by Joanna van der Hoeven
In Scotland, Cailleach Bheur is mentioned in a few tales. Her appearance is somewhat striking, and even frightening, with one eye in a blue face, her mouth filled with red teeth. Similar to Black Annis, the Blue Skinned Hag, they were the goddesses of winter and death in the north of the isle, where nights were longest. When she decides that her reign of winter should come to an end, she drinks from the Well of Youth, where she transforms into a beautiful young maiden.
In an alternate tale not dissimilar to Demeter and Persephone, Cailleach Bheur is seen as the season of winter, capturing summer, here personified as Bride. Bride is made to wash Cailleach Bheur’s mantle until she escapes with Angus, thus returning spring to the land. Cailleach Bheur, as the goddess of winter, brings the snows and frosts with her magical staff which she taps upon the ground, causing it to freeze. She makes her appearance on Samhain, and returns to the earth at Beltane.
Cailleach Beara represents the crone or hag in Irish mythology, to be respected as she has shaped the land by carrying boulders in her skirt and dropping them where she willed, similar to Scottish myth. She is the bringer of death with her sudden storms as well as the bringer of life as she relinquishes her rule.
Cailleach is the patron of deer, and some myths tell of her herding deer and milking them as well as protecting them from the dangers of hunters. Other animals sacred to her are wolves, wild pigs, boars, goats and cattle. The Cailleach can transform into a number of birds, such as the heron, eagle and raven. In another guise as the Scottish Gyre Carling she can transform into a sow, not unlike the animals of the Morrigan.
Cailleach is also seen as the bestower of sovereignty, in Irish myth as Niall receives the blessing of the transformed crone into a sexually desirous beauty. She tells him that her name is Sovereignty, and prophesises his reign.
Not only a goddess that controls the seasons, Cailleach is a goddess of the earth and sky, the sun and moon. As an earth goddess, she brings forth and creates life, as a destroyer, she brings death. The Cailleach in the triple aspect form is also known as The Storm Hags, where they control the winds that bring the weather.
Cailleach is also known as The Veiled One, a literal translation of her name. She often is depicted wearing a great plaid around her shoulders, which she washes and, once clean, it is said that Scotland gleams with her wintery white snow.