As you know I'm a big fan of History and Myths, I've written an article on Norse Mythology - Ragnarok and I also write on Greek Mythology - Troy. Recently I have taken a liking to Celtic Mythological creatures. After I researched the origin of Halloween, I decided to take it a step further to learn more about their beliefs and I found some interesting facts that I think you would love to know. I won't be able to cover everything, but this would be the first part of the series.
Check out my amazing sponsorsAbhartach, the Irish Vampire
Most of you should be familiar with Bram Stocker Dracula movie. This movie is loosely based on the legend of Abhartach.
Abhartach was a dwarf and a wizard who also happened to be a Celt chieftain, he was very cruel and for that, his subject didn't like him very much but couldn't stand up to him because they feared him. As fate would have it, a war broke out and Abhartach was killed.
The people rejoiced in his death and he was buried standing as it was customary for the burial of a chieftain but the celebration wouldn't last for long as the morning came Abhartach was alive once more but he wasn't human anymore, he was now a vampire, he ordered blood sacrifice from his subject since he needed their blood for his survival.
The villagers cried out and the hero who history remembers as Cathain answered. Cathain fought and killed the monster and Abhartach was buried once more. The following day he arose from the dead...again. The villagers were frightened of him and they obeyed him when he demanded more blood to fill his bowl.
Once again Cathain came to the rescue, he fought and killed Abhartach, this time sure he was dead but the following morning, Abhartach was alive again.
Out of frustration, he decided to seek out help from the druids (although another part of this story says that it was a Christian saint). The wise druid told him that Abhartach was indeed one of the undead and to kill him he would need a special weapon. He was given a wooden sword made from the yew tree, he was also instructed to bury Abhartach's body faced down, a big rock should be used to cover his grave and finally, Hawthorne seeds should be scattered over his grave.
Cathain did as he was told and finally, Abhartach was no more. Today the place he was buried now has a Hawthorne tree from the seeds that were scattered over it.
In the 1990s, a group of people went there to cut down the tree for industrial purposes but the chainsaw malfunctioned 3 times. They decided to move the stone with a chain but the chain snapped lethally wounding one of the workers as his blood was scattered all over the site Abhartach was buried.
Is it possible he still lives and one day he will rise again and continue his torment on the world?
The Banshee
I first heard this term years ago when the Teen Wolf series was still on but in this article, we will be looking at the origin of this creature.
According to Irish Folklore, the Banshees are harbingers of death. Their screams could be taken as a warning of impending death to come and only the families to be affected would hear the cries of a banshee.
I sometimes wonder if the wise men of old heard this cry and this was how they knew they were about to die?
There are a lot of folklores regarding the banshee and its origin but there is one similarity, the banshee is always described as a female.
Legend has it that Banshees are spirits of the departed ones who are unable to move on due to their sinful nature while they lived and cursed to walk the earth for eternity as retribution.
It is said that there were once women who sang songs for the dead and would often request a drink - "alcohol" - as payment which was considered a sin although this could have been to dissuade ladies from taking alcohol. It is also believed that Banshees are fairies who have sinned.
It is said that Banshees are often associated with only one family, the family they belonged to while they were alive. It is also believed that death heightens one's feelings as one passes on. A good and loving spirit would be filled with love and kindness, while an evil one will be filled with hatred.
When you close your eyes and think of a banshee, we often see her wicked black-cloaked and ugly creature flying through the sky like a witch, screaming but this is not true of all Banshees. Just as there is light and dark, there are evil Banshees and also good Banshees.
The good Banshees have been said to have gold or black hair with a beautiful yet pale face wearing a long white gown. Their cries are usually one of sorrow to warn a family of a death that is about to happen.
The bad Banshees were the exact opposite and happens to the popular description of a banshee, a major difference between the two can be seen in their cries. While a good Banshee sings sorrowfully over the impending loss of a family member, the bad Banshee lets out a scream of joy over the loss of a family member.
Back in the old Irish day, it was often wise to believe and listen to the cries of the "wailing woman" as you make preparations towards the impending death.
As Christianity grew and times changed, a lot of Irish believes got lost to the wind or transformed and soon, the Banshee would only be remembered as a myth.
It is said that the cries of the Banshee can still be heard at night in the woods of Ireland but you must be warned, the cries mean death is near.
Oh, how much I would love to go on, but it would have to be continued on another article. I hope you found this little piece of history fascinating, more articles on this subject to come.
Reference
Lead Image Source : audiobooks
I don't know what to do if see Banshee in real life. Waaah.