Banshees by Sasha Slaughter

This weeks topic...Banshees. I personally don't know very much about them, but I definitley find them fascinating. I recently watched Scream of the Banshee on the Syfy channel, and it made me want to learn more about the mythology of the Banshee. The Banshee originated from Irish mythology and was often referred to as the Omen of death, Messenger of the Underworld, female fairy, Woman of peace, Lady of death, the Angel of death, the White Lady of Sorrow, and the Spirit of the air.

It is said that Banshees could foretell death. They usually only appeared to certain Irish families when one of its members was about to die. The Banshees were often reported haunting five specific Gaelic families. They were the O'Gradys, the O'Neils, the O'Briens, the O'Connors and the Kavanaghs. The Banshees mournful cry was usually on heard during the night and mostly from wooded areas.

The Banshee also appeared in many different forms. Sometimes she appeared as a beauitful seductress, or an ugly, frightening old hag. The hag may also appear as a "washer woman" who is said to be seen washing the blood stained clothes or armor of those about to die. And in some stories the Banshee was said to appear as certain animals such as the hooded crow, stote, hare, and weasel- all animals associated with Irish witchcraft.

Accounts of Banshee sightings date back as far as 1380 and have been seen as recently as 1948. They are often seen dressed in white or grey, often having long, pale hair which they brush with a silver comb that if seen, is not be to be picked up or the Banshee that placed it there to lure unsuspecting humans will kill the person who picks up the comb.

The Banshee is also mentioned in Amercian Folklore. The most prevalent American Banshee story comes from Tar River in Edgecomb County, North Carolina. Although the Banshee in that story is often described as a ghoul, as opposed to a sign of death or misfortune. If you ever decide to see for yourself if the Banshee truly does exist, you may just hear the haunting song, or the frightening wails of a Banshee. But, be warned, for she fortells only of death.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KXu4ZicOFI
  The link is a movie trailer of Vincent Price in Cry of the Banshee.