In  Celtic Britain, the month entitled  an dudlachd  extended from the middle of  December until mid January  and was considered "the depth of  of winter." Among the Anglo-Saxons this same period was identified as the month of Yule.  It was followed in Scotland by am faoilteach and filled time between  mid-January and mid-February.  The Irish Gaelic has mid-February  as mi na faile brighde.  supposedly remembering  the Christian Saint Brigit,  but she is a thinly disguised version of the pagan cailleach bheurr or "Winter Hag" said responsible for bringing on the storms of winter  and in-gathering souls of the dead during mid-winter. She was, of course, a shape-changer and is the model for the mythic Snow Queen.