Legend of the Banshee
| File:Banshee.jpg | |
| Country | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Legend |
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A Banshee is a ghost or a fairy in Irish legend. The Banshee is usually described as an ugly elderly woman dressed in white or grey with long silver hair, who occasionally takes the form of a crow, stoat, hare (or weasel). Banshees are spirits usually associated with a particular family. Moreover, the Banshee appears to people who are about to suffer a violent and painful death and her scream is believed to be an omen of death.[1] The scream is also called "Caoine" which means "Keening" and is a warning that there will be an imminent death in the family. More descriptions of the Banshee are as "The Lady of Death", "The Woman of Peace", "The Woman of Sorrow", "The White Lady of Sorrow", "The Nymph of the Air", or "The Spirit in the Air".[2]
Etymology
Banshee is an Anglicization of the Irish bean sídhe or bean sí, which means "female of the Elves" in English from bean “woman”, and sidhe is a genitive case of "fairy." Specifically, one who calls to the spirits of the dead and a fairy woman who begins to wail if someone is about to die. Sidhe sometimes is confused with sithe that is the genitive of sith "peace." Furthermore, she is known as the bean sìth or bean nighe and is seen washing the bloodstained clothes or armor of those who are about to die in Scottish Gaelic mythology. Banshee sightings were reported as recently as 1948. Similar beings can also be found in Welsh, Norse, and American folklore.[3]
Origins
Banshee was a fairy woman and a spirit linked to the realm of the dead. The Banshee of Ireland is a well-known figure in Irish folklore, with roots in a spirited and lively Gaelic imagination. Some characters are amusing, while others are grotesque or fantastical. The strange wailing Banshee creature is at the top of the second category.[4] The name of Banshee is derived from the old Irish for "woman of the fairy mound". Her name is connected to the various mounds of earth dotted around the Irish countryside known as tumuli. These tumuli traditionally covered some graves and were said to be home to spirits of the dead. These women were referred to as "Keeners" and since they accepted alcohol as payment, they were considered sinners who would be cursed to become Banshees.[5] The Banshee trait is known to be inherited by the females of a bloodline. It has been implied that their supernatural powers will be activated upon reaching adulthood. Originally, the Banshee would appear to people who were about to die violently and painfully, such as murder. In later legends, she wailed outside their door at night but she was rarely seen. Detractors and optimists argue that the wails are simply barn owls or vixens calling in the night and that the myth is nothing more than an old wives' tale.[6] She is known in Ireland by many names, such as Hag of the Mist, Little Washer Woman, and Hag of the Black Head. Based on Irish legend, Banshees are evil creatures derived from the fairy family. It is not surprising people are afraid of Banshees rather than seeing her as a good form.[7]
Types of Banshee
The Good Banshee
In the good Banshees appear as beautiful enchanting women who sing a sorrowful song filled with concern and love for their families as depicted in the banshee. Moreover, her song or wailing is a low soft chant with a gentleness of tone to reassure the person and their family as they go on their final journey to join their ancestors in the afterlife.[4]
The Bad Banshee
In the bad Banshees are represented as "the scream of a fiend, screaming with demoniac pleasure over the impending death-agony of anyone of her enemies," as well as angry and insane spirits who seem to actively curse a person or their family. Those myths extensively portray Banshee as the prime cause of facing tragedy. Banshees can transform from child to adult, and they generally use beauty to entice humans to become victims.[4]
Hidden Knowledge
Many centuries ago, belief in Banshees was more widespread in Ireland and to be a disbeliever was said to be blasphemous. The legend of the Banshee falls into the myth and superstition category or is called a woman that has seer power.[7] An interesting parallel can be drawn between the Banshee’s scream and the high-pitched screeches of some animals native to Ireland such as foxes, crows, and rabbits. In many cases, both kids and adults would mistake a particularly loud animal scream for that of a banshee and would flee in terror from something as harmless as a rabbit. This is even more curious once we factor in that some myths portrayed Banshees as capable shapeshifters who could also take the form of a crow or a weasel.[2] Many sources on Irish fairy tales state that Banshees were particularly associated with families whose names began with Ó or Mac. According to mythology, she could only cry for five great families: the O'Neills, O'Briens, O'Connors, O'Gradys, and Kavanaghs. The Banshee followed these great families for two opposing reasons that some believe she did so only to bring sorrow on them with her continual weeping, while others believe she was a friend of the family who was truly saddened at the loss of someone they loved.[6]
Other Legends
Other Irish mythology stories relating to the Banshee believe that she is the ghost of a young girl who suffered a brutal murder. Her spirit remains to warn family members that violent death is imminent. This Banshee is said to resemble an elderly woman with decaying teeth and long fingernails. She is dressed in rags and has blood-red eyes that are so filled with hatred that gazing into them will cause immediate death. This Banshee’s mouth is always open as her piercing scream torments the souls of the living.[5] The sound of a banshee replicates a starving sound and has become a sign to people to emphasize belief in Banshees. There have been reported cases where the Banshee cried for a person who was in perfect health but died within a week due to a bizarre accident. The majority of her visits are paid at night, with only a handful paid at noon. The Banshee was originally supposed to be a regular woman who enjoyed life, was extraordinarily beautiful, and radiated happiness, but profound grief overpowered her at some point in her life, and she became a haggard old woman. She appeared to be sick of mortals and would flee at the first indication of human activity. In fact, she did not appear to relish the company of anyone, mortal or otherwise, and traveled on its own as a fairy.[6]
According to some tales, there are evil Banshees that derive pleasure from taking a life and they actively seek out their victims and wail at them to the point where the person commits suicide or goes insane. There are even Banshees that can tear people to shreds. A folklore origin in Ireland said the banshee leaves these combs on the ground hoping the human will grab it up. If a human does, a banshee will appear and take their soul away.[8] Witnesses reported hearing a fluttering sound similar to birds flying as the Banshee went from location to location. When she vanished, all that was left behind was a cloud of mist. There are several purported "Banshee Chairs" in Ireland, wedge-shaped rocks where she would sit and mourn for general sorrows. In addition, legend has it that when a family emigrated after assuming there was no death to take care of, the Banshee would accompany them or if she did not, she would remain at the family's seat and lament their departure.[6]
Banshee in Other Countries
There are also stories of similar creatures in Scottish, Norse, and American folklore.[4] For example, an Irish seer went to see King James I of Scotland in 1437 to tell the King that he would be murdered by one of his earls. After the King died, it occurred to the people that this seer may have been a banshee. Other records indicate other prophets (or Banshees) would appear to the royalty and foretell the deaths of other important people. The Banshee tradition expresses many concerns related to views toward life and death, and changes in such attitudes over time are reflected in changing ideas about the Banshee's presence and activity.[9] Her cry appears to be a source of debate in Leinster, it is believed to be so shrill that it shatters glass. She sounds more like two boards being struck together further north in Tyrone. Some report hearing her cry several nights in a row before the death, while others say they only heard her once on the night of the death. Therefore, her cry rises and dips for at least a few minutes of varying intensity.[6]
References
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- ↑ Walsh, Michael (June 29, 2020). The Banshee Calls In Jim Henson’s. Gabriel Hernandez. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 O'Donnell, Elliot (July 26, 2017). The Banshee: A Ghost Hunter's Investigation. VAMzzz Publishing. Search this book on
- ↑ "Etymology of the Word Banshee". educalingo. November 26, 2018. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Banshee of Ireland - Mystery and History". Gaelicmatters. May 5, 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 Forsyth, Steven (June 12, 2021). "Legend of the banshee". Celtic Mythology. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Ireland's Best Known Spirit – The Banshee". Claddagh Design. March 12, 2018. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Banshees: The Frightening Women of Irish Folklore - Celtic Mythology". See U in History/ Mythology channel. January 4, 2021. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Banshees". Ally Pennell. April 5, 2015. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Lysaght, Patricia (July 1, 1997). The Banshee: The Irish Death Messenger. Roberts Rinehart. Search this book on
