Bean Nighe: Washerwoman of Death (Scottish Folklore)

Подписаться 20 тыс.

Просмотров 13 тыс.

50% 1

The Bean Nighe, known as the washerwoman or the washer at the ford. Is said to be an omen of death. She can commonly be found in dark lonely places next to streams or pools. Here the spectral woman washes the bloodstained cloths of those about to die. Many suggest that only those doomed to die could see the washerwoman, but this is not always the case. There was a belief held in the highlands that if a woman dies during child birth her soul would be trapped by the fae and she will become a Bean Nighe, doomed to perform the hideous task of bringing the message of death to others for all time. Some say that this terrible fate could be avoided, if the dead woman’s clothes were washed in the river on the day she died. If not, her sprit would wash the clothes of the dead for eternity. There are many different descriptions of the Bean Nighe, and she seems to have different properties depending on her location.
Intro Music: Written for me by Bobbin
bobbin.bandcamp.com/
Other Music by : Alexander Nakarada alexandernakarada.bandcamp.com/
References:
Campbell, J. G. (1900) Superstitions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Glasgow. James MacLehose and Sons
Data-wales (1996) The Coracle - a one person boat with an ancient lineage. [web.archive.org/web/199611020...]
Giraudon, D. (1996) Lavandières de jour, lavandières de nuit. [www.riwalig.net/spip/IMG/pdf/L...]
HistoryFiles (2021) Damnonii & Attacotti (Britons) [www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingLi...]
MacGregor, A.A. (1937) The Peat-Fire Flame: Folktales and Traditions of the Highlands and Islands. The Moray Press.
Mackenzie, D. (1912). A Highland Goddess. The Celtic Review, 7(28), 336-345. doi:10.2307/30070410
ScotClans (2013) The Bean Nighe [www.scotclans.com/scotland/sc...]
Sedgwick, I. (2020) Why is the Bean Nighe seen as an omen of death? [www.icysedgwick.com/bean-nighe/]
Uncovering Scotland (2021) Bean-nighe (Washer Woman) [uncoveringscotland.wordpress....]
Undiscovered Scotland (2021) Fearn Abby [www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...]

Опубликовано:

30 июл 2024

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 57

@juneroberts5305 3 года назад

The Bean Nighe have always fascinated and frustrated me. A woman dies in childbirth, and to add insult to injury she has to wash clothes for the rest of her unnatural life. Bum deal. Thanks for another great video!

@LiathWolf 3 года назад

I agree, it is unfair, yet strangly prevalent in the old world, thanks for watching

@xabiernovoa826 7 месяцев назад

She is one of the many characters of Galician folklore. Here they are called "Lavandeiras". They are apparently seen at night, with a full moon, near a river. This is the translated lyrics of a "romance", compiled to a beggar from western Galicia in 1904, which speaks about this character: "It was a moonlit night, it was a clear night, I was going by the river, Returning from grinding in the mill. I met a washerwoman, who washed very close to the water, she was washing in the river, and a song sang. Girl coming from the mill, Girl that going down the road, help me to squeeze my washed sheet. The washerwoman disappears Like smoke carried by the wind. Holy Mary help me, Saint Lawrence help me. Where she spread the sheet a pool of blood she left, It was a moonlit night, It was a clear night." ***They have nothing to do with the "Xacias". The "Lavandeiras" look old, thin and scruffy. The "Xacias" are like nymphs of the rivers, but they can also live out of the water, with functions very similar to the "Mouras" (a celtic word, from *marwos "dead", although they are not human and they are very beautiful). These two have two aspects: the reward (prosperity) or the punishment (death), depending on whether you keep a promise.

@Reptile1969 3 года назад

Love the tales. Keep the old folk tales alive.

@bentclaw 3 года назад

How neat, I love the comparisons to other, similar Celtic myths. You can really see how they may all of branched off from a more ancient people.

@quentin6284 3 года назад

Mull's Bean Nighe sounds to be reminiscent of the Danish slattenpatte, a particularly distinctive creature that I'd seen through Humon Comics' work. I wonder if vikings might've brought tales of the creature when settling the area. It's always interesting to see the interplay between cultures, and the growth and change in folklore!

@LiathWolf 3 года назад

Thats quite interesting, I have never heard of the Slattenpatte before, and your viking theory may explain why the Bean Nighe of mull has quite distictive features when compared with the Bean Nighe of the mainland.

@RoughRoadHomestead 2 года назад

Reminds me of the Irish morrigan. She too is described as ugly and frightening. She seems associated with the fate of warriors, not everyone.

@DonP_is_lostagain 3 года назад

I love this channel, and these stories both fascinate me and give me a greater and deeper appreciation of my Scottish heritage. But I have to say, I can guarantee that once this pandemic is subsided enough for travel, I intend to do some backpacking in the highlands, and I will definitely NOT be watching these while I do so. lol.

@LiathWolf 3 года назад

Lol totally fair haha. Thanks for watching

@eryngobra Год назад

Imagine you are just a normal lady trying to get your washing done and then all of a sudden a random idiot comes flying out at you demanding to know who is going to die. That had to get old real fast.

@angvannuil9280 Год назад

Excellent story yet again I listen to them at night before bed ,Angie

@andrewobrien8325 2 года назад

Sounds terrifying.....but hey could be worse....oh you brought up the Banshee....Suddenly the Bean Nighe doesn't sound so bad

@eamonnclabby7067 3 года назад

Good story sir ,the only wasberwoman of note around Merseyside was Kitty Wilkinson who founded a washhouse in the backstreets of Everton which had a huge impact on public health, scary enough for these lockdown days, Tom Sleman could probably unearth a Welsh version who knows ??? Keep up with the great work that you do...best wishes from the wirral....E

@kali4027 3 года назад

I love these stories! 🖤💜 Always learn something new about the Fae from you xx

@davis0730 3 года назад

I love your vids man. Also props to you for including Oh Brother Where Art Thou and Outlander

@ArmyVet82ndAbn 2 года назад

Very interesting, thanks for your stories. This one is similar to the Irish mythos of Cuchulainn meeting the washer woman at the ford on his way to his last battle.

@balthiersgirl2658 3 года назад

Wonderful story's yet again thank you so much and sorry I'm so late

@TheSteve_42 3 года назад

Love hearing the old tales!

@kierantoby3685 3 года назад

Ive watched pretty much every video you've made I love you content keep up the good work xx

@LiathWolf 3 года назад

Thank you! Will do!

@jamiegregg9211 3 года назад

awesome vid as always Liath really enjoy these folktales

@christopheraliaga-kelly6254 Год назад

I notice you include the washer-women in the Cohen Bros. wonderful. "O Brother Where Art Thou" But, lots of people from the Highlands would have ended up in the Appalachians and the Carolinas...

@januzzell8631 2 года назад

Fascinating - as always a joy to listen to

@demonia2848 Год назад

My surname Craig is meant to be a picts word meaning crag referring to the mountainous rocky terrian that the picts allegedly lived on. My surname does seem to be a picts word. I know it is a very common surname in Aberdeen which is where my Scottish granddad was from. I would love to hear your thoughts on the origins of my surname Craig.

@KittyCat-jn1xp 3 года назад

10.01 can we have that story please? You tell the myths and folklore so nicely and I love your videos

@LiathWolf 3 года назад

I think I may cover the Glencoe Massacre, in the future, It would be quite a long video. Thanks again

@fainmaca9706 3 года назад

Loving this series! I wonder, do you have plans to cover the Brahan Seer?

@LiathWolf 3 года назад

Thanks and yes. hopefully lol. the predictions of Kenneth Mackenzie is a great tale

@pentegarn1 2 года назад

Right before my uncle Tivis Price died I was out in the forest at night casting a magic circle for a Wiccan initiation ceremony. Right before I took the athame to break the circle.....I heard a crying/ singing over by the pond (which was less than a 100 yards away) in what sounded like a foreign language. I actually got weak in the knees because it was so loud....like it was through a modern PA system. But this was rural Michigan at midnight...no one is going to have a PA system set up in the forest at midnight! I always called it a Bean-Sidhe but since it was coming from the shore of the pond this sounds more like what I heard.

@LiathWolf 2 года назад

Possibly, There are many differences between the 2. The bean-síghe or banshee is a creature of Irish folklore, in scotland a similar creature exists known as the Caoineag or weeper, the ghostly spirit of the fae, that brings death

@christopherpugnetti5827 Год назад

I wonder if a certain recent horror movie got any inspiration from the imagery of this creature….

@AdianGess 3 года назад

Great stuff, thanks

@Davlavi 2 года назад

fascinating.

@Keelsman 11 месяцев назад

CooooOOOOOOL

@jamiegregg9211 3 года назад

Liath they remined of the Norns of Viking mythology

@LiathWolf 3 года назад

Yeah I can see that, many of these European Goddesses seem to be related in some form. The three fates are another one which comes to mind. Thanks for watching

@jamiegregg9211 3 года назад

@@LiathWolf your welcome plus these folktales on your channel helps me in my own writings

@christopheraliaga-kelly6254 Год назад

WOW!!!! Common to the Cwmry, the Gauls, the Bretons, the Gaels but what about the Irish?

@jessym6161 3 года назад

I love your story telling. And the fantastic stories. Great work and thank you!

@LiathWolf 3 года назад

Thanks for listening

@Getorix 2 года назад

So from the myth of the green knight, Galahad had seen a bean sidhe eh?

@jeannedouglas9912 Год назад

Such a very unfair lot in life. Dying in childbirth to such bondage. Nothing nice about this fairy tale. :(

@erikbloech9875 2 года назад

What's the name of that intro song? I couldn't find it on the site linked in the description

@LiathWolf 2 года назад

which one? you got a timestamp and ill give you name. Thanks

@erikbloech9875 2 года назад

00:25 this one... Its a really nice tune

@lorifromtemeculaca426 4 месяца назад

Please could you provide the name of the film? At time stamp 3:52 thank you

@LiathWolf 4 месяца назад

The movie is 'O brother where art thou'

@lorifromtemeculaca426 4 месяца назад

@LiathWolf thank you sir ;-)

@erikbloech9875 2 года назад

What is this song called? 00:25

@LiathWolf 2 года назад

Oh sorry, did you comment on the another video asking the same thing, I couldn't find the old comment. That into song was created by my freind specifically for my intro haha, it is only 20 seconds long and played in full at the begining of my video. But I also think he should make a full song out of it.

@christopheraliaga-kelly6254 Год назад

Errrr... I think the only 'authentic' beann nighe is that from Mull

@feralbluee Год назад

Why are there so many “evil” fae. i understand life was very unpredictable and precarious, but why so many of them? even the Norse gods weren’t all bad? the only ones who seem to help people are the brownies. ?? 🤷🏻‍♀️🧖🏻‍♀️🐺 aha! the better ones come next in the mix! Yea :) 🧝🏼‍♀️🧚🏻

@LiathWolf Год назад

the fae in scotland were generaly feared and respected, more than loved and adored. It seems to be something that is very Scottish in nature and is very different from many other cultures and mythology.

@feralbluee Год назад

@@LiathWolf i guess it’s a hard life in Scotland - rain, cold, winds, snow, hard earth to grow things in, short spring and summer. very understandable.