In her book, european mythology, jacqueline simpson describes the scottish version, the cailleach bheur, as a tall, bluefaced crone who is both. She is the veiled one, the queen of winter who determines its length and harshness. She is as old as the hills and a bit of a trickster, though she works her tricks for good and for the defense of those decent folk she favors. In later tales she is known as the cailleach nan cruachan the witch of ben cruachan. Gods in scotland the firth of clyde, named after clota the washer, the strongly flowing one there is considerably less concrete evidence to go on as far as scottish deities are concerned, with a sad lack of native mythology that can be firmly dated to any antiquity by and large.
By exploring her myths and legends, they demonstrate the hugely significant role. The word cailleach means hag in modern scottish gaelic, and has been applied to numerous mythological figures in ireland, scotland and the isle of man. As the spirit of winter, however, the cailleach is perhaps best known as cailleach bheur, beira, the gyrecarline, mag moullach, or in the northeast of scotland as gentle annie a somewhat ironic epithet by the fishermen who regard her as being responsible for the gales and storms of the winter season. In scotland she is also known as beira, queen of winter. She is also commonly known as the cailleach bheara ch or bheur ach. This process is said to take three days, during which the roar of the coming tempest. About the goddess cailleach october 31 novenber witches. Associated with winter, she was reborn on every all hallows eve and returned to bring the winter and the winter snows.
In a story from argyll the cailleach was slain by a hunter who hacked her to pieces, but she returned to life when all her body parts came together again. The cailleach is a celtic goddess, the embodiment of winter reborn every samhain or halloween. Teatowels and postcards of her are sold in the visitor shop for the hollow mountain, which also features a mural depicting her accidental creation of loch awe. In the irish triads, the cailleach is considered one of the three great ages. The cailleach in irish tradition is referred to as the veiled one or masked one.
May 20, 2019 explore tuttle75809s board cailleach bheur, followed by 109. She was also known as the cailleach, or the cailleach bheur in the gaelic traditions of ireland and the isle of man. The legendary figures and mythical creatures found in celtic folk tales have survived centuries of oral tradition. Jan 09, 2014 the cailleach or cailleach bheur ireland is a supernatural being from celtic folklore associated with winter. Cailleach rules the dark half of the year, while her young and fresh counterpart, brighid or bride, is the queen of the summer months. In ireland she is usually referred to as the cailleach bhearra, but in scotland she is more often known as the cailleach bheur. In some parts of ancient britain, this deity was the. She starts her journey in the snowcapped peaks, and descends the hard grey rock in her blueblack tatters like a shadow across the land. In scottish traditions, this is a blue faced crone goddess who blusters with power throughout the winter months. Dec 19, 2019 in his book, myths of crete and prehellenic europe 1917, he argues that these early societies were gynocentric and matriarchal venerating goddesses above gods but during the bronze age a patriarchal society evolved supplanting it.
Donald alexander mackenzie in scottish folklore and folk life 1935 drew a possible connection between the beithir and the mythological hag known as the cailleach bheur. Cailleach bheurs themes are balance, cycles, rebirth, overcoming and winter. The related scottish word carlin, or carling, refers to a hag witch, the most famous of which is gyre carling, the biting old woman another name of whom is the cailleach bheur, with the same meaning. The cailleach bheur of the scottish highlands, is a bluefaced hag who. Mainly focusing on the scottish evidence, there is some reference to irish lore as well, which makes it a good source for hunting up other places to look for information. It is impossible to know what this goddess meant to her original worshipers. Jan, 2020 in her playscript, european mythology, jacqueline simpson describes the scottish variant, the cailleach bheur, as a marvellous, bluefaced crone who is both a incarnation of overwinter and a protectress of barbaric animals. List of creatures in scottish and gaelic folklore scotland. Caillech may even refer to a class of beings rather than one being. Godchecker guide to cailleach also known as callech, the irish spirit of sorcery from irish mythology. According to ancient tradition, she reappears each year at samhain halloween, bringing with her the cold weather and snows of the winter months. Her name is derived from caillech, old irish for the veiled one, and cailleach, modern scottish gaelic meaning old womanhag. She is the very ancient hagaspect of the triple goddess, who was known by many names throughout the celtic countries e. The cailleach is known throughout the british isles in varying guises.
The scottish cailleachs cow was said to give great amounts of milk. In the mythology of the british isles the cailleach is a divine hag or crone and survival of a primordial goddess of earth, sky, sun and moon. An article on the cailleach, the deercult and deergoddess cult of the ancient caledonians, has some fascinating tidbits of lore and history about the cailleach. Continuity and adaptation in legends of cailleach bhearra jstor. There are many supernatural creatures to be found in scottishgaelic folklore, scotland has a rich culture going back over 2,000 years. In her book, european mythology, jacqueline simpson describes the scottish version, the cailleach bheur, as a tall, bluefaced crone who is both a personification of winter and a protectress of wild animals. A divine hag and a creator deity, she remains a popular topic for poets and writers.
The series draws you into a world of celtic mythology, powerful druids, dark magic, and fated mates. Her staff freezes the earth and the rocks that fall from her keel turn into mountains. You must there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one thats only in the merriamwebster unabridged dictionary start your free trial today and get unlimited access to americas largest dictionary, with. Dispelled ice spikes when nm cast it and was able to interrupt every spell he tried to cast. A rock shelter in ardnamurchan is called the caillichs byre, and it was said that she kept her cattle there. Feb 18, 2012 an article on the cailleach, the deercult and deergoddess cult of the ancient caledonians, has some fascinating tidbits of lore and history about the cailleach.
More than 250,000 words that arent in our free dictionary. The cailleachs of gaelic and celtic lore eric edwards. Similar to black annis, the blue skinned hag, they were. The word cailleach may mean hag, old woman, crone, nun, or veiled one. Mackenzie 1917, wonder tales from scottish myth and legend. Crones overview of tales about the cailleach and cailleachan in mythology and folklore, along with. In her playscript, european mythology, jacqueline simpson describes the scottish variant, the cailleach bheur, as a marvellous, bluefaced crone who is both a incarnation of overwinter and a protectress of barbaric animals. Winters mantle is the second book in a gripping fantasy series based on the legends behind the winter goddess, cailleach bheur. She is fair and always takes a payment for her deeds, in the manner of the faerie folk. Ben cruachan is the tallest mountain in the region. The cailleach bheur, the personification of winter and the mother of all the gods and goddesses in scottish mythology. In scottish mythology, beira, also known as dark beira, was the great mother of the gods and goddesses.
The megalithic tombs at loughcrew in county meath are situated atop slieve na calliagh irish. Sep 22, 2016 list of creatures in scottish and gaelic folklore. In scottish traditions, this is a blue faced crone goddess who blusters with power. The cailleach goddess of the ancestors, wisdom that comes with age, the weather, time, shapeshifting and winter. The cailleach bheur, or beira, of the scottish highlands is a bluefaced hag, the spirit of winter, 5 also known as the gyrecarline in lowland scotland. She was the great primordial mother goddess of scotland.
Also the greek pythia was always masked and concealed in veils of mystery 57. Hailey turner, i swear you get inside my head and pull out all the best things i love about mythology and magic and then work them into a book plot. The folklorist katharine briggs has suggested that she may predate the celtic entity bearing her name. Cailleach the great gaelic goddess of winter transceltic.
Earlier this 20th century, scottish folktale collector j. Goddess of winter darkness and air a dark goddess of nature, particularly in scotland, is the cailleach, a name that came to mean old wife, but which is literally, veiled one, an epithet often applied to those who belong to hidden. The cailleach is the scottish triple goddess who can be identified as a creatress, nurturer, and a bringer of death. Cailleach the irish spirit of sorcery irish mythology. Supernatural creatures in scottish folklore this is a list of them. The cailleach is also featured in the sovereignty myths, such as the one. The cailleach is a crone, perhaps the crone manifestation of the triple goddess. Historical background also called cailleach or cailleach beara, she was a sorceress depicted as an elderly woman with the teeth of a bear and tusks from a boar in irish and scottish mythology. She brings the snow and cold until the wheel of time turns toward spring on beltane may day. Maccana, celtic mythology, feltham, middlesex 1983, 923. Com cailleach the hags glen and gaelic goddess myth, lore. For virtually every book that refers to anu or danu there is a mention of annis and about half of these refer to gentle annis or cailleach bheur or bear e. She is then turned to stone, or to a tree, or to a young woman every beltane, in the month of may.
She carried a magical staff, which froze the ground with every tap. For the celts who lived some 2,000 years ago, november 1st was their new year. Nov 01, 20 the club of the cailleach was an interesting metaphorical tool that seems to have informed many atlantic pagan seasonal traditions in summer from beltain to lunasa the season of the constellations virgo and taurus it represented either a sprouting branch traditionally held by the character depicted in virgo, the drovers cowswitch or the shepherds crook. The cailleach is the celtic deity of winter, who appears. Please be advised this book contains violence and sexual content. In benderloch circular green hollows are referred to as cailleach bheurs cheesevats. Nov 25, 2009 the word beur, taken simply as it stands, signifies a peak, point, or pinnacle, and may without straining be taken to mean, in its plural form of bheur mountain ridges. The cailleach is a complex figure and it is probably more accurate to say that the cailleach that we are discussing here belongs to a group of local spirits or deities that share the name cailleach or other epithets associated with her along with more localised names. Dec 10, 2007 s cottish mythology tells of a bluefaced hag associated with winter the cailleach bheur.
Within the pages of this book rachel patterson gives the reader an introduction to the mysteries, myths, legends and magic of the ancient hag goddess the cailleach, drawing upon ancient legends, stories told and her own experiences. A collection of essays exploring the myths, magic and mythology of the faerie queens. The hag of the ridges, would be a suitable enough appellation for the genius of the mountain tops. The cailleach, in irish and scottish mythology, is the old woman of winter. Cailleach is one of the more ancient celtic goddesses whose lore and worship still survive in many european countries today.
The new arrivals recognized the cailleach as already ancient, for as a famous irish poems says, there are three great ages. With such a wealth of traditions associated with her it has been suggested that she is perhaps a remnant of an ancient goddess once worshiped in antiquity in britain, kept alive in folklore and denuded through time into a hag or witch. Cailleach old woman or hag in modern irish and scottish gaelic comes from the old gaelic caillech veiled one, an adjectival form of caille veil, an early loan from latin pallium, woolen cloak. The cailleach is prominent in the landscape of argyll and bute, scotland. It was a time when the early farmers met together, bonfires were lit and animals were sacrificed. She is sometimes portrayed riding on the back of a speeding wolf, bearing a hammer or a wand made of human flesh, and sometimes even wearing human skulls attached to. The word cailleach is associated with gaelic terms like cailleachoidhche owl, cailleach feasa wise woman, fortune. Cailleach definition of cailleach by merriamwebster. Within the pages of this book rachel patterson gives the reader an introduction to the mysteries, myths, legends and magic of the ancient hag goddess the cailleach, drawing upon. Fairies mythology hawaiian mythology tarot funeral aradia ancient mysteries book of shadows the life useful tips cailleach article max dashu the megalithic sanctuaries built by the elder kindreds of europe remained an enduring presence on the landscape in the wake of invasions and migrations, long after the peoples who built them were s. Now, its beginning to look like a real north country holiday season. In scottish folklore, beira is said to be the goddess of winter.
She is associated with one of the celtic creation myths and bears a similar role to gaea in greek mythology and jord in norse mythology. Cailleach bheur, irish and scottish creatrix goddess. Scottish mythology wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Celtic mythology, celtic culture, folklore, wales, storytelling, britain, books to read. According to the fourteenth century yellow book of lecan, the cailleach. The cailleach bheirre of ireland represents sovereignty over the land and is ancestress of many peoples. She is also commonly known as the cailleach bhearach or bheurach. Ancient origins articles related to cailleach bheur in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and. The cailleach bheur was a blue hag, said to frequent parts of the scottish highlands.
The cailleach is the old lady of the mountains, and is probably older than them, for her ice and boulders carved the rivers, the lochs and the valleys. Cailleach means old woman and bheur means sharp or shrill, a term used to apply to the weather. Cailleach goddess of disease and plague celtic guardian. Daughter of winter is the first book in a gripping fantasy series based on the legends behind the winter goddess, cailleach bheur. The cailleach bheur is the ancient queen of winter possibly the oldest goddess of the british isles. Beacuse she does not appear in the written myths of ireland and scotland. This is a list of deities regarded as female or mostly feminine in gender. Mackenzie called the cailleach bheur by the name of beira, queen of winter. In scotland the cailleach bheur serves a similar purpose as the personification of winter. Grimm and fairy winter inspired watercolour book art illustration to love. Cailleachbheur2014 cailleach bheur2014 free listening on.
Europe lingered on in the folktales and folk practices of all three cultures. The old dutch name was slaghtmaand slaughtermonth, the time when the beasts were killed and salted down for winter use. Nevis refers to ben nevis, the biggest mountain in scotland which is said to be the cailleach bheurs home. In gaelic mythology irish, scottish and manx the cailleach irish pronunciation. In irish and scottish mythology the cailleach is a hag goddess concerned with. A dark goddess of nature, particularly in scotland, is the cailleach, a name that came to mean old wife, but which is literally, veiled one, an epithet often applied to those who belong to hidden worlds.
Vintage persona from a wintertime solstice salutation scorecard. In gaelic mythology irish, scottish and manx the cailleach is a divine hag, a creator deity. There will be but a few readers who have not heard of the infamous black annis. He tracks her down at the pub where her mother, beira, works, and finds out that berias been holding a grudge against his family for the past few hundred years. Ben cruachan, the hollow mountain the legend of cruachan, featuring the cailleach bheur. Nov 10, 2019 beira is the name given by 20thcentury folklorist donald alexander mackenzie to the cailleach bheur, the personification of winter and the mother of all the gods and goddesses in scottish mythology. Irish short film the cailleach was dependent on this one thing. The cailleach is often referred to as the cailleach bhearach, cailleach bheurach, or variations thereof. Whether she is seen as a benevolent earthshaping giantess, harsh winter hag goddess, shapeshifting crone, guardian of sacred wells and animals, or ancient bestower of sovereignty. The cailleach is a word referring to a number of mythological figures in the folklore of scotland, ireland, and the isle of man. Nov 12, 2012 the word cailleach in modern irish and scottish gaelic, old woman comes from the old irish caillech veiled one, an adjectival form of old irish caille veil, an early loan from latin pallium cloak, an ecclesiastical garment worn by nuns. Pagan portals the cailleach by rachel patterson, paperback.
Celtic ideology contains elements that acknowledge the cosmic forces of fertility and reproduction that was governed by divine female. Brought along some ethers of varying kinds to keep mp up, but a very straightfoward fight. In gaelic mythology irish, scottish and manx cailleach is a creation goddess. The cailleach winter goddess of the celts mythology, art. There, on the topmost ridges, do the dark herds of cailleach bheur. Mackay referred to the cailleach as the most tremendous figure in gaelic myth today. Originally scotland was called caledonia, or land given by caillech. According to donald alexander mackenzie, she was usually described as being very tall and very old and could be terribly fierce when provoked. According to the yellow book of lecan, a 14th century manuscript, the cailleach bheara was. The cailleach bheur genteel old lady of scotland is a bluefaced hag of winter, who ages in reversefrom old and ugly symbolizing winter to young and lovely spring. Her appearance is somewhat striking, and even frightening, with one eye in a blue face, her mouth filled with red teeth.
In ireland she is also associated with craggy, prominent mountains and outcroppings, such as hags head irish. Photos of the hags chair and other megalithic features at slieve na calliagh, ireland. In modern scottish folklore studies she is also known as beira, queen of winter. In irish and scottish mythology, the cailleach irish pronunciation.
Standing astride the british landscape, looms the giant blue form of the cailleach. Since beiras the cailleach bheur the celtic queen of winterher grudges are a rather big deal. The origins of halloween date back to an ancient celtic festival known as samhain pronounced sowin which celebrated the harvest and the arrival of the cailleach. The cailleach is a celtic ancestor deity, a goddess of cold and winds. Suchs the case of cailleach bheur, its said that her blood froze,her skin turned frostbite blue,w1 of her eyes frozen shut. Cailleach bheur, cailleach bheurr, cailleach bheurrach.
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