Eostre and the Hare
Image Courtesy Galadrial
First I’d like to apologize to any purists out there, but I’ve seen many different versions of the myth of the Goddess and the Hare, but none are really complete, and are very small. So this a recreation from me, the names may not match but for the purposes of story telling they will do. I do hope you enjoy the story.
Eostre was the beautiful Virgin Goddess of Spring. Everywhere she walked beautiful flowers would spring up. She talked with the birds that flew, and all the animals that crawled. But of all her animal friends she adored the hare above all others.
On the day of the Vernal Equinox, she was walking about the forest taking with all the wild animals, when Boga a young god came to court her. Eostre called to the animals to help, the birds flew to cloud Boga’s vision, and the hares, deer, and other wild animals gathered around Boga to slow him down. Eostre turned and fled while her animal friends were blocking Boga.
Boga in his rage at the fleeting Maiden grabbed one of the hares that blocked his path. He told the hare that he would suffer a dire fate for blocking his path. The hare spoke up saying that Boga should not harm any animal especially the hares because they were beloved of Eostre.
Upon hearing that he released the hare and he turned away. When he reached a clearing where he was sure none of the forest animal were, he quickly changed himself into a beautiful white hare, and went in search of the Goddess anew.
Eventually Boga found the Goddess sitting in a clearing at the other end of the forest. She was thanking all her animal friends for helping her, when she spied a beautiful white hare. She picked up the hare and adored it. Boga (the hare) spoke up saying that he had a gift for the beautiful Goddess. She told the hare that it’s beauty and companion ship was enough, but the hare insisted that he had a gift for the Goddess worthy of one as beautiful as She. So the hare laid a beautiful colored egg. The hare said here is my gift I pray it is worthy to one a beautiful as you.
The Goddess was so taken with this gift that she wanted to share it with the world. Pray beautiful hare, could you share your beautiful gift with mankind, their children, whom I am patroness of, would love such a beautiful gift. Boga said if it pleases you Maiden, but I must ask something small in return. Eostre told the hare to name his price and it would be his. Boga said I only wish your companionship for all time. Eostre said is that all, then done. As a sign of our covenant together I shall place the sign of the hare on the Moon so that even when mortal man forgets this agreement they will know that you are always with me.
At this point Boga revealed himself in his true form, I shall honor our agreement and give the gift of the colored egg to mankind, to do homage to your beauty, and we shall be companions for all time. Eostre overwhelmed with the transformation and the young gods beauty readily agreed.
As a sign of their union, even to this day you can still see the mark of the hare on the face of the Moon.
Mobius
