23 March, 2004

Costume re-enactors will be converging on WestStowAnglo-SaxonVillage near Bury St Edmunds this Easter to take part in a pagan festival known as Eostre, which celebrates the arrival of summer and the pagan goddess of dawn.

The Eostre festival pre-dates our modern ideas of Easter and was celebrated in the UK long before the arrival of Christianity. It’s believed that the name Eostre comes from the word East, where the sun rises each day, bringing light and warmth to drive away the last frosts of winter.

Many of our modern-day Easter symbols such the Easter bunny and Easter eggs originate from the pagans, who considered these symbols of fertility and re-birth.  It is believed that hot cross buns also have their roots in paganism and that they were eaten as part of Eostre celebrations.

Building on the success of last year’s event the Eostre gathering at West Stow will once again resurrect some of these ancient pagan traditions, so there will be plenty for visitors to see and do in the Anglo-SaxonVillage on Easter Sunday and Monday.  This will include market stalls from the Saxon, Viking and Norman periods, demonstrations of crafts such as weaving, dying, rope making, pottery and metal working. There will also be storytelling and the return of the Dark Ages Games which were hugely popular at last year’s event. 

The Dark Age Games will be taking place over both days and for a small charge visitors will be able to try their hand at pagan games such as spear throwing, archery, quoits, kayles and tip cat. 

The Eostre festival will take place on Sunday 11 and Monday 12 April. Admission costs £6 for adults, £5 for children/concessions and £17.50 for a family ticket (up to five people with a maximum of two adults).West Stow Anglo-Saxon village is open from 10am until 5pm, with last admission at 4pm. Refreshments will be available throughout the day and for those seeking more restful surroundings, there is also the Angles café/shop. 

For further information about this exciting event or details of opening times and admission charges, please contact West Stow Country Park and Anglo-Saxon Village on 01284 728718 or email weststow@stedsbc.gov.uk.

ENDS

Notes to editors

WestStowAnglo-SaxonVillage is built on the site of an original settlement and is set in 125 acre CountryPark which offers nature walks, children’s play area, café, shop and picnic areas.   WestStowCountryPark is 6 miles NW of Bury St Edmunds off the A1101; follow the brown tourist signs to the Anglo-SaxonVillage.