Winter Queen - Recap - Winter 2017

This past week, nine Detectives joined forces to take on the Cailleach Bheur, the Winter Queen of Scottish mythology. This one-eyed, blue-skinned, wrinkled old giant was in a tizzy and her Storm Wolves were exhausted. Winter would never end, unless the Detectives intervened.

The Detectives started by visiting the Winter Queen, to find out why she was in such a fury. They approached her at the Corryvreckan Whirlpool, where she washes her green plaid white, but the lady was not interested in talk. She blew the Detectives on a northeastern wind all the way to Loch Ness.

Nessy's Throne Room

Yes, that would be the Loch Ness, home of the Loch Ness monster. Naturally, Nessy made her appearance and the Detectives learned the secret of why the Cailleach was in a bad mood. I'm trying not to give away secrets for the next time the Detectives solve this case, so let me just say that this group of Detectives used some clever methods to reach Nessy. There were selkies and quartz crystals and a very funny little crab. And, of course, Nessy. Her throne room was particularly lovely.

So, then the team flew on the backs of Storm Wolves to a certain barn and some fields, where they searched for a certain something that shall go unnamed. They're clever, these Detectives, so naturally, they found it and returned it to its caretaker. He promised not to lose it again.

With the problem solved, the Detectives returned to the Winter Queen. Surely, she would be happy, now that they had fixed things. She wasn't. Well, she was, but it wasn't enough. She kind of liked being Winter Queen, and wasn't really ready to let spring return.

Cailleach Bheur and Storm Wolves

So the Detectives headed to the place where the Winter Queen hides her most precious treasure, the one that brings spring back to the world. They found it ... guarded, of course, by something rather frightening. This was where courage came in, time outs were called and those handy little invisibility spells made all the difference.

Once again, our team prevailed and the treasure was found. I can't say any more about it, only that it was really tiny and really ... no, I can't say that or it will give it away. So sorry! All I can say is that it was really precious and really helpful.

The Detectives returned once again to the Winter Witch, only this time they went disguised as Winter Lairds and Ladies from far away Alaska. Who knew there were Lairds and Ladies of Winter in Alaska? Fortunately, they managed to fool the Cailleach Bheur with their clever disguises. While she and her sister were using their wands to created more snow and ice crystals, the Detectives were secretly planting Snow Drops.

I know my Detectives reading this are saying, "But wait! She left out this and this and this!" Yes, I have left out some very important details, like the Salmon of Knowledge and a certain something from the Hazel Grove of the Underworld ... but some secrets must be kept. So I shall end here. I'm happy to report that spring will return this year, thanks to our Detectives.

I'd really like to thank Mathea for her assistance this week! She is one of the older Detectives, who volunteered to help, so she played on my side. She played Nessy and the Winter Queen's sister and she made a really beautiful ice crown with hearts. You can see it along with the other beautiful ice crowns and ice wands on the Facebook page album, Winter Queen Crowns.

Pictures of the toy theaters that the children made may be found here.

Winter Queen Update

Serpent's Eye of Winter
Photo by R L McNulty

February 2 was Imbolc Day, and the weather was sunny and mild. That means the Cailleach went in search of more wood for her fire. Settle in for a long winter ... we're going to need the help of some Dragon's Eye Detectives to end this winter!

There are still four more spaces in "The Winter Queen"--the mystery we're running during February break. This adventure for ages 6 to 12 will be held at the Landing Y in Brunswick.

The story is growing nicely on the yellow pages where new Dragon's Eye stories begin. Who knew that the tale of the queen of winter would lead to yet another serpent dragon, one that is not only a solar serpent, but an Oroborus? I didn't, but as usual am delighted by the discovery of the more ancient roots of this seasonal myth.

It has its origins not in Ireland or Scotland, but in what is today Spain. Which makes me wonder if there's a hidden tie to Egypt. The Cailleach has much in common with Mehen, the Egyptian Oroborus who provides the serpent roads for the solar god to travel through the seasons and the day/night cycle.

Both myths are essentially star myths. The Oroborus is the Yellow Road, the ecliptic along which the sun appears to move in its journey across the heavens. If you think about this path as a serpent swallowing its tail, you begin to understand the otherwise puzzling story tying a serpent to a solar myth.

The myth will certainly provide a delightful tale for our detectives! We'll be encountering Storm Wolves and a magical baby and the Cailleach herself. Better bring winter gear, because the storms will be blowing inside this adventure!