As I was creating my spring altar at home, a large stuffed snake declared that she wanted to be the centerpiece of my sacred altar for Ostara. When I was finished, my entire dining room was exploding with decorative eggs, flowers, bunnies, and three snakes. I posted the photo on the left to facebook and entitled it "The Easter Snake." I was surprised when several people wanted to know the story.
I had no story. I began to think about spring holidays and spring symbols and St. Patrick came into my awareness - then I knew the story of the Easter Snake and why this lovely animal is important at this time of year. St. Patrick forcefully Christianized Ireland in the 4th century AD and part of the story of this aggressive, although much loved, priest was that he drove the snakes out of Ireland. That aspect of the story has been taken to mean that the native Celtic and Druid culture was violently suppressed. Spiritual suppression is a common story in the history of religion; all religions are an amalgamation of the beliefs of the invaders and the native population. Ireland still has much of its pagan roots very much in evidence.
So, why not encourage that earthy side of Celtic spirituality and celebrate "All Snakes Day" sometime in spring? It is the time of year that the little and big crawlers slither out of their dens and bask on a warm rock in the spring sunshine. "All Snakes Day" is actually the idea of Archdruid Isaac Bonewits, and I, for one, support it. Let's bring back the love for one of the divine goddess's familiars: the snake that is at home above and in the earth. Let your own out grown skin fall away this spring and transform with the celebration of "All Snakes Day!"
I had no story. I began to think about spring holidays and spring symbols and St. Patrick came into my awareness - then I knew the story of the Easter Snake and why this lovely animal is important at this time of year. St. Patrick forcefully Christianized Ireland in the 4th century AD and part of the story of this aggressive, although much loved, priest was that he drove the snakes out of Ireland. That aspect of the story has been taken to mean that the native Celtic and Druid culture was violently suppressed. Spiritual suppression is a common story in the history of religion; all religions are an amalgamation of the beliefs of the invaders and the native population. Ireland still has much of its pagan roots very much in evidence.
So, why not encourage that earthy side of Celtic spirituality and celebrate "All Snakes Day" sometime in spring? It is the time of year that the little and big crawlers slither out of their dens and bask on a warm rock in the spring sunshine. "All Snakes Day" is actually the idea of Archdruid Isaac Bonewits, and I, for one, support it. Let's bring back the love for one of the divine goddess's familiars: the snake that is at home above and in the earth. Let your own out grown skin fall away this spring and transform with the celebration of "All Snakes Day!"
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