We are well within the province of Samhain and it seems only proper to give a bit of ink to those bogeys and goblins that give the season its spunk.
Death spirits are common throughout the Celtic countries. The Banshee or Bean-Si (woman of the Sidhe) is the Celtic death spirit. She followed only the oldest families and her appearance, either visually or aurally, foretold the passing of a family member. Passer-by who observed and disturbed this faithful spirit were likely to meet their own fate before the year was out.
Known as the Bean-Nighe in Scotland, the banshee is thought to be the spirit of women who died in childbirth. She was seen shrouded in the Highlands, endlessly washing clothes by the ford. The Bean-Nighe should not be mistaken for the Baobhan Sith, a dangerous Highland succubus known to suck the life from her victims.
From Breton folklore comes the Ankou, generally the spirit of the last person to die in a community. All seeing, the ankou has long white hair and a wide-brimmed hat. It can be either male or female and it drives a creaking wagon in which to ferry the dead.
Providing similar transportation services as the ankou, the Coshta- Bower or Coach-a-Bower is the phantom death coach that rides through Irish folklore. Considered a solitary fairy, the driver of the coach-a-bower is the Dullahan, a specter with the ability to take off and play with his hideous head.
Less a death spirit than a bringer of strife, Badb, also known as Neman, Macha and the Morrigu is the Celtic goddess of war and can from time to time be seen in the guise of a hooded crow.
Bogies and Boggarts are mischievous sorts who delight in tormenting mankind. It is not known from whence these poltergeist-like spirits come. Often they will bother a particular family, moving with them if the family tries to flee. Given time, most bogies will move on to a different family when they tire of their game.
The well-known Brownie resides throughout England and Scotland and generally forms an affectionate relationship with the family with which it lives. Performing tasks and watching over the land, the Brownie is thus entitled to cakes and a bowl of cream prepared by the woman of the house. The welsh brownie Bwbachod and the Manx Fenodoree perform similar duties.
Fairy creatures more often seen during the season of Samhain include the Aughisky and the Pooka. The Aughisky is a water horse that was once seen commonly. It arose from the ocean or lakes to gallop along the fields and sands, particularly in November. The Aughisky could be captured and made a fine steed, but a glimpse of salt water can cause the animal to charge back to sea.
The Pooka is a phantom beast that can take various forms, a bat, an eagle, or most often a horse. A sometimes-dangerous trickster, crops not gathered in by Samhain are abandoned to this creature. The pooka can sometimes be found roaming the fields by ancient ringforts, affording the sites its protection from prying, contemporary eyes.
This article has captured but a smattering of the many rich, colourful and oftentimes dangerous sprites and spirits that traverse the space between our world and the Other. Good tidings to all of both worlds in this dark season of Samhain.