The last few days when I've been walking home in the frost and have felt like there was some sort of goddess or spirit to do with the frost watching me from my shadow. I've done the google and wikipedia searches but haven't turned up much, just that one of artemis' atributes was a goddess of crop destroying frost.

Has anyone else ever heard of a frost goddess? (I say goddess because it felt more female than male)

Here's my instant response to this - no, I haven't ever heard of such a deity, male OR female - but I did get a VERY strong image as I read your post, of a female "Jill Frost" lookalike! Now, obviously, that came from my conditioning, but it's interesting nonetheless!

Maybe Terry Pratchett, with his instantly born "new" deities (they materialise as people think them into being) was nearer the mark than I first thought?
I always imagine an Autumn Lady, so a Frost one isn't maybe so daft either?
Nice one - enjoy!

Have a google for Skadi, this may help.
Wassail!
wolvie

I see Holda as a Goddess of Ice and snow

i wish she would shake her feather quilt abit more and give us a PRORER winter. so moot it be.

Im with you there Hawkeye

I always think of Skadi (aka ondurgud - the snowshoe goddess) as being Goddess of Ice and Snow. Agree that we could do with a bit more ice and snaw this year!

and of course her skiing bow toting cousin Ullr, must be the God of winter sports & specifically the Biathlon.


dav

Here in Germany she's known as "Frau Holle", a friendly and helpful household witch.

Holda is our family Goddess (don't know how else to put it )

The first deity that comes to my mind is the Cailleach, the old woman, who is found in scottish mythology.

She is said to rule over the winter, and is linked with the creation of many of the hills and lochs in Highland Scotland.

She is not a deity I have worked with a lot, but I always pay my respects to her, as she comes across as forbidding, very powerful and sometimes cruel.

Skadi jumped immediately to my mind. I've felt her in the cold before, especially in the snow. Last spring I was crossing a big crossroads with my kids on the way home from school in light snow, and it suddenly came down thick and fast enough to obscure the nearby buildings and leave us completely surrounded by a white curtain. She was tangibly close, the lollipop lady was freaked and after that I had a good read up about her. There's more about her here Skadavé and here.

Thanks for the links Synhild.

Definitely Skadhi!! She is a very tangible presence in the snow and winds.

We can thank human induced climate change for winters becoming more and moe mild. <sigh>

Maybe I'm being dense but why on feeling a presence would you think it's a goddess?

Hmm I suppose thats how a lot of Goddess worshippers/pagans/witches work.
Some feel there are many Gods and Godessess Who are connected to different Elements.

I think it was more that the Original Poster felt that this particualar presence might be that of a deity, rather than that any unseen presence could be a god (or a passing fox, or a peeping tom).

Experience of deity is difficult to quantify, but I find that there is a difference between the presence of a god and that of a spirit, landwight or genius loci.

Having said that though, it's entirely possible that there are landwights, local spirits and other beings connected with the frost, so that might bear some further research.

I'm reminded of (Grand)father Frost in Russian culture.
He started off as a pagan winter sprite but has now become similar to Santa.
There are a few differences there though :-

i) He hands out gifts to children in person at the New Year celebrations (as opposed to being sneaky, like our version! )

ii) He is always accompanied by granddaughter, the Snow Maiden.

iii) He carries a magical staff.

iv) He travels about in a troika, no reindeer.

He also features in a russian fairy tale




Yes, I agree. It doesn't feel as if we've had winter here (West Midlands), and yesterday was Imbolc already! It just doesn't feel right

I saw a differently lady on my snowy walk today. I just saw her a way infront of me wearing a very dark cloak and she had black hair. After a minute I came to a road and she vanished.

Winter has always been the season I like best and am most comfortable with so it doesn't really suprise me.

Skadhi

She breathes, a Goddess of winter
Lacing the leaves with crystal jewels
Goddess of the Hunt, Skadhi, Goddess of Ice.
Amber like hue traces its pattern
On fissured bark and laden bough
She moves with grace and silent song
Snowy owl by her side in soundless flight

Her haven her home Thyrmheim
A realm of noise and thunderous sound
The ferocity of winter her gales are mighty
Lashing of blizzard on the mountains around
Skadhi our dark mistress of winter nights
Harbinger of revenge and steeled to the fight
Crone now in cloaked darkness set against the dusk
She gives me inspiration of a chillier kind
On my path I quest, an inner core to find

Ice maiden aloof yet she holds a heart
Of care and loyalty none shall cleave apart
She breathes and rejoices in sight and sound
As winter takes its toll on the earth around
She breathes, a Goddess of Winter
Mist envelopes as I wait
Amidst the chill of the night
She knows and observes my fate.

Rhiana 13/10/03.


I love her she came to me in 2003 and as the wheel turns I feel her waiting!

Me STUPID!

I reread this post and gave myself a hefty mental kick up the bum! Here's your info - I can only assume I was either half cut or half asleep !

She's the Cailleach Bheara! Cailleach means one who wears a hood or veil (caille) and laments in her decay the loss of her youth. She is the one-eyed hag who reigned over the four red divisions of the world, and whose stone carrying (in a creel on her back) was responsible for the creation of lochs, rivers and mountains.

She heralds the onset of winter's ice.

March 25th, now Lady Day and formerly New Year’s Day up until 1599, was Latha na Caillich – or “Old Wife’s Day” was the day upon which she became defeated by the oncoming sunshine and flung her mallet under the Holly tree. In doing this, she gave up the struggle to hold back the breath of spring, and retreated from the warmth in despair and jealousy.

I find this really interesting.As it will soon be the time for snow,I wonder if yours is an isolated case or has anyone else encountered similar during the white time?

Thanks for everyone's replies.

It's not got to the time of year here yet but am curious as to whether I'll see anyone/thing this year. I love the snow and cold so much that I know I'll be spending plenty of time outside. I'll just have to see.