MYTHS ABOUT WINTER: BEIRA, THE CAILLEACH, QUEEN OF WINTER
By Jovan Stipić
Welcome, dear reader. Welcome! Come in, come in, close the door, and bar the windows; don't let the cold get to us. Now, I know that the five of you who have been reading this blog constantly know that I love talking about mythology, especially Celtic mythology. You can find my previous blogs about their gods and women by clicking the links. I'll wait for you to finish reading those.
Done? Good.
As you've noticed, Celtic mythology shows a trend of women being absolutely beautiful. And since it is winter outside, it only seems normal that we should talk about one of them to warm ourselves. This is exactly why we'll be talking about the Queen of Winter, Beira, an old crone who would rather smite a Celt walking by with his lovely wife out of spite and jealousy than just about anything else.
I hope your hot cocoa is ready! You'll need it!
The folklorist Donald Alexander Mackenzie gave her name Beira in the 20th century. The other part of her name, 'The Cailleach,' means 'the hag' in modern Irish and Scottish, while it means 'the veiled one' in Old Irish and was often associated with horned animals. Archaeological digs have also discovered legends and artifacts associated with her in Ireland and Scotland.
This charming beauty came long before other gods and goddesses. She created the other gods and the rest of the world—or, rather, Scotland with all of its hills and mountains, which, according to legend, came to be when she walked and dropped rocks from her basket.
Besides being a cruel, vindictive goddess of creation, she had only one (Odin, is that you?!) and bronze teeth! She hated the other gods and goddesses who possessed the beauty and youth she did not.
Such a cheerful person, of course, could not reign over much else but the winter season! Mainly the time between Samhain (5th of November) and Belltainn (May 1st). Her opposite was Brighde, the goddess of summer! According to some interpretations, these two ladies were two faces of the same goddess, while others mention that Beira turned to stone every Belltainn for the summer. She is also connected to the death of plants and their resurrection come spring!
Interestingly enough, though far too late for this year—I apologize, I will do better next year—it is also believed that if the weather on the 1st of February is sunny, Beira plans on having a very long winter. On that day, she goes into the forest to gather firewood for the upcoming cold months.
'The Hag's Bed' in Glanworth
According to other myths, Labbacallee's (Leaba Chailli) prehistoric burial mound is a wedge tomb in Glanworth, Ireland, representing her bed. In her defence, if this were my fault, I would also be the god of winter and hate the youngsters who slept in their stupid, silky beds.
Supposedly, while living here with her husband, Mogh Ruith, she threw a boulder at him and pinned him beneath the waves at River Function. Of course, she only did this after he had fallen in love with her sister. However, another goddess would not have thrown a boulder at him.
This wedge tomb, the largest in Ireland, is also considered her resting place. Thankfully.
A bit further northeast, in Scotland, upon the Island of Skye, are two mountains named Beinn na Caillich (yes, they have identical names; a woman like Beire would want two mountains in the same region named after her). From this region, furious storms fall upon the lands below, both the island and the mainland. Near this western mountain, according to legend, a Norweigan princess named Saucy Mary (I swear I'm not making these names up) was buried here at the top of the mountain. According to myth, one could see Norway from there, and she wished to see her homeland forever.
Western mountain of Beinn na Geillich upon Skye Island.
And let us leave it here. However, before we do, I want to mention one more myth, which links her to Demeter, of all goddesses, in Greek Mythology. Her son, Angus, the King of Summer (I already like him), married a lovely young woman named Brighde. Yes, the same Brighde who rules over the summer in Scottish mythology. Afterward, like Demeter, another goddess of the changing seasons, of death and resurrection, stands between the couple. Every winter, she comes out and tries to stand between the couple and take her son for herself, jealous of the love he has for his wife.
The myth of Demeter is interpreted as representing the fury of a mother whose daughter was sent away to be married without her consent. Could this be another depiction of a similar tradition?
I honestly doubt it. Not only were Celts far more relaxed about marriage, but there was also a trend of overbearing mothers controlling the lives of their daughters and sons. I doubt Beira was a victim in this myth.
But let us leave her here. It's getting colder just writing about her; I can only imagine how my readers feel.
Spring will soon be upon us, and we'll continue talking about the wonderful deities that come with warmer weather. Ah, I already feel better! I wonder whom we'll talk to first!?