The Cailleach is one of Scotland’s oldest and most known deities and was there at the start of time itself, She is best known as the Queen of Winter, often seen as the veiled one or the old Hag who has helped to form much of the local landscape and is said to be a powerhouse of nature. She dwells in mountain caves and is associated with wild places, storms, and winter on top of forming much of the landscapes of both Scotland and Ireland.
Mountain Cleaver and Creator of the Local Landscape
Whether it’s dropping huge rocks from her apron to create local mountains, or washing her plaid in Scotland’s largest whirlpool, which in turn results in the landscape being covered in snow when she washes her whites. She is also responsible for keeping the wells covered so that the glens don’t flood, there are more than a few stories if where she’s fallen asleep after a hard day’s work and in doing so forgotten to close one of her wells, creating large lochs like the Loch Awe in Argyll. They also say she’s formed a few of the highest mountains, and that Ben Nevis is her throne.
She was the harbinger of winter which she calls forth at the time of Samhain,(Halloween), while riding her large wild wolf across the sky and striking the ground with her staff would freeze the ground and surrounding landscape.
Protector of the Harvest
One of the stories, I particularly like is how is connected to the Harvest, from the History Cooperative:
Considered as both a creator and destroyer, she was also a protector. Her connection to winter also connected her to grain, a food source necessary for survival during the winter months. The last sheath of grain from the harvest before winter was dedicated to Cailleach.
The farmer who finished the grain harvest would make a corn dolly that represented the blue-skinned crone and would throw it into a neighbour’s field if they had not finished their harvest.
The last farmer to finish the harvest was left in possession of the corn dolly and had to care for it throughout winter until the beginning of the next planting season. No farmer wanted to house the Cailleach for winter so competition was fierce during the harvest with each farmer trying to make sure they would not be the last to finish.
A great story and a way to keep local farmers from competing and getting their fields harvested in good time.
When the Cailleach finally tired of winter she would drink from the fountain of youth and be transformed into a young maiden, when would call forth the start of spring.
Glen Cailleach Local Shrine in the Cairngorms
There are still shrines to her throughout local areas, one that is well known is Glen Cailleach near Glen Lyo
n in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. According to local tradition, the Cailleach and her family were given shelter there, which in turn led to the fertility and prosperity of the Glen.
There are a lot of great stories and examples regarding the influence she has had on the landscape and she’s in a fair few stories. There are a few great sources and stories about her if you’d like to learn more.
Podcasts, for those who love to listen to stories:
Stories of Scotland
Knotwork Story Telling
Videos:
The Cailleach by Liath Wolf
The Cailleach: Ancient Goddess of Winter
