A banshee is a female spirit that is derived from old Irish folklore. Banshees are notorious for their loud wailing. It is very common for someone who is crying or screaming to be called a banshee.
Origin: Banshees most commonly occur in old Irish folklore. In the stories, whenever there was a death of a family member, a banshee would appear, and wail outside of the house. In the Irish stories, banshees were also omens of death, and to see a banshee meant that you or someone in your family was about to die.
Banshees are also known to be messengers from the Otherworld. In some cases, Banshees are described as being “fairy women”[1], as they are such described in English. The comb that banshees use to brush their long hair, is a major part of the stories that surround them. In Irish legends, if you see a silver comb on the ground, you must not pick it up, because that is the Banshees trick of capturing gullible humans.
Appearance: Banshees are known to wear neutral colors, such as white or grey, and have long fair hair, that they frequently brush with a silver comb. Other stories describe banshees as being dressed in black, red, or green with a grey cloak.
Influences on Modern Day: Banshees are referred to many times in the modern day. One reference to a Banshee is the TV supernatural show, Charmed[2]. In this episode, titled ‘Look Who’s Barking ,’ (episode # 65)[3] one of the main characters, Phoebe is turned into a Banshee. In this case, a Banshee’s screaming can break and glass surface. In Charmed, woman are turned into Banshees when their hearts turn cold, from being heartbroken.
[1] Wikipedia.org: Banshee
[2] Wikipedia.org: Charmed
[3] Wikipedia.org: List of Charmed Episodes
