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Most people these days know that Easter is a Christian cover-up of earlier spring fertility celebrations. But we don’t often get to hear what exactly those fertility rituals and celebrations were – or are! Here is a round up of ways you can celebrate fertility, fecundity, and new life this year, around the world.
May Day (various)
Osun Osogbo (Nigeria)
This ancient tradition pays respects to the goddess of fertility with a virgin selected by the gods to carry objects to the river Osun (where the goddess lives.) Worshippers follow behind the virgin, praying to the gods for prosperity and more children, then place flowers and other offerings into the river as a sacrifice to the goddess.
Ivan Kupala Day (Eastern Europe)
Traditionally celebrated in Eastern Europe on the summer solstice to connect with the Slavic God of Sun, the Orthodox Christian Church has since adopted it to focus on water as a symbol of fertility and purification in Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia. Among the rituals that take place is a bonfire jump, where couples jump over the flames to show bravery, unity, and faith (if the couple lets go of their clasped hands, the relationship is said to be doomed.) Women also float wreaths of flowers and candles on the rivers, and men pull the wreaths from the water; fate then has a hand in matching the woman to the man who pulled her wreath.
Obando Fertility Rites (Philippines)
Every spring, the people of Obando dance in the streets to honor their patron saints, including San Pascual Baylon, Santa Clara and Nuestra Señora de Salambao. For three days, devotees pray to the gods for a child, spouse, or just good fortune and luck.
Japanese Penis Festival/Honen Matsuri (Komaki, Japan)
This rather phallic festival literally celebrates the male appendage with penis-shaped favors, toys, and a giant wooden phallus paraded and then erected (no pun intended) on the hillside shrine of Tagata Jinja. Shinto priests play music, artists and performers put on a huge, vibrant parade, and sake flows freely the whole time (perhaps having something to do with extra fertility…)
Watering of the Girls (Holloko, Hungary)
Part of traditional Easter festivities, young men dress up in traditional formal clothing and throw buckets of water over women during this tribal fertility ritual, in order to boost their fertility and bless them with children.
Phallus Festival (Tyrnavos, Greece)
Another festival celebrating the penis, this one is celebrated on “Clean Monday” (the start of Lent) to kick off the fasting period before Easter. It centers around kissing a giant penis statue and eating penis-shaped bread, drinking out of penis-shaped cups/straws and singing lewd songs. All hail, the penis!
Source: gogobot.com