Gods and spirits that control the seasons and weather feature in many cultures throughout history. People routinely refer to rain gods, especially during periods of drought. But there is a wealth of snow and winter gods, too. The coldest season is given a bad rap. But powdered slopes are worth praying to the heavens if you are a winter sports enthusiast.
The best snow gods are:
- Aisoyimstan: Blackfeet Nation Winter God
- Chione: Greek Goddess of Snow
- Heikki Lunta: Finnish American Snow God
- Nane Sarma – Iranian Grandma Of Winter
- Morana: Slavic Winter Goddess
- Poli’ahu – Hawaiian Snow Goddess
- Skaði – Norse Winter Goddess
- Ullr – Norse Winter God
- Kuraokami: Japanese Dragon Of Rain And Snow
- Jack Frost (Old Man Winter): American Personification Of Winter
- Nane Sarma (Bibi Barfi): Iranian Grandma Of Winter
- Morana (Marzaana): Slavic Goddess Of Winter And Death
- Poli’ahu: Hawaiian Snow Goddess
- Skaði: Norse Goddess/Giant Of Skiing & Snowshoes
- Tengliu (Teng Liu): The Chinese God(dess) Of Winter
- Ullr: Norse “God” Of Winter Hunting
1. Aisoyimstan: Blackfeet Nation Winter God
Aisoyimstan, aka the “Cold maker,” is a winter god in Blackfeet Nation mythologies, also known as Montana Blackfoot. The deity is entirely white, as is the horse he rides. Thus, he blends into the landscape as he coats it with frost and snow.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Aisoyimstan Bring Snow?
It wouldn’t hurt to ask Aisoyimstan to take a horse ride across your mountain. But if this god will agree to wander outside of Montana is unknown.
2. Boreas: Grecian God Of The North Wind & Winter
Boreas is one of the four main gods of wind:
- Zephyrus: West Wind, typically a gentle breeze
- Eurus: East Wind, known for its warm and ability to melt snow
- Notus: South Wing, that known to bring wet storms
- Boreas: North Wind, that came from the mountains of Thrace, bringing all its chill
Boreas is known to be bad-tempered, and in his most told story, he kidnaps Oreithyia, a wind nymph, and forces her to live in a cave as his wife.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Boreas Bring Snow?
It isn’t wise to attract Boreas’s attention. His rage is infamous, and any snow he happens to carry on his winds would be unusable because it would be too dangerous to go outside and face his wrath.
3. Cailleach Bheur: Scottish Gaelic Personification Of Winter
Cailleach Bheur is born a blue-faced hag at the start of every November. As the months slowly approach spring, she gradually becomes younger and acquires beauty, Ã la Benjamin Button. By the time she reaches the 1st of May, she is beautiful and full of youth. Then, she dies, only to be reborn the following winter.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Cailleach Bheaur Bring Snow?
Cailleach Bheaur’s status as a goddess is up for debate, but there is no denying her power to bring snow and cold. Thus, if you want to attract her to your neck of the woods, it is said she is very fond of blue.
4. Chione (Khione): Greek Goddess Of Snow
Chione (Khione) is Boreas and Orithyia’s daughter and is a goddess of snow and mountain gales. (She is not to be confused with the daughter of Daedlion, who Hermes rapes.) She is famously known for having Poseidon’s baby, Eumpolpus, and tossing the child into the sea. Poseidon rescues the infant and decides it would be best to raise the child himself.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Chione Bring Snow?
Asking Chione for snow accompanied by a worthy sacrifice is a better bet to get powdered slopes than pleading with her father. She does know how to make it rather than try to blow it over to you. However, don’t get too demanding; she’s been known to have a temper.
5. Gohone: Iroquois Personification Of Winter
Gohone is the personification of winter in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy mythology, referred to as Iroquois by white settlers. Gohone appears as an old man who wanders the forests. He carries a stick that he uses to spread frost and break trees.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Gohone Bring Snow?
Gohone doesn’t appear to directly bring snow. Instead, he covers the land in frost, creating conditions favorable to snow. Thus, he might not be your most direct route to obtaining fluffy white slopes.
6. Heikki Lunta: Finnish-American Snow God
Heikki Lunta, Finnish for Henry Snow, is a modern god conceived as a marketing stunt by Michigan resident David Riutta in 1970. Atlantic Mine’s Range Snowmobile Club was holding a snowmobile race. But, alas, there was no snow, and none looked to be coming.
Hence Riutta’s invention of a Finnish god the Finns had never heard of came complete with a catchy guitar ditty he played on the radio. Riutta even added dance moves to encourage the god to bless them with the white stuff.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Heikki Lunta Bring Snow?
Heikki Lunta brought snow. Legend has it that he blessed them so much the snowmobile had to be canceled due to too much. However, others dispute this, claiming the event did take place. But Heikki Lunta’s overexuberance with snow became so notorious there is now a 1987 follow-up song titled “Heikki Lunta, Go Away.”
7. Itztlacoliuhqui: Aztec God Of Frost
Itztlacoliuhqui, meaning “Curved Obsidian,” was the Aztec god of frost, ice, winter, sin, and human misery. His name refers to his lack of face, which is represented curved blade of obsidian.
He is not a cheerful fellow, as he was once the Lord of the Dawn, represented by Venus, who tried to shoot an arrow at the sun during a dispute. The action didn’t go as planned, and he transformed into a cold, hard, essentially lifeless being.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Itztlacoliuhqui Bring Snow?
Itzlacoliuhqui might bring snow if you asked, but you might not live to see it. As it is, he isn’t a fun god to worship. For example, to appease this god, the Aztecs had to sweep every day for 120 days straight every year, indoors and outside.
8. Khuno: Incan Storm God
Khuno is an ancient god that was either Incan or Pre-Incan. While often called a snow god, he is more of a snow hoarder. He likes snow perfect, devoid of footprints.
Thus, when humans mess up his pristine carpet of snow, he throws a fit of epic proportions, causing a storm full of lightning. It’s said that one temper tantrum had been so bad that by the time Khuno was done, the only thing left for humans to eat was the coca plant.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Khuno Bring Snow?
Attracting Khuno’s attention will make skiing and snowboarding impossible to live through. Nor is it clear if he actually makes the snow. He’s just very, very protective of its aesthetic.
9. Kuraokami: Japanese Dragon Of Rain And Snow
Kuraokami (also called Okami) is a Japanese dragon and Shinto deity. He is one of many to have sprung out from the bloody remains of Kagutsuchi, whom his father killed after the infant killed his mother through his fire (he’s a fire deity).
Kagutsuchi doesn’t stay dead very well. His tendency to reappear causes trouble for Japan. Thus, Kuraokami, with his powers of rain and snow, is supposed to be able to help put out Kagutsuchi’s fire.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Kuraokami Bring Snow?
Unless you live in Japan, given Kuaraokami’s responsibilities at home, it seems rather cruel to try to tempt him to visit your neck of the woods.
10. Jack Frost (Old Man Winter): American Personification Of Winter
Jack Frost (Old Man Winter) is a North American and British legend that sprung from a mythological Norse giant Jokul Frosti. Frosti, like Jack Frost, is the personification of ice and snow. But the Norse version is wicked and violent.
Jack Frost, however, is a playful trickster, much like more charming depictions of Robin Goodfellow. While sometimes referred to as an old man, he is generally represented by an imp, sprite, or a forever-teen boy. He is known for painting fern-like patterns on surfaces such as windows and nipping the tips of people’s fingers and toes.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Jack Frost Bring Snow?
Jack Frost isn’t somebody who can be worshipped. More like the British faeries, he needs to be lured, temped, bribed, or appeased to ask for his favor. Of course, if your suggestion amuses him or he likes your offering, he might produce snow. But it will almost certainly be accompanied by a practical joke at your expense.
11. Nane Sarma (Bibi Barfi): Iranian Grandma Of Winter
Nane Sarma, also known as Old Mother Winter and Bibi Barfi, is from Iranian Folklore. Depending on the tale, she is either married to Norwrooz (Spring), or he is her son. Regardless, she loves him very much but only sees him once a year, if that.
She thrives in the cold, giving her the energy to sing as she works. She prepares for spring’s arrival by planting grains, weaving spring colors, and cleaning the house. But by the time he arrives, she is often fast asleep, utterly exhausted from all her chores. With a gentle kiss on the cheek, he must move on, but not before leaving gifts for her to open once she awakes.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Nane Sarma Bring Snow?
Nane Sarma does bring snow and, unfortunately, sometimes less desirable weather, such as hail, when she accidentally drops something as she toils. But she adores seeing people’s delight, especially children, at her snowflakes. But the poor old woman generally doesn’t respond to specific requests. She has a great deal to do and is trying to get it all done as best she can.
12. Morana (Marzaana): Slavic Goddess Of Winter And Death
Morana, also known as Marzaana, is the Slavic goddess of winter, darkness, death, rebirth, famine, and pestilence. She is not generally thought of in terms of good and bad but as terrifying, ugly, and very old.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Moran Bring Snow?
Morana isn’t someone who is beckoned; instead, she comes bringing both snow and trial. Culturally, the biggest custom surrounding her is to symbolically drown her at the end of winter to make room for spring.
13. Poli’ahu: Hawaiian Snow Goddess
Poli’ahu is a Hawaiian goddess of snow. She is beautiful and used to live on the summit of Mount Kilauea. But her sister Pele, goddess of fire and volcanoes, is prone to jealousy and has exploded in volcanic rage after losing to Poli’ahu in sledding.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Poli’ahu Bring Snow?
Poli’ahu uses her gift of snow lightly, trying not to cause too much trouble with her fiery sister. But if you are a sledder, she is an excellent goddess to have on your side.
14. Skaði: Norse Goddess/Giant Of Skiing & Snowshoes
Skaði is a giant and, depending on the tale, a goddess of skiing, snowshoes, bowhunting, winter, and mountains. After the gods killed her father, she was given the god of the sea, Njörðr, as a husband. But they are not a good match, so she lives in the mountains, and he dwells by the ocean. There is a tale where she marries Odin next.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Skaði Bring Snow?
Skaði is believed to have the power to manipulate the weather, creating icy conditions and snow. While not a mean goddess, she has ramped it up to blizzard when angered, such as after her father’s murder. But folks tend to treat her akin to a patron saint of her sports: skiing, snowshoes, and bowhunting.
15. Tengliu (Teng Liu): The Chinese God(dess) Of Winter
Tengliu (Teng Liu) is a Chinese god or goddess. Tales that have filtered over for Western eyes sometimes have Tengliu as a snow goddess; others say she is the goddess of winter, and then others have him as a god that was once a king that ruled east of the Zhou Dynasty.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Tengliu Bring Snow?
Tales differ as to Tengliu’s motivation for snow. Some say it is a gift to humans to bring beauty to the landscape during winter. Others claim it is to make hunting harder, if not impossible, so her beloved animals can be safe.
16. Ullr: Norse “God” Of Winter Hunting
Ullr is a Norse god and often Westerners’ favorite “snow god,” routinely revered much like a patron saint for skiers. However, deep dives into his myths and legends reveal that he might not actually be a god of snow or skiing.
Like Skaði, he is well known for his hunting prowess. But unlike Skaði, who is often shown on skis or snowshoes, he is often shown to have a shield that is used much like a snowboard. Thus, he might be a better symbol for snowboarders than skiers.
Will Rituals, Prayers, Or Sacrifice To Ullr Bring Snow?
It isn’t clear if Ullr has any power or influence on the elements. But if you are a winter hunting or snowboarding fan, he seems like a god to appeal to for good luck.