How much do you know of banshee lore? Three knocks in the night. A wailing cry. A figure in white seen from the corner of your eye. Across cultures, these omens carry the same chilling message—someone will soon die.
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In this captivating exploration of supernatural death harbingers, folklorist and author Steven J. Rolfes takes us deep into the mysterious world of banshees and their counterparts across different cultures. With his book Beware the Banshee’s Cry as our guide, Steven reveals the fascinating complexities behind these ethereal messengers.
About the Guest: Steven J. Rolfes
Steven J. Rolfes is the author of several books about paranormal folklore. He also writes about the history of his home town, Cincinnati, OH. When he’s not writing, he tells ghost stories on the radio, which we can relate to. His most recent book at the time of this writing, Beware the Banshee’s Cry, is all about the history and mystery of banshees, and their origins in Irish lore.
What is a Banshee?
What exactly is a banshee? Steven presents three possibilities: the ghost of an ancestor with either loving or vindictive intentions, a fairy from the ancient Tuatha de Danann, or perhaps most intriguingly, a transformed Celtic goddess (at least one didn’t become a saint). The name itself—”bean sí” or “woman from the fairy mound”—connects these entities to pre-Christian Celtic traditions that have survived centuries of cultural evolution.
The Banshee of Irish Lore
From Lady Fanshawe’s encounter with a floating red-haired apparition at an O’Brien castle in 1649 to a mysterious black cat haunting a Cincinnati hospital in 1879, these stories span continents and centuries. We also discover similar lore about supernatural messengers worldwide, including Germany’s White Lady (Weissefrau) and Mexico’s weeping woman (La Llorona), showing how humans across cultures have personified death’s approach.
The banshee folklore of Ireland contains some familiar elements—the banshee’s treasured combs that shouldn’t be stolen, the protective power of iron against supernatural entities, and the specific families traditionally haunted by these harbingers.
Will the Banshee Cry for You?
Banshees and their lore follow Irish families wherever they travel…but only specific families. Listen now to discover whether your Irish heritage comes with its own supernatural warning system, and consider: if you heard three knocks at your door tonight, would you have a spooky day?
