" In the Scottish Highlands and islands, the Bean-Nighe is the Little-Washer-by-the-Ford and the Washing Woman. She can be seen by the side of a burn or river washing bloodstains from the clothes of those about to die. She may have one nose and one monstrous tooth. A washing woman story was also collected in Banffshire by Peter Buchan, so it is not restricted to the Highlanders.(EoF)
Briggs (author of the EoF) recommends reading a good account of the Bean-Nighe in Lewis Spence's book, The Fairy Tradition in Britain.
The Bean-Nighe, pronounced Ben-neeyah (F) or ben-neeyeh (EoF) more or less, is the ghost of a woman who died in childbirth and is doomed to continue the task of foretelling doom by this bloody washing until the day she would normally have died. (F)(EoF)
The name and characteristics vary according to locality. They agree that she is seen by desolate streams washing the blood-stained clothes of those about to die. She is small, generally dressed in green (a magical color), with red webbed feet. If a person sees her before she sees him, and comes between her and the water, she will grant three wishes.
In another version of the above, she will answer three questions, but she asks three questions back which must be answered truly.
Anyone bold enough to seize one of her hanging breasts and suckle it may claim to be her foster child and she will be favorable.
Another version of the Bean-Nighe, more dangerous, is the Caointeach or "wailer" of Islay. She is more fierce and formidable. If interrupted, she strikes the person's legs with her wet linen, often causing the loss of the use of the limbs. "
" In the Scottish Highlands and islands, the Bean-Nighe is the Little-Washer-by-the-Ford and the Washing Woman. She can be seen by the side of a burn or river washing bloodstains from the clothes of those about to die. She may have one nose and one monstrous tooth. A washing woman story was also collected in Banffshire by Peter Buchan, so it is not restricted to the Highlanders.(EoF) Briggs (author of the EoF) recommends reading a good account of the Bean-Nighe in Lewis Spence's book, The Fairy Tradition in Britain. The Bean-Nighe, pronounced Ben-neeyah (F) or ben-neeyeh (EoF) more or less, is the ghost of a woman who died in childbirth and is doomed to continue the task of foretelling doom by this bloody washing until the day she would normally have died. (F)(EoF) The name and characteristics vary according to locality. They agree that she is seen by desolate streams washing the blood-stained clothes of those about to die. She is small, generally dressed in green (a magical color), with red webbed feet. If a person sees her before she sees him, and comes between her and the water, she will grant three wishes. In another version of the above, she will answer three questions, but she asks three questions back which must be answered truly. Anyone bold enough to seize one of her hanging breasts and suckle it may claim to be her foster child and she will be favorable. Another version of the Bean-Nighe, more dangerous, is the Caointeach or "wailer" of Islay. She is more fierce and formidable. If interrupted, she strikes the person's legs with her wet linen, often causing the loss of the use of the limbs. "