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A banshee (/ ˈ b æ n ʃ iː / BAN-shee; Modern Irish bean sí, from Old Irish: ben síde [bʲen ˈʃiːðʲe], "woman of the fairy mound" or "fairy woman") is a female spirit in Irish folklore who heralds the death of a family member, [1] usually by screaming, wailing, shrieking, or keening.
Mar 27, 2023 · The banshee acts as a warning of death in a family. According to Irish folklore, the banshee is said to be heard wailing mournfully or singing a lament (referred to as “keening”) when someone in the family is either about to die or has already died. This can occur even when the death happens far away, and news has not yet reached the family.
Banshee, (“woman of the fairies”) supernatural being in Irish and other Celtic folklore whose mournful “keening,” or wailing screaming or lamentation, at night was believed to foretell the death of a member of the family of the person who heard the spirit. In Ireland banshees were believed to warn.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Dec 1, 2023 · In Irish folklore, the primary role of a banshee is to serve as a messenger from the otherworld, alerting families of an impending death. This role underlines the banshee's connection to the supernatural realm and the natural cycle of life and death.
Jun 21, 2024 · A banshee is a supernatural being from Gaelic (a.k.a. Goidelic) Celtic folklore that takes the form of a shrieking—or sometimes singing—woman. Often associated with particular families, banshees warn of the impending death of someone in a household.
Dec 7, 2023 · The Irish banshee has been documented since the Middle Ages, over 1000 years ago. Banshee translates to Bean Sidhe in Irish, meaning fairy woman. Irish banshees are connected to the mythologically significant tumuli, a type of burial ground that rises up from the earth into a mound.
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Dec 13, 2015 · The banshee was a harbinger of death in Irish folklore. Although the alleged physical appearance of these spirits varied widely, their purpose was the same throughout Ireland. Originally spelled bean sidhe , the fairy-like creature often manifests itself in the body of a female with either flowing red hair and pale skin or as an old woman with ...