Celtic Death Spirits

Most people have never heard of the Ankou or the dullahan, which is not surprising since discussions on folklore are usually limited to specific circles. The first is a singular spirit of death while the dullahan is considered to be a species of dark fae. Both beings are incredibly interesting although not much information concerning them has survived the passage of time and the growing influence of science. However despite the adversity facing them it is my opinion that both of these entities survive in modern times, even if there is a lack of sightings.

Ankou is the personification of Death and in Breton folklore as well as Cornish and Norman French folklore. There are three theories as to this spirit's origin. The first holds that he is the first-born child of Adam and Eve. The second view asserts that he was once a cruel prince who met Death during a hunting trip and challenged the entity to see who could kill a black stag first. Death won the contest and the prince for his arrogance was cursed to roam the earth for eternity performing Death's job. The third and more widely held view is that the Ankou is the first dead person of the year. In this belief he is charged with collecting the souls of others for the entire year before he can go to the afterlife. This spirit is always depicted as male, usually as a man or skeleton wearing a cloak and hat while wielding a scythe. He is said to drive a large black coach pulled by four black horses and is accompanied by two ghostly figures who travel on foot. Every parish in Brittany is considered to have its own Ankou. Lastly in a year where there has been more deaths than usual people say the following. "War ma fe, heman zo eun Anko drouk." ("on my faith this is a nasty Ankou")

The dullahan on the other hand is a different story, although it is a spirit of death it is also a dark faerie hailing from Ireland. When seen it usually appears as a headless rider on a black horse carrying its head under one arm. The head's eyes are said to be small, black, and constantly darting about like flies. The mouth is set in a horrendous grin that stretches to both sides of its head. The flesh of this gruesome severed object reportedly has the color and firmness of moldy cheese. The dullahan uses the spine of a corpse for a whip and the wagon it pulls is adorned with funeral objects. There are skulls with candles to light its way, wheel spokes made from thigh bones, and a wagon covering made from human skin. When a dullahan stops riding, a person is due to die at that location. The dullahan then calls out their name at which point they perish. There is no way to prevent a dullahan from claiming a victim as all locks, doors, and gates open before them. Dullahan do not like being watched while going about their business and will throw a basin of blood on observers they discover. or striking the watcher's eyes with their whips. This is often a sign that the person will be the next to die. The dullahan however does possess a single weakness, they are deathly afraid of gold. This fear is so great that even a single gold pin can drive them away.