & Games

Eggs—once again—played a central role in Swedish Easter. After long, cold winters and Catholic fasting, people would rejoice in the first fresh eggs of spring. In southern Sweden, entire villages held egg-pecking contests, where two eggs were knocked together to see whose shell held strong.

These eggs symbolized resilience, rebirth, and celebration, connecting ancient spring rites with local customs.

The Spiritual Meaning of Easter Today

Easter, whether you approach it from a spiritual, religious, or seasonal perspective, speaks to a universal truth: we all go through cycles of death and rebirth.

Whether it’s a physical winter or a metaphorical one—a heartbreak, a transformation, a loss—Easter reminds us that light returns, life blossoms, and we are constantly being reborn.

It’s an invitation to rise.

To embrace both the mystery of the unseen and the joy of renewal. To honor both our ancient roots and the divine spark that carries us forward.To remember that in the rhythm of nature, resurrection is not only possible—it’s inevitable.

Wishing you a blessed, magical, and deeply meaningful Easter season.May your inner light shine, may your path be renewed, and may you always remember the sacred dance of death and rebirth.