Uh...but Eostre is Anglo-Saxon, not Celtic, so I don't know why the have Her in their Celtic mythology section. Therefore, She was worshiped in Britain, but only after the Saxons invaded. www.englishheathenism.homestead.com/eostre.html

There are no hard lines between Celtic and Anglo-Saxon/Germanic/Scandinavia folklore, especially in the North of Scotland, which was ruled by the Kings of Norway well into the last millennium. Unless you have some further references, there is no hard evidence on an Anglo-Saxon Eostre, except from Bede who is hardly a worthy reference . . .

"Eostre ("Easter") is the name of a putative goddess of the Anglo-Saxons. The Venerable Bede described her worship as having died out by the time he began writing the first significant history of the Anglo-Saxons. Some historians have suggested that she may have been invented by Bede, as there are no known references to her preceding his work."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eostre

She was most likely a much older reference to ancient Fertility Goddess with similar names, in which case; the Anglo-Saxon culture had hardly even developed. During Iron Age Europe the line between Celtic and Germanic cultures were not hard, and often shared both religious and cultural similarities.

"Similarly, the "Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos." 1 Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre." Similar Goddesses were known by other names in ancient cultures around the Mediterranean, and were celebrated in the springtime. Some were:
 Aphrodite from ancient Cyprus
 Ashtoreth from ancient Israel
 Astarté from ancient Greece
 Demeter from Mycenae
 Hathor from ancient Egypt
 Ishtar from Assyria
 Kali, from India
 Ostara a Norse Goddess of fertility.


Since it is politically incorrect to call anything Celtic unless speaking of linguistics, I believe that the Website article is speaking in a more generalized reference to Scottish and Irish folklore when referencing this Goddess as Celtic . . .

Anam Cara

"There are no hard lines between Celtic and Anglo-Saxon/Germanic/Scandinavia folklore, especially in the North of Scotland, which was ruled by the Kings of Norway well into the last millennium."

Uh, while there is much syncretism, which I do happen to be quite involved in (both academically in the past and currently in my spiritual and cultural path as well as independent studies), there are indeed some hard lines. This is one.

In fact, while there is only Bede to reference Eostre regarding the Anglo-Saxons, I have never seen ONE REAL refrence for Her among any Celtic speaking people. There is a good chance She actually is a bit of an extrapolation of the Germanic Ostara, perhaps even a simple misspelling.

It's not just "politically incorrect" to refer to Celtic as, say, a "race" it actually IS a linguistic description...again "Eostre" is not a word in a Celtic language. However, there are cultural differences associated with the languages. In Scotland, there is a cultural difference between the originally Gaelic speaking Highlands and the Anglo speaking Lowlands...."Scots" being an Anglo-Saxon language as opposed to Scottish Gaelic. Most Scots that I have known have been keen on keeping their cultural identies separate in this way, despite the fact that the "official" language in both areas is now English (which is, of course, Anglo derived). The Highland culture was influenced by the Norse, but not the Anglo...which are related but, actually, different cultures with related but different languages...and that influence has turned out to be fairly minor. The Gaelic culture, as well as the language originally, remained dominant. And one of the reasons for the continued cultural divide is, of coruse, that there is still resentment at the English take over of Scotland by many who identify as Gaelic Highland.

As for relating Her to other Goddesses, I don't do that sort of thing...I'm not a lumper. The Goddesses you list are not all the same Goddess in my belief system, with, as mentioned above, Ostara the only one having the obvious relationship to any possible Eostre.

Like I said, if you have any legitimate sources for Eostre or Ostara, I would be interested in seeing them; otherwise it is a mute point . . .

"I have never seen ONE REAL reference for Her among any Celtic speaking people." I believe the original link would qualify, however, I was surprised as well that they had adopted this Goddess for their stamp, which is why I mentioned it . . .

You are correct about the Scottish Anglo-Saxon (or English) hostility, but "Ostara (was) a "Norse" Goddess of fertility" (by the way I neglected to reference that quoted information "The Goddesses you list are not all the same Goddess" is not my invention but taken from the Religious Tolerance website)
www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm

I disagree about the "Hard-line" on "syncretism" in Northern Scotland. I am fully aware of the national pride of Scotsmen; I am married to a native of Scotland. But the truth is that while the Irish and the Scots refer to themselves as "Celts" they are speaking in terms of their national heritage, and not necessarily their ancient cultural heritage. Most people are oblivious to their ancient roots, and where their folklore might have originated. A recent DNA study has found that the Sons of Somerled (The MacDonald, MacDougall and MacAllister clans all claim descent from Somerled) all carry a strong genetic link to the Vikings; and yet if anyone in Scotland were considered a "Celt" it would be Mac's . . .
news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm

Unless there have been some recent DNA studies, we do not know for certain the cultural background of the Picts, the Scottish "Celts" didn't arrive until the 1st half of the 1st millennium AD, and Northland Scotland, including the Islands were ruled by Norway well into the 13th Century AD. So while the people in the original article would obviously have consider themselves to be Scottish, and thus "Celtic", they are more than likely of Pictish and Norwegian heritage.

I believe you are assuming that any references to an Anglo-Saxon Goddess came with the Anglo-Saxon invasions of Britain, which I agree, never infiltrated Scotland. I am saying that many Continental Celts were in direct contact with the Germanic tribes prior to the Roman invasion. After the Roman occupation of Europe there was both a cultural consolidation and possibly early waves of migration to North/West (Scandinavia and Northern Britain)

Based on my graduate research on the "Cultures and Dress of Ancient Europe", which included participation in the "International Ancient Textiles Conference, 2003" in Copenhagen and study at several national museum in Scandinavia, many of the (artifacts, customs and folklore) that have previously been attributed to the Celts, may actually be Germanic in origin, and vica versa . . . There may not have been as big of a difference as you would like think . . .

I can see your original point; Eostre is an Anglo-Saxon name. But there is so little known about her and her cult (Spring-Fertility), which is so similar to other goddess with similar names, that it is not unreasonable to consider that there has been substantial cultural fluctuation among ancient Germanic and Celtic cultures (even the Romans, have been known to adopt the Gods of a conquered land).

I can see from your profile that you are educated and have a background in Celtic studies; I would just caution you to keep any open mind. This is an open discussion, not a dissertation, and right or wrong, I posted a web link that reflects the cultural beliefs of real people, living in these lands . . .
Anam Cara . . .

Okay, I'm not bothering...when you mistake "race" for culture then it's not going to be worth it. You can't prove CULTURE through DNA. If you do not understand that then trying to discuss with you this is pointless.

"Okay, I'm not bothering...when you mistake "race" for culture then it's not going to be worth it. You can't prove CULTURE through DNA. If you do not understand that then trying to discuss with you this is pointless", what is your problem?

This was never a discussion it was a blatant, angry attack, and a gracious attempt at a defense. I believe that I put forth an olive branch, but I won't be beat with it . . .

SOME SCIENTISTS REGARD RACE AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT WHILE OTHERS MAINTAIN IT HAS GENETIC BASIS.
The term race distinguishes one population of an animal species (including human) from another of the same subspecies. The most widely used human racial categories are based on visible traits (especially skin color, facial features and hair texture), genes, and self-identification. Conceptions of race, as well as specific racial groupings, vary by culture and over time, and are often controversial, for scientific reasons as well as because of their impact on social identity and identity politics. Some scientists regard race as a social construct while others maintain it has genetic basis.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race

" IT IS THE WAY PEOPLE LIVE IN ACCORDANCE TO BELIEFS, LANGUAGE, HISTORY, OR THE WAY THEY DRESS.
Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate"), generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. Different definitions of "culture" reflect different theoretical bases for understanding, or criteria for evaluating, human activity.
Anthropologists most commonly use the term "culture" to refer to the universal human capacity to classify, codify and communicate their experiences symbolically. This capacity has long been taken as a defining feature of the humans. However, primatologists such as Jane Goodall have identified aspects of culture among human's closest relatives in the animal kingdom.[1] it can be also said that " it is the way people live in accordance to beliefs, language, history, or the way they dress. "
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture

I got married last August, coincidentally during Lammas, and I married into a family named Oster - which is a German name with ties to Eostre.

I'm hoping to get pregnant this Spring, and with Eostre on my side, I think my chances might be pretty good :-)

Maybe that will lighten things up a bit,

Kris