What Is a Banshee? (Part 1, Banshees Explained)

You are likely already familiar with Ireland's most infamous shrieking spirit. But what exactly is a banshee? Is it a ghost? A spirit? A wraith? A demon? A fairy? In a word…yes. The banshee is all of those things...and so much more. Uncover the Celtic folklore behind this fearsome female fay and learn how she — the bean sídhe — got her name.

Intro 00:00

The Definition of Banshee 01:28

The Etymology of Banshee 04:29

Midnight Washerwomen / Les Lavandières 07:20

This video was adapted from an IrishMyths.com article, "What Is a Banshee? The Mythic Origins of Ireland’s Most Infamous Shrieking Spirit": https://irishmyths.com/2022/07/25/ban...

Books referenced (note: when you buy through the links below, I may earn a small affiliate commission):

-Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry (1888): https://amzn.to/3J3U8Ro
-Irish Wonders (1888): https://amzn.to/3zb57UR
-A Dictionary of Irish Mythology (1987): https://amzn.to/36HCpxg
-The Banshee (1907): https://amzn.to/3zrRHUD
-The Gaelic Otherworld (1902): https://amzn.to/3PWNUFp

Books by me (I. E. Kneverday):

-Saint Patrick in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3ZWMWxG
-Irish Monsters in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3SXQgFO
-Samhain in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3Bkp2D0
-Irish Myths in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3Qi5xjg
-Neon Druid: An Anthology of Urban Celtic Fantasy: https://amzn.to/3BJE7yc

Pssst. Part 2 of my "What Is a Banshee?" series is available now! What do banshees look like? What do banshees sound like? Find out here:    • What Do Banshees Look & Sound Like? (...