Banshee derives from the word Bean-sidhe, an Irish word meaning woman of the fairy.

She is most commonly viewed as a member of the Fairy race that warns of an upcoming death by her mourning cry, or keening. Some others view her as a ghost that will take revenge on a family if one of its members does her harm, including trying to catch her, or trying to steal the brush that she can sometimes be seen brushing her hair with. It is thought that she will haunt this family for generations.

When the Banshee is seen, she has been described as a woman that is brushing her hair, a face in the window, a woman washing the clothing of the person whose life in this world is ending, or even in other forms such as a crow, or a hare.

It is thought that the Bean-sidhe will voice her cries more commonly than make a personal appearance, and that she will cry for the Irish men and women no matter where they reside in the world, but this point could be debated.

The Banshee is also known in other regions of the world, such a France, Scotland, The Isle of Mann, and Wales to name a few. Although these beings are known by their regional names, they share the similarity of their cries for the soon departed.

It is not wise to try to make contact with the Banshee, she has too often been viewed in a negative light that she remains solitary. If she makes her presence known it may be best just to thank her for her concern.

Do you know of another description of the Banshee? I would love to hear your views!

sources

Curran, Bob.A Field Guide to Irish Fairies, The Appletree Press Ltd, Belfast, 1997.
Dubois, Pierre.The Great Encyclopedia of Faeries, Pavillion Books Limited, 1999.
Matthews, John and Caitlin. The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2005.
Yeats, W. B.. Fairy and Folk Tales of Ireland, Pan Books Ltd, London, 1979.

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Hey,

I rememeber Reading that when we die our spirits travel to the other side. I rememeber reading that snice our physical bodys and the plain of the other side is at a different freacwency (please excuse my spelling) When we die our spirits travel so fast a scream can be heard. Thats my understanding of what a banshee is.

SM

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I had not heared of this until now, very interesting. Thank you for sharing Silvermoon12.

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Scottish banshees are considered to be spirits who will trap men if possible. Also the wail of the banshee is a warning of death or some other catastrophy. Banshees physical appearances are not often described as they are mostly just heard.

Freyja
x

My mother is Irish, she was born in Ballylongford, County Kerry. She came to England in the 1950's. She grew up on a farm which was very isolated, her father used to work in the bogs collecting peat. She has told me many fascinating tales of her childhood and Ireland has a rich history of legend and folklore.

One particular tale she once told me, and she has never spoken of it since, is that one night when she was around 12 years of age she was woken from sleep by a terrible unearthly wailing far away in the distance. She described the sound as a woman crying as if in terrible grief. The sound seemed to come from far away, echoing over the hills and fields, and went on for an hour or more. She said it seemed like an eternity and she was petrified, pulling the covers around her ears and praying for it to end.

My mother comes from a staunch Roman Catholic family, she had ten siblings and shared a room with her sisters Mary, Peggy and Josie who also heard the wailing. Mary has confirmed the tale to me in the past also.

The next day my mothers brother, Buddy was killed in an accident working on the railway. On the only occasion my mother has spoken of what she heard, she told me she was convinced that it was a Banshee foretelling of her brothers death.

Thank you for sharing your story, Mouldy, I found it fascinating. You are the only person (or family) I have ever heard of that has actually heard the Bean-sidhe.
Blessings, Jean

I found quite an interesting link while browsing the net on the topic of the Banshee


http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/vbwi/vbwi08.htm

Mouldy your post is really interesting. I have a Catholic family too and there's a weird sort of folk magic/belief mixed in with their Catholic beliefs. I really like it. This is what started my researches on folklore when I was about 6 years old and opened my eyes to a whole other world. I'm really glad you posted that. . There is a story in my family of my paternal grandfather meeting the 'devil'. It didn't actually scare me, I just wondered if I would get to have an experience like that

Freyja

Thats really interesting Freyja, your families mixture of Catholic and Folklore/superstition as its very much the same in my family, on my mothers side. I remember as a little girl hearing my mother say things like "Oh look at the moon, its a Hare-moon tonight". I had no idea what she meant at that time. She is often very fond of throwing Salt over her left shoulder, to ward off the Devil and my Grandmother was extremely superstitious. My mother tells me that she is decended from a long line of Gypsies, so I guess thats where it stems from.

I've pressed her many times to recall the story of her experience with the "Banshee", but she refuses to do so, saying "I should never have told you in the first place "I have to admit that even typing the post last night gave me a rather uneasy feeling for some reason. I had a few goosebumps myself.

Doe your Mum know about your Pagan path? She might be a bit more forthcoming with her info if she did. In saying that maybe not as you'll always be her baby boy .

My family are from Ireland, maybe there's some Gypsy in me somewhere, I don't know. I grew up hearing about a lot of bits of wisdom too. I love them!

Freyja

I haven't told her, although I have dropped hints here and there. And its baby girl Freyja

Although not so much 'baby' anymore

Mouldy, thanks you so much for the story and for the link!

I had never heared a personal account of the Banshee either until now. My Dad's side of the family are of Irish decent, and my Mother's side are of Scotish descent. These stories and many others have held my attention for years!

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Sorry Mouldy, why do I asume everyone is male? . You'll always be her baby though

Here's the Banshee I'm familiar with. Since I come from a Mexican background, my parents being born there, I heard this story from my entire family. My unlce claims to have seen her floating on a raft crying for her children.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Llorona

Hi there,

I noticed that you have posted as a guest. Have you though about registering for the forum?

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