Deer Mother, the forgotten Winter Goddess. She's the life giving mother associated with fertility, motherhood, regeneration, renewal and the rebirth of the sun at Winter Solstice; bringing the life giving light of the sun back to the land in her horns. Her antlers are often depicted carrying the tree of life, birds, the sun, the moon and stars. In the Northern Hemisphere it was Deer Mother who took flight on the darkest longest night of the year (December 21), taking the dark of the old year and bringing light and life to the new year.
Perhaps this Winter Solstice take a moment to remember Deer Mother and other forgotten winter goddesses...
Alcyone - Greek - Kingfisher goddess who nests every winter for two weeks and when she does the seas become calm and peaceful
Babushka - (Baboushka) Russian legend. Closely resembling La Befana from Italy. May also be associated with Baba Yaga.
Cailleach - Celtic female deity - the divine Hag crone who rules the dark days between Samhain (Oct.31) and Beltane (May.1)
In Scotland she is called Beira, Queen of Winter and the mother of all gods and goddesses
Frau Holle - Norse - she holds many different forms in Scandinavian mythology and legend. She is associated with evergreen plants and the Yule season.
Holda - (Hulda) German goddess of Christmas associated with prosperity and fertility
La Befana - Italian witch crone, similar to St. Nicholas, she flies around delivering candy and gifts to well behaved children
Spider Woman - Hopi - Soyal is the Hopi festival of Winter Solstice. It honours the Spider Woman and Hawk Maiden and celebrates the sun's victory over winter's darkness.
Happy Solstice and Yule everyone! - JD
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