![]() ![]() Not all banshee stories describe an eerie, unsettled creature, however. This may explain how the banshee is also said to assume different manifestations. Furthermore, the Celts of old believed that Mórrígan was a shapeshifter who could take on different forms. She embodied a trio of sisters named Badb, Macha, and Anand – each who represented a distinct aspect of the goddess. Just as Christians have the Holy Trinity that includes the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit, the Celts saw a trinity in Mórrígan. According to one legend, Mórrígan was present at the death of Cú Chulainn, the mighty son of the Celtic gods. She was the ancient Celtic goddess of war and fate and was said to fly over battlefields helping the warriors she favored. Manifestations of the Banshee Mórrígan, the Phantom Queen Morrigan by Saina Vecerek, Sainarcana.Īnother possible origin of the banshee legend is the story of Mórrígan, also known as Morrígu or the Phantom Queen. Some believed the keeners themselves would become banshees in the afterlife, roaming the Earth as eternal lost souls. The wailing women were known as “keeners.” They were often looked down upon because they tended to like their payment in alcohol. The Celts of old believed this wailing could help the deceased cross-over to the afterlife. In those times, local women might be paid to cry or mourn the dead. The earliest known legends of the banshee date back to the Celtic world of the 8th century. (However, it should be noted that seeing the banshee is a sign of your own impending demise…) Banshee Origins In fact, according to Scottish legends, hearing the banshee means there will be a death in one’s family. Known as a loud wailing that can be heard for miles, the banshee’s scream is the unmistakable sound of pain and heartache turning into bloodthirsty revenge. While seeing a banshee can have an indelible effect on one’s mind, it’s the sound of the banshee that is her most disturbing trait. Is able to shapeshift into different manifestations.Always appears as a woman or in the form of feminine energy.Whether beautiful or hideous, most legends concur on a few aspects of the banshee, including that she: It should be noted that all of these animals have been associated with witchcraft in Celtic mythology. Some claim to have seen the banshee in animal form, such as that of a hooded crow, a stoat, a hare, a weasel, or a black dog. To look into her eyes is to welcome death – or so we are told. According to the legend, she stands at the foot of the bed at night, brushing her long locks all the while wailing grievously with a vacant and sorrowful expression. But more than that – she is terrifying, with unnaturally long nails and eyes the color of blood. Those who live in the west of Ireland claim the banshee is a white-haired woman. Still others claim she takes on the form of a bewildered and ancient hag. They profess that she is a radiant and fair-haired fairy who carries a silver comb with which to brush her long, glistening hair. Some say she appears as a buoyant and beautiful spirit. The banshee’s form is a well-disputed matter by those who claim to have seen her. Whether you view that as something positive or negative is up to you! But the banshee is not a “reaper of souls.” 2 What does the banshee look like? The banshee is an entity who warns that death is near. If the banshee calls before someone dies, is she like the Grim Reaper? In short, the answer is no. ![]() Indeed, the banshee is said to forewarn the death of a family member with her otherworldly screech. Though not everyone can see or hear the banshee, those who do certainly never forget. She is known to appear or be heard shortly before the death of a member of certain families and their descendants, which we’ll get into in more detail below. The banshee is said to be the ancient spirit of a fairy woman. As the legends go, the fairies have been hiding in the forts and forests of Gaelic lands ever since they were invaded by the Vikings in the 700s. It’s commonly believed that the banshee is a member of the fairy folk, or Tuath de Danaan. The word banshee ( bean sí or bean sídh in Irish and ban sith in Scots Gaelic) translates to “woman of the fairies.” The Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology describes the banshee as a “ female wraith of Irish and Scottish Gaelic tradition thought to be able to foretell but not necessarily cause death in a household.” 1 ![]()
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