Scottish festive tradition: Burning the Cailleach

EFFECTIVELY, Scotland was banned from celebrating Christmas, at least in the manner we do now, for around 400 years. For this reason there are not a whole lot of traditions that are unique to this country. However, we are a superstitious race, particularly in the past, and that is where the tradition of burning the Cailleach comes from.

Burning wood fire. Picture: Creative Commons

In Gaelic mythology the Cailleach is seen as the old women of winter. She is responsible for bringing cold and reducing every day to 17 hours of darkness. A feared and respected member of mythology, her legend is linked with that of supposed witches from the past, and she retains connotations with both life and death.

Families who respected the legend would gather around the Christmas fire ready to burn a log. On the surface of the log would be a face carved by the mother or father of the household. The face was to look as close to the that of an old woman as the carver’s artistic abilities would allow. The family would then place the log into the fire and watch it burn.

The significance of this ritual was the hope that burning the woman of winter would banish the cold, dark and hardships of the past, and welcome in a new beginning - this of course relates to Hogmanay and the start of a new year.

A similar tradition was for a family to observe the ash on the morning following the burning of the Christmas fire. A foot shape pointing out toward the door was supposed to signal death. However, a foot pointing into the room was said to herald new life.

• Scottish words for the Christmas season

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