(Created page with "thumb The '''banshee''' ( [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English /][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English#Key <s...") |
No edit summary |
||
Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
{| class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" |
{| class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" |
||
| class="mbox-image"| |
| class="mbox-image"| |
||
− | | class="mbox-text"|This section '''needs |
+ | | class="mbox-text"|This section '''needs '''urced material may be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Citation_needed challenged] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence removed]. ''(July 2011)'' |
|} |
|} |
||
− | The story of the ''banshee'' began as a fairy woman [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keening keening] at the death of important personages.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Az_5-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-Az-5 [6]]</sup> In later stories, the appearance of the |
+ | The story of the ''banshee'' began as a fairy woman [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keening keening] at the death of important personages.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Az_5-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-Az-5 [6]]</sup> In later stories, the appearance of the ban the West Highlands of Scotland.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Az_5-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-Az-5 [6]]</sup> |
− | The banshee can appear in a variety of guises. Most often she appears as an ugly, frightening hag, but she can also appear as a |
+ | The banshee can appear in a variety of guises. Most often she appears as an ugly, frightening hag, but she can also appear as a stualed to be the Irish battle goddess, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Morr%C3%ADgan the Morrígan]. |
− | Although not always seen, her mourning call is heard, usually at night when someone is about to die and usually around |
+ | Although not always seen, her mourning call is heard, usually at night when someone is about to die and usually around woodees attending the great houses of Ireland and the courts of local Irish kings. |
− | In some parts of Leinster, she is referred to as the ''bean chaointe'' (keening woman) whose wail can be |
+ | In some parts of Leinster, she is referred to as the ''bean chaointe'' (keening woman) whose wail can be in the southwest of Ireland, her keen is experienced as a "low, pleasant singing"; in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Tyrone Tyrone] in the north, as "the sound of two boards being struck together"; and on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathlin_Island Rathlin Island] as "a thin, screeching sound somh as that of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_crow hooded crow], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoat stoat], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare hare] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel weasel] - animals associated in Ireland with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft witchcraft]. |
− | |||
− | The banshee may also appear in a variety of other forms, such as that of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_crow hooded crow], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoat stoat], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare hare] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel weasel] - animals associated in Ireland with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft witchcraft]. |
||
==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Banshee&action=edit§ion=2 edit]] History and mythology== |
==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Banshee&action=edit§ion=2 edit]] History and mythology== |
||
{| class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" |
{| class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" |
||
Line 35: | Line 33: | ||
| class="mbox-text"|This section '''needs additional [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#Inline_citations citations] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability verification]'''. Please help [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Banshee&action=edit improve this article] by adding citations to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Identifying_reliable_sources reliable sources]. Unsourced material may be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Citation_needed challenged] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence removed]. ''(August 2011)'' |
| class="mbox-text"|This section '''needs additional [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#Inline_citations citations] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability verification]'''. Please help [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Banshee&action=edit improve this article] by adding citations to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Identifying_reliable_sources reliable sources]. Unsourced material may be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Citation_needed challenged] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence removed]. ''(August 2011)'' |
||
|} |
|} |
||
− | In legend, a |
+ | In legend, a bahem, and whose cries herald the death of a member of that family. The most common surname attached to the banshee was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_(surname) Mac].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-book_6-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-book-6 [7]]</sup> They were also associated with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Airlie_(surname)&action=edit&redlink=1 Airlie] clan.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Az_5-2">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-Az-5 [6]]</sup> Accounts of banshees go bacl at the crowning of the true king. Such a cry was reported to be heard at the crowning of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Boru Brian Boru]. |
+ | Traditionanews of their death had not yet come, so that the wailing of the banshee was the first warning the household had of the death. |
||
− | Traditionally, when a person died a woman would sing a lament (in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_language Irish]: ''caoineadh'', [ˈkɰiːnʲə] or [ˈkiːnʲuː], ''"caoin"'' meaning "to weep, to wail") at the funeral. These women are sometimes referred to as "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keening keeners]" and the best keeners would be in much demand. Legend has it that for five great Gaelic families — the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Grady_(surname) O'Gradys], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Neill_dynasty O'Neills], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93_Briain Ó Briains], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%C3%93_Conchobhair&action=edit&redlink=1 Ó Conchobhairs], and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caomh%C3%A1nach_(surname)&action=edit&redlink=1 Caomhánachs] — the lament would be sung by a fairy woman; having foresight, she would sing the lament when a family member died, even if the person had died far away and news of their death had not yet come, so that the wailing of the banshee was the first warning the household had of the death. |
||
The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93_Briain Ó Briains]' banshee was thought to have the name of [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eevul&action=edit&redlink=1 Eevul], and was ruler of 25 other banshees who would always be at her attendance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lore_7-2">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-lore-7 [8]]</sup> It is thought that from this myth comes the idea that the wailing of numerous banshees signifies the death of a great person.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lore_7-3">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-lore-7 [8]]</sup> |
The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93_Briain Ó Briains]' banshee was thought to have the name of [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eevul&action=edit&redlink=1 Eevul], and was ruler of 25 other banshees who would always be at her attendance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lore_7-2">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-lore-7 [8]]</sup> It is thought that from this myth comes the idea that the wailing of numerous banshees signifies the death of a great person.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lore_7-3">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-lore-7 [8]]</sup> |
||
− | In later versions, the banshee might appear before the death and warn the family by wailing.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-8 [9]]</sup> When several banshees |
+ | In later versions, the banshee might appear before the death and warn the family by wailing.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-8 [9]]</sup> When several banshees asuspecting humans, will spirit such gullible humans away. Other stories portray banshees as dressed in green, red, grey cloak.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-book_6-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-book-6 [7]]</sup> |
− | |||
− | Banshees are frequently described as dressed in white or grey, often having long, pale hair which they brush with a silver comb, a detail scholar Patricia Lysaght attributes to confusion with local [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaid mermaid] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology myths]. This comb detail is also related to the centuries-old traditional romantic Irish story that, if you ever see a comb lying on the ground in Ireland, you must never pick it up, or the banshees (or mermaids — stories vary), having placed it there to lure unsuspecting humans, will spirit such gullible humans away. Other stories portray banshees as dressed in green, red, or black with a grey cloak.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-book_6-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-book-6 [7]]</sup> |
||
==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Banshee&action=edit§ion=3 edit]] American folklore== |
==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Banshee&action=edit§ion=3 edit]] American folklore== |
||
+ | Stories of banshees |
||
− | Stories of banshees can also be found in America in the late 18th century.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-book_6-2">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-book-6 [7]]</sup> The most prevalent of the American stories comes from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar_River Tar River] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgecombe_County Edgecombe County], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina North Carolina]. However, in this variation of the story, the banshee is simply a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoul ghoul], as opposed to a sign of misfortune.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-book_6-3">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-book-6 [7]]</sup> |
||
− | |||
− | In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badlands_National_Park badlands] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota South Dakota], a banshee is said to wail upon a hill near Watch Dog Butte. Like other American tales of banshees, this legend does not connect her to any particular death (aside, perhaps, from her own).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-11 [12]]</sup> |
||
==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Banshee&action=edit§ion=4 edit]] Celtic cultures== |
==[[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Banshee&action=edit§ion=4 edit]] Celtic cultures== |
||
− | In Scottish Mythology a |
+ | In Scottish Mythology a similittle washer at the ford). |
− | In |
+ | In Welore, a similnown as th[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hag_of_the_mist the mist].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee#cite_note-12 [13]]</sup> |
Revision as of 18:52, 14 May 2014
The banshee ( /ˈbænʃiː/ BAN-shee), from the Irish bean sí [bʲæn ˈʃiː] ("woman of the sídhe" or "woman of the fairy mounds") is a feminine spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld.
In legend, a banshee is a fairy woman who begins to wail if someone is about to die. In Scottish mythology the creature is called the bean sìth or bean-nighe and is seen washing the blood stained clothes or armour of those who are about to die. Alleged sightings of banshees have been reported as recently as 1948.[1] Similar creatures are also found in Welsh,[2] Norse[3][4] [5] and American folklore, such as aos sí ("tumulus folk").
Contents[hide] *1 Overview |
[edit] Overview
This section needs urced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2011) |
The story of the banshee began as a fairy woman keening at the death of important personages.[6] In later stories, the appearance of the ban the West Highlands of Scotland.[6]
The banshee can appear in a variety of guises. Most often she appears as an ugly, frightening hag, but she can also appear as a stualed to be the Irish battle goddess, the Morrígan.
Although not always seen, her mourning call is heard, usually at night when someone is about to die and usually around woodees attending the great houses of Ireland and the courts of local Irish kings.
In some parts of Leinster, she is referred to as the bean chaointe (keening woman) whose wail can be in the southwest of Ireland, her keen is experienced as a "low, pleasant singing"; in Tyrone in the north, as "the sound of two boards being struck together"; and on Rathlin Island as "a thin, screeching sound somh as that of a hooded crow, stoat, hare and weasel - animals associated in Ireland with witchcraft.
[edit] History and mythology
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2011) |
In legend, a bahem, and whose cries herald the death of a member of that family. The most common surname attached to the banshee was Mac.[7] They were also associated with the Airlie clan.[6] Accounts of banshees go bacl at the crowning of the true king. Such a cry was reported to be heard at the crowning of Brian Boru.
Traditionanews of their death had not yet come, so that the wailing of the banshee was the first warning the household had of the death.
The Ó Briains' banshee was thought to have the name of Eevul, and was ruler of 25 other banshees who would always be at her attendance.[8] It is thought that from this myth comes the idea that the wailing of numerous banshees signifies the death of a great person.[8]
In later versions, the banshee might appear before the death and warn the family by wailing.[9] When several banshees asuspecting humans, will spirit such gullible humans away. Other stories portray banshees as dressed in green, red, grey cloak.[7]
[edit] American folklore
Stories of banshees
[edit] Celtic cultures
In Scottish Mythology a similittle washer at the ford).