Banshee
Fairy mounds are another name for the ancient, sometimes treasure-filled burial mounds that stud Europe and Asia, also known as barrows, kurgans, or, in Irish, sidhe. The spirits called sidhe are simultaneously Fairies and spirits of death and the Otherworld. No Fairy is more associated with death than the Banshee.
Banshee is the anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic bean sidhe, literally “Fairy Woman” or “Woman of the Fairy Mound.” Banshees have become horror entertainment staples. The phrase “scream like a Banshee” has entered the modern lexicon. In Hollywood’s version of the Banshee, hearing her voice causes death. This is unfair: the Banshee doesn’t kill or injure anyone, nor will she scream for just anyone. Individual Banshees are attached to very specific families, typically old, elegant Irish families.
The Banshee is the family’s personal escort to the realm of the dead. She does not kill but awaits death and mourns. Should a member of her family be about to die (for any reason; it could be a natural death of someone aged 102), she manifests and audibly keens, the traditional Celtic mourning wail. Obviously, she is a dreaded guest: her presence, typically visible and audible, indicates imminent death.
Although most closely associated with Ireland, Banshees are not exclusive to the Emerald Isle. They’re also native to the Scottish Highlands, Brittany, and Wales.
MANIFESTATIONS:
The Banshee’s many forms include:
• An old woman dressed in green with glowing red eyes and long, wild, white hair
• A deathly pale woman dressed in white with long, wild red hair
• A beautiful woman, veiled in white
• A shimmery, silvery woman with long, beautifully abundant silver-grey hair
• A headless woman, naked from the waist up
ALSO KNOWN AS:
Bean Sidhe
ORIGIN:
Ireland
CLASSIFICATION:
Sidhe
ATTRIBUTE:
A basin of blood
SEE ALSO:
- Baobhan Sith
- Caointeach
- Cyhyraeth
- Nemhain
- Psychopomps
- Sidhe
- White Lady
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.