Frau Holle is an ancient Goddess originating in the pagan lore of Germania. Also called Holda, Hulda or Old Mother Frost, she's often portrayed as a domestic entity. Her true nature runs deep as warrior goddess, weather deity, teacher and Dark Grandmother.
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From her home in the clouds, Frau Holle makes snow by fluffing her feather bedding out the window. The feathers fall as snowflakes to the mortal world below. As a weather deity she can create a sparkling snowfall or a battering blizzard.
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When it snows in Germany one still hears, "Frau Holle is making her bed." The home of the goddess in the clouds and her association with weather control gives a strong impression of Holle as an ancient fertility and nature deity.
Frau Holle takes care of infant souls and thus is linked to the Land of the Undead, the Netherworld and spirit realms and the Dark Grandmother. She has aspects of both dark and light. She can manifest as a White Lady.
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White Ladies appear in numerous cultures. They may request help, share wisdom, give protection or in some cases, foretell death or a dramatic event.
As a domestic goddess, Frau Holle is teacher and patron of spinning and weaving. She favors those who show respect and work hard. A fairy tale recorded by the Grimms tells of two girls, one hardworking and one lazy, who visit Frau Holle. Read the fairy tale here.
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The Festival of Frau Holle begins December 25 and goes for twelve days until Jan 5/6, or Twelfth Night. The Twelve Days of Zagmuk also occur at this time. On 21 Dec celebrations of the solstice, a return of light after the year's shortest day, may include Frau Holle.
Frau Holle brings the hope of a new spring and abundance throughout the land. In 10th century Norway, the Christianized Norse king Haakon decrees Yule must be celebrated the same time as Christmas. Yule is originally a harvest celebration lasting almost to the solstice.
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A solar festival on Dec 25 is linked to Roman Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun. Romans celebrate the solstice a few days after the event, when an obvious difference of night and day lengths confirms return of the Sun. Romans also create the first Christmas, in 336 AD.
As a warrior, Hulda is known to lead the Wild Hunt. In possibly one of many attempts to demonize the goddess she instead becomes a culture hero. The Hunt leader is a legendary figure such as Siegfried, deity such as the Norse Odin, Roman Diana or other famed entity.
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Partakers of the Hunt are witches, satyrs, multi-legged horses, three-legged hounds, deities, semi-deities, elves, werewolves, Dwarfs, dragons and creatures of all kinds from Germany, Scandinavia, Rome, Ireland, Tyrol, Italy and other areas. Later it's said to be led by the Devil.
Holle's connection with weaving associates her with witchcraft. In some accounts she participates in Hexennacht (Witches' Night), a gathering and celebration of witches in the Harz Mountains on the Brocken, the highest peak in Northern Germany.
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In the 9th century Hexennacht is replaced with Walpurgis Night. Today the Brocken is a much more popular place for witch gatherings than ever it was. According to the Grimm Brothers, folklore of Frau Holle is predominates in the north Germanic lands.
In Denmark, she may appear as the Elder Mother. In the south to Switzerland, the related goddess Perchta reigns. She shares many qualities with Holle and in folk tales may have a nastier side.
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Perchta lives in a well. On her feast days of Jan 5-6 she visits every household to ensure the girls have done their allotted spinning and weaving for the year. If yes, she leaves silver coins. If no, she rips out the entrails of the culprit and stuffs the body with straw.
Despite her fierce reputation and use as a Kinderschreck to scare children and young servants into a good work ethic, Perchta is also the benevolent, strict and mysterious mother goddess who long ago taught humans to spin flax into the first fabric - linen.