I’m a bit ashamed about how little I know of Celtic folklore, especially considering I have roots in Scotland. But who better to start my exploration with than the Celtic goddess of Winter.
The Cailleach – also known as ‘The Veiled One,’ ‘Lady of Beasts’ and ‘Goddess of the Cold’ – determines the length of Winter and how harsh it will be. This veiled, one-eyed, blue-skinned crone comes into power at Samhain, replacing the goddess Brigid and marking the beginning of wintertime.
Capable of bounding over mountains and riding storms, the Cailleach is a creator deity who’s thought to have shaped much of the known landscapes of Scotland and Ireland.
Neither good nor evil, the intentions of the Cailleach varies from story to story. Although she is known for having a deep affection for wild creatures. She decides which will see the Winter through and which will perish. In all three Gaelic speaking regions, the Cailleach is the patron of wolves, and in Scotland, she’s the keeper of deer.
When the time approaches for the arrival of Brigid, the weakening Cailleach always makes a last-ditch attempt to stall Spring by bringing about terrible storms. But she’s always overpowered and retreats to Ben Nevis to sleep until the return of the darker days.
Celebrating the strange and the shadowy, the damned and unseen 
If I may say, my material Celtic heart is pleased to learn the story of the Cailleach. I didn’t know she and Brigid were contenders. With her connection to winter, I appreciate the Cailleach being neither good nor evil, since that is an aspect of winter itself and nature, generally. I mean, I like to think that nature has feelings, though these days especially I’m not nature would have feelings in our favor.
I meant to say “I’m not sure nature” would be in our favor.