B is for Banshee

There is much mystery surrounding the banshee. Banshees are always depicted as female. Normally, a ghost or spirit and are thought to warn or bring death.
  On the Emerald Isle, a small island off the coast of Ireland, it is believed that the banshee floats through the forests in the dead of night, wailing and keening.

This mythical spirit is sometimes perceived as a fairy or Angel of death but her other names are White Lady of Sorrow or the Woman of Peace.
  To here her voice is a warning that someone, normally the person who hears it or someone in their immediate circle, will soon come to pass.
  In medieval Ireland, people believed the Banshee would stay close to each family until the person died and was safely buried.
  To others she is seen as a devil and that once her cry is heard she will continue screaming, sending the victim slowly insane and then, once all sanity is lost, she will move onto her next victim.


Punishment:
  If the person lived a selfish life or committed cruel acts during their life time then the spirit would stay earthbound and suffer in penance and the Banshee would always make sure this happened. Likewise, if the person lived a good life filled with kindness and selflessness their soul would stay in peace and happiness forever and, although still tied to the earth, the Banshee would make sure they were always happy.

The many faces of the Banshee:
    Some may seen the Banshee as a evil, old, fearsome hag whilst others may perceive her to be a beautiful young woman. She is described as looking somewhat like a milk maid or a medieval laundress although her clothes appear bloodstained sometimes, another omen of doom. The Banshee is usually perceived as being quite fair, with long, pale hair that she grooms with a special silver comb…according to superstition, finding a comb on the ground and picking it up is extremely bad luck, because a Banshee has placed it there to lure the unsuspecting and lead them to ruin…


Roots of the Legend:
It is believed that the myth of the Banshee developed due to the Irish tradition of the lament; women would sing a lament for the dead at funerals, and for some in the village, this song would carry through the air and become the first signal that someone had died.