PBP: Cailleach

Recently the southern United States got hit by a winter storm, which I thought would be a good time to talk about Cailleach.

Cailleach is the hag of winter, the name means Hag in Irish. She is found in various different forms throughout Ireland and Scotland. It is possible that she is a name for various local goddesses of the more vicious aspects of nature. One of the earliest records we have of Cailleach is an early medieval poem called "The lament of the Old Woman of Beare". within the poem she is called Caillech Bérri.

As stated, she is the hag of Winter, for this is what she is best known as of. She is seen as the negative force of winter. Bring the death and decay with it. the epithet Bheur is said to come from beura or bheura, which means 'shrill, sharp, cutting', probably in reference to her association with the cold weather and storms of winter.[1]this does make sense as during the winter months the wind can be shrill and feel like it is cutting you; or literally cutting you with ice.

There is some legends that link her with Brighid, or in Scotland Bride. In Scotland, there is Latha na Caillich, or Old Woman's day. "when she was supposed to finally give up her struggle in opposing the onslaught of Spring."[2] This might be why some link her to Imbolc which some see as the beginning of Spring. Though Spring can come much later in Ireland and Scotland, hence why the day for Latha na Caillich is March 25th and not February.

While she is not a spirit, I often would put out offerings for, she is still an entity of power. Her winds bite like the shrill snap of the cold gale upon the back. Though, she is not an evil demon but a force of nature and nature is destructive just as well as constructive. Still I do honour her and ask for relief from the winter when it does hit.

[1]Taris on Cailleach [2]Taris on Latha na Caillich

I know this is a bit late but hey other things take prioty.