B is for Banshee.....

Irish bean sidhe and Scottish Gaelic bean sith, literally, woman of fairyland.

The mythology and legend surrounding the Banshee is a bit mixed. The most readily accepted story is of a hag-like creature wailing the impending death of someone nearby-- most ancient Gaelic families, especially the more well-to-do families, had their own Banshees that attached themselves to the lineage of the family name. I suppose it was a sign of station for a family to be able to claim their own Banshee--- I mean, who needs an exciting/ tongue-wagging-inciting skeleton in your cupboard when you've got a Banshee wailing in your rafters?

The origins of the more familiar Banshee may have stemmed from the ancient Keeners-- women who were employed to sing a lament at a funeral. The best Keeners were in high demand to "wail" and "weep" for the great personage who had fallen.

The Great families would boast a bean sidhe or bean sith-- a fairy-woman Keener--and having foresight, the Keener would sing the lament, even if the person wasn't yet home, or if news of their passing had yet come.

The belief in the foresight of the Keener has probably led to the more contemporary belief that Banshees wail to alert of an impending death.

Keener's Lament

Beware the fairy's cry,

that flits from o'er the moors,

beware the mournful song,

that trickles through yer door.

The grey-cloaked witch's doleful sway,

through woods, through mists unending,

meets midnight skies and midnight moon,

her ancient task in sorrow tending.

The path she treads is never sought,

 by those who claim to name her,

her visage feared by those whose line,

and birthright have, by blood paid her.

Her melody, forlorn and strained,

no lullaby attending,

pray not to hear her weeping wail,

lest yer life's breath be ending. 

                                                                                                        ---e.a.s. demers