SCOTTISH CAILLEACH BHEUR

The Blue Hag or Blue Witch is a combination of the Underworld goddess and a faery sprite. She has fangs and often sports three faces, making her a triple being or deity. She is also called 'the daughter of Grianan', the winter sun. On the old Celtic calendar, there were two suns, 'the big sun' which shines from Beltaine to Samhain, and 'the little sun' which shines from Samhain to Beltaine Eve.

The cailleach was reborn each Samhain and went about blighting growth on the earth and bringing on the snow. On Beltaine Eve she threw her staff under a holly tree and turned into a grey stone. There are other stories where she turns into a beautiful maiden instead, or is known as a fishing goddess. As with many cletic deities, you'll find a variety of aspects and tales that go along with the cailleach bheur.