Supernatural in Focus with Cels: Banshees

We have all heard the saying “screaming like a Banshee”. I must admit I have had the horror of being tagged as the said Banshee once or twice, and have known a few that perhaps deserve the title. What is a Banshee though? And why was she screaming in the first place?

Two main schools of thought leap to the forefront. First is from the realm of English Folklore and surrounds the tale of arguably the most famous Banshee of them all- Black Annis. The English believed Banshees were an extreme form of nature-worshiping witch. Black Annis, in particular, was said to have been extremely fond of children—unfortunately as food.

Protectors of ancient sacred spaces and guardians of the untapped magic that lay in the area, Banshees would let out a terrifying scream to keep us pesky humans out of the way. It was also believed that even thinking of her could cause permanent madness. Whether or not poor old Annis deserved her horrid reputation, who can truly know; but she has certainly earned a solid place in mythical history.

(Smallville's Silver Banshee)

Now the Irish, on the other hand, were a lot kinder. Belonging to the Irish “Bean Sid-he”, Banshees were in fact the feminine guardian spirits of the fairy mounds and forces of nature. Possessing a magic with a powerful punch and being a master of disguise, it is also believed that most of the myths surrounding old hag witches stem in fact from the Banshee hiding in plain sight. According to Irish belief, Banshees were also more or less harmless unless in a state of “keening” or screaming.  Their piercing wailing, heard mostly only at night, was an omen of death straight from the otherworld. Anyone seeing the Banshee in the act was also assured of imminent death either for themselves or a close loved one.

So whether or not  the Banshee is a horror tale to scare small children, or she deserves to be revered as a powerful Fae force, the best advice would be never to mess with one.

An interesting side note I dug up in the research was the last reported sighting in Ireland in 1948. Could it really be possible the Fae are still among us?

MUSIC: Siouxsie and the Banshees – Cities in Dust