Tradition of Easter
Where did the name come from?
It goes back to Eostre, also called Ostara or Eastre, who is a Germanic goddess associated with spring and the dawn.
She is particularly known in Anglo-Saxon and Old High German traditions and is believed to be the namesake for the Christian holiday of Easter.
Why is Easter so late this year?
Tradition has it to place Easter Sunday on the first Sunday after the full moon after the spring Equinox. The full moon was this year last Sunday at 1 am. Without observing summertime we would have celebrated Easter a week earlier.
Why the Easter egg and the hare?
Ostara or Eostre is generally associated with themes of fertility, renewal and is often depicted with symbols of spring, such as eggs and hares (see image).
In some paintings the Holy mother Mary of Jesus Christ is depicted with a white hare (see image).
Another reason, people believe the easter egg became popular is, that during Lent Christians traditionally don’t consume animal products. As the chickens are starting laying in spring, the eggs are preserved during lent with Potassium or Sodium Silicate and are hard boiled and decorated in many Orthodox Christian traditions from the Ural to the Hebrides (See image).
Why are you advised in the biodynamic planting calendar and the flourish wall calendar not to cultivate your garden from Good Friday until Easter Sunday?
It is believed that when Jesus Christ was crucified on Good Friday to make the sacrifice for the Earth and humanity to be filled once more with the creation forces and to be healed from all hardening and wrong doings the Earth needs to rest just like when we integrate mighty inner spiritual awakening processes in meditation.
While the Earth is receiving these new impulses and undergoing the transformation of breaking down old paradigms, outdated structures and systems it can’t be disturbed.
This recognition is considered in the biodynamic calendars around the world.
At the same time, we also need to recognise that according Rudolf Steiner, the Christ impulse has been renewed and revived with the second coming in the etheric world.
I believe with sufficient consciousness of this great change last century, we could think of adding an element of freedom and personal conscious application of our own sacrificial forces through giving our life forces to the Earth and the elemental beings to help to heal our planet. This would go beyond just celebrating a historic event and instead empower ourselves with the Christ forces (caring and compassionate heart forces towards nature and other humans, see image).
Wouldn’t it be a wonderful offering to sprinkle the horn manure preparation on the Earth during these three Holy days as a special offering for the healing of our planet?
Sowing time from 18. April-1. May
Sow in unheated greenhouse:
On the 20. April fruiting vegetables: Courgette & Marrow, Squash & Pumpkin, Cucumber, for outdoor Tomato and Sweet Corn, Runner, French and Bush Beans
Sow outdoors: Peas
On the 21 & 22. April root vegetables: main crop Carrot, Radish, Turnip, Rutabaga (Swedes), Beetroot, Scorzonera, Salsify
On the 25 -26. April leaf vegetables: Asparagus, Beetleaf Greens (Perpetual Spinach)
Broccoli, Brussel Sprout, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chicory, Florence Fennel, Endives, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Lettuces, Mustard Greens, New Zealand Spinach, Onion, Swiss Chard,
Rocket,
Harvest
Indoors
Asparagus, Beetleaf Greens (Perpetual Spinach), Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Kale, Lettuce, (Miners Salad & Lambs Lettuce are flowering, keep for seeds), Spinach, Rocket
Outdoors
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Lettuce, Perennial Kale, Radish, Radicchio, Spring Onion & Rhubarb
Now it’s time to prepare for Easter Sunday and a mysterious Easter egg hunt in your garden.
A special offering to be enjoyed particularly if you designed your garden with different “rooms” and nooks and crannies and be it whatever age, children, young and old , make this an adventure.
Happy Easter holidays
Hans-Günther
