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Banshee

Beings · Myth & story · Traditions

An Irish bean sídhe whose wail marks a death. Not a generic ghost and not every keening woman.

Also known as bean sídhe

European folklore

  • Banshee is historically related to Death.

    Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable seats the Banshee as the domestic spirit of certain Irish or Highland Scottish families that wails at the death of one of the family — allowed to pure Milesian stock. A named Banshee in that death-wail speech, not a kelpie, not a selkie, and not a leprechaun.

    from Ebenezer Cobham Brewer · Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 1870 (and later PD editions)

    historically related to · sourced · culturally specific

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