Welcome to Fae Friday, my lovelies! In honor of the cold and snowy weather we’ve had here in the Midwest, I wanted to devote this week to the Cailleach Bheur (also known by many other names and spellings, depending on what region you’re in). This Celtic faerie (or goddess, if you’re pre-Christian old school), has Scottish and Irish roots, and her name translates to the Blue Hag. This is fitting for her appearance as she emerges on the night of Samhain (Halloween) and is depicted as an old crone with either blue skin or clothes, carrying a holly staff and a crow. She is the personification of winter, and as the cold season creeps closer to spring, she grows younger and younger by comparison (Wigington, 2018). This entity is one of the most powerful in Celtic tradition with the ability to transform landscapes on a whim. It is believed that she created the mountains as she flew in the sky overhead, throwing stones from her apron that would land as new rock formations. As the bringer of winter, she would also wash her filthy cloak after she emerged from her slumber at the end of fall, generating deadly whirlpools and causing snowstorms to rage across the land (Macdonald, 2014). When her cloak was pulled from the water white and clean, it would match the blanket of snow on the ground. Once her harsh cold season ended on May Eve, she would turn to stone until she was awoken again on Samhain (Eason, 2002.)
My favorite story about the Cailleach Bheur should actually sound familiar to many readers. On February 1 (or Imbolc, for those keeping up with the Sabbats), the Cailleach Bheur emerges from her home in search of firewood to keep her warm for the rest of winter. If the day is fair, she can go out and gather an abundance of kindling, meaning that winter will last longer because she is more prepared. If, however, it is a dreary day, she will choose to stay in and make do with the fuel she already has. This means that winter will end early, as soon as the Cailleach Bheur runs out of firewood. If you think this sounds a lot like Groundhog Day, a holiday made popular in North America when an adorable rodent predicts the weather, you would be right! This tradition stems from the legend of the Cailleach Bheur (Capper, 2016).
Image via https://atlanticreligion.com/2013/11/01/the-wand-or-club-of-the-cailleach/
Activity
To honor the Cailleach Bheur (and to start moving winter on its merry way), Patricia Telesco (1998) offers some beautiful ideas for your alter. Start by bringing the sun into your alter by covering it with some type of yellow clothe. If you don’t have something yellow available, you could always incorporate the real sun by leaving your window blinds open for its rays to peak inside. If the weather is right, go out and collect a bowl of snow to place on your alter. Light a blue candle as representation of the Cailleach Bheur, and allow both the candle and the snow to melt from the power of the flame and the sun. Just as the world turns and the seasons change, this winter will melt away into life-bringing spring. Take the melted snow and return it outside in a special place (I will pour mine around my faery circle). If you think you might need a future spell to help your temper cool down, save the wax from the blue candle and re-melt it for your spell work.
References
Capper, D. (2016). Groundhog oracles and their forebears. Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science, 51(2), 257–276. https://doi-org.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/10.1111/zygo.12247
Eason, C. (2002). A complete guide to faeries & magical beings. Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC.
Macdonald, F. (2014). Celtic myths and legends: Vol. 1 [edition]. Capstone.
Telesco, P. (1998). 365 goddess: A daily guide to the magic and inspiration of the goddess. HarperOne.
Wigington, P. (2018, February 21). Cailleach, the ruler of winter. Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/cailleach-the-ruler-of-winter-2561705