Banshee - interesting facts

In legends, the Banshee is described in different ways, only the characteristic sign of its presence is preserved - a mournful crying. If a person has heard the sobbing of this spirit - to be in the family of the deceased. There is a version, supposedly this spirit leads to suicide and hunts the sick, but most researchers believe that this creature is a guard of ancient families.

Banshee - who is this?

The Banshee is a creature from the tales of the Irish, described as a lady who appears near the house of a man who will soon die. Her presence is indicated by characteristic sobbing. This name in translation means "woman from the sidi" - a different world, although in some lands of Ireland this spirit is called otherwise: boshent, bib and bau. On the essence of the banshee several versions are put forward:

1. Fairy. Such a description is found in the literature of Ireland of the 19th century.
2. Ghost. The spirit of the mourner, who during her lifetime did not fulfill her duties well.
3. Patroness of the family.
4. A washerwoman who always washed the bloody clothes of the dead.
5. Demon from the afterlife.

The descriptions of the banshees in legends differ, the only common feature is the cry and crying, from which supposedly even glass can break. This spirit is found in the image:

• a beautiful woman with long, golden curls, in a light raincoat or a dress;
• An old woman with a gray or purple hue, her hair clad in a gray cloak or shroud;
• a hare, a caress or a crow.

Banshee is a legend

The history of the banshee is narrated: her ancestors were the tribes of the goddess Danu. When she lost in the battle of the gods, these people settled in the hills, they were called sideways. And some decided to find a dwelling at the top and began to nail to the houses of ancient families. There are several legends about brave men who could survive after such a meeting:

1. A man in the darkness saw a banshee in the image of an old woman and decided to mock the beggar. In revenge, she left a trace of her fingers on his hand.
2. The Irishman found a spirit-washerwoman at work and ordered to wash his shirt, for which she almost strangled the insolent collar.
3. The poor farmer met the Banshee late in the evening and took the comb from her. Then she came for the selected and ordered to return.

Banshee abilities

Banshee is a mystical being with unusual abilities:

1. Scream. Audible only to those to whom the banshee came, this cry is so terrible that a person starts to bleed from the ears and nose. According to one of the legends, the Banshee is a spirit leading to suicide, the victim begins to beat his head against the wall to stop the painful cry, and breaks his head. Other legends mention that the moaning is supposed to resemble the howling of a dog or a wolf and the crying of a child, and testify to the close death of family members.
2. The ability to hide. Spirits have the gift of being invisible, thanks to black clothes or fog.
3. Invulnerability. Destroy the banshees in the power of only knives or bullets of gold, a spell really only stop the spirit at the time.
4. The ability to fly and hang over the ground.
5. The ability to move things by force of thought .

How did the Banshee die?

About how the Banshees looked to death, there are 2 legends:

1. A young Banshee girl from a noble family who ventured to climb into a secret magical move and lost her mind. After that, she mutilated her face with a knife and asked the sky for a curse for her own soul. The higher forces fulfilled her request and turned him into an eternal dead man, a spirit that weeps for death about.
2. A little girl that parents left in the forest to die. The baby turned into a spirit, crying for her family. In revenge, she destroyed the souls not only of her relatives, but also her fellow villagers. And then she began to wander around the world.

How to call a banshee?

Rituals, how to call a banshee, is not preserved, because it is believed that this spirit is not subject to any forces and is itself, at own choice and desire. The only sound that, according to the legends of the Irish, can attract this creature, is the music of the funeral rites of this country. Residents believe that it came from the voice of this ghost. To cause such a spirit no one would like, since meeting with him portends death to a living person.

Facts about the banshee

The image of this spirit in recent times is often used by filmmakers and authors, the film "Curse of the Banshee" has gained popularity. Although the whole truth about the Banshee is still not known, the history has preserved several cases when eyewitnesses confirmed contact with this spirit:

1. Memories dating from the 17th century. While staying with Lady Honor O'Brien, Lady Fensheyw saw a lady in white at the window, who was talking quietly at night. Then the stranger disappeared, and in the morning the guest found out about the death of the owner of the house.
2. In 1979, the Englishwoman Irene heard a terrible howl in the bedroom at night. And in the morning she was informed of her mother's death.
3. American businessman James O'Barry, originally from Ireland, heard the scream of a banshee twice. For the first time - a boy when his grandfather died. Secondary - a young man, when he served in the army, then his father died.
4. The Irishman O'Neill heard the scream of this spirit when his sister died. Later, when the mother left his life, he again recognized the same howl and even managed to record the sound on the tape recorder.