According to ancient Irish legends, when banshees are around, someone close to you is going to die. These ghostly women don't kill victims themselves, but are messengers, warning that a member of the household is doomed. Just hearing the loud wails of these spirits is a bad omen, but a person who actually sees one with his or her own eyes isn't long for this Earth.
Three Faces: Banshees can appear in three forms: A pretty young woman in white robes a cloak, a middle-aged woman or an old hag wrapped in tattered sheets. These three forms represent the three faces of Badb, the Celtic Goddess of War and Death.
To Catch a Banshee: Though banshees are spirits, some say they can be caught if a person sneaks up on them while they're screaming. If a banshee is captured, it must reveal the name of the person for whom it is wailing.
That's a Scream[]
Banshees appear in several forms, from old hags to beautiful women.
Banshees mean only one thing in Celtic (ancient Irish) folklore-death. According to the stories passed down by generations, every family in Ireland is watched over by a banshee. When a member of that household is about to die, the specter of a woman roams the land nearby, mourning the doomed person with ear-splitting screams in a supernatural voice that only the victim's family members can hear. What's worse is when the spirit of the banshee is actually seen–that's a sign that the person seeing the ghost is the one who's going to die.
Guiding Sound: A banshee's wails aren't just to warn (and frighten) a family of approaching death. Old Irish spiritual beliefs claim that the banshee's cries ultimately lead the dead person's soul into the spirit world.
A Chorus Line: Once in a while, on "special occasions," several banshees from an area come together and scream in a deafening, supernatural chorus. When this happens, legends say that someone important and powerful will soon be dead.
Banshee to the Power of X[]
The banshee legend has grown far beyond its Celtic roots. In the late 1940s, the US Navy named the F2 fighter jet the Banshee because its engines made loud, high-pitched sounds. Also, the X-Men comics feature a character named Banshee. Though the character is male, it has a powerful, supersonic scream that can pulverize enemies.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- There are two trading cards: Ether Power and Unleashed! The title of Unleashed! is Banshee.
- The Banshee is mentioned on the back of the Wraiths knowledge card.