A seemily innocent Baobhan Sith.
©BloodyLexicon.com
The Baobhan Sith is a term to describe a type of Scottish vampiric fairy. The term comes from a Highland word for banshee, and they are also associated with evil succubi. They would appear as young beautiful women and dressed in green. They would seek out men who were who were outside at night, such as hunters. These “women” would dance with men until the men were tired and then feed on them. It was said that you could kill them with cold Iron.
The Story
In one Scottish folktale, it talks about four men who went hunting and decided to spend the night in an empty sheep grazing shelter. They were having a good old time making music with their mouth, laughing, and dancing. One of the men wished that they had some dancing partners to liven the party. All of a sudden four beautiful young women appeared. Three of them danced with the men and the fourth one stood by the hunter making the music. The music maker, all of a sudden, noticed the drops of blood everywhere coming from his friends. He was scared out of his mind and left immediately and ran toward the horses. The iron on the horses shoes kept him safe. The vampires kept circling him but couldn’t get him. They finally gave up when the sun started to come up. The hunter returned to the shelter later that day to find all of his friends dead and bloodless.
Definition: Scottish Gaelic for washerwoman
Pronunciation:: ben-neeya
Aliases: Bean Shith, Bean-Shidh (both Scottish Gaelic meaning of “woman of the sidhe”, “fairy woman”, or “woman of peace”), Ban nigheachain (meaning little washer woman), Nigheag na h-ath (meaning little washer at the ford)
A picture of the Bean Nighe washing her clothes by the river.
© 2009 BloodyLexicon.com
Bean Nighe is a type of Banshee in Scottish Folklore. She is often described as an old woman with one nostril, one protruding tooth, sagging breasts, and webbed feet. Although rather hideous, she can transform herself into an attractive young woman whenever it suits her. These types of women are usually seen wearing green and are thought to be considered the spirits of women who died while giving birth to a child. She stoops over and washes clothing containing the blood of those near death in a secluded waterway, usually a stream.
Legend has it if you come across a Bean Nigh and aren’t afraid to approach her, if you suck on one of her elongated breasts, you can claim to be her foster child and recieve one wish. If you only came for a chat, ask nicely and she may tell you the names of people that are going to die. She is believed to be a messenger from the Otherworld, which in Celtic Mythology was considered to be a country where there was no sickness, death, one hundred years lasted a day, and happiness lasted forever. Some people claim there are more fierce versions of the Bean Nighe on the Isle of Islay and Kintyre, and much nicer versions in Cadineag and Glencoe.
