Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)
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An exploration of the Old English lunar calendar-feast of the fertility goddess Éostre and how it was celebrated in early England. We begin with a look at the Old English calendar, which reveals how the pre-Christian year was structured. We shall then consider how this calendar was transformed into the Christian year – how, for example, did the festival of the goddess Éostre become Eastertide? Using examples from medieval art and literature, we shall also look at the Cult of the Cross and the significance of the famous Synod of Whitby.