The Banshee

The name Banshee comes from Bean-Sidhe and means literally "Fairy Woman". She is one of the Gaelic / Celtic faery folk, the sidhe, and is especially associated with Ireland and to a lesser extent Scotland. She occurs frequently in Celtic folklore and mythology.

Banshee
Frazetta, Frank
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The banshee also been called Bean Chaointe, "Woman Keener". This is a reference to the "keeners" who used to sing at funerals.

What Is A Banshee?

The banshee is a solitary, female figure known for her song - in latter times described as a wail. She is also sometimes known as the "White Lady" and is usually described as pale skinned with long hair and wearing grey or green. Her eyes are red with the centuries of crying; or, in some tales, with anger. She is often ethereal.

She is associated with death, funerals and mourning and has been called the "Death Messenger" or the "Lady of Death".

Initially the banshee would appear to mourn the dead. As time went on, the tales changed so that she began to fortell death. In some stories she would make an appearance when someone was on their death bed. In others her appearance or wail would foretell an unexpected death or disaster.

To hear more than one banshee singing at a time is very rare and is said to indicate the death of a great person.

The banshee is often associated with a particular family and many families have their own personal banshee, their link to the spirit world. Usually these were seen as friends of the family. In some folk tales they were the opposite, possibly the spirits of old enemies.

It is sometimes said that the banshee appears only to those of noble stock. This is often said by those who consider themselves to be of noble stock.

Over the years the legend of the banshee appears to have changed. What was initially a fairy tribute to a family member has become more of a bad omen to be feared.

It's a mark of the popularity of the banshee legend that she has appeared in everything from the X-Men comics through assorted video games to Terry Pratchett's Discworld. You can even buy a banana banshee cocktail!

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