tunnerez noz

"night-washers." A Breton instance of the death omen, the bean sídhe or bean nighe. These ghostly washerwomen appear at night on the banks of streams to wash their linen, singing old songs and telling tales. They solicit the help of passersby to wash and wring out the linen of the dead. If this help be given awkwardly, they break the helper's arm; if help is refused, they pull their victim into the stream and drown him. Also known as cannerez noz, "night singers."

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Breton noz, "night."

References

Sources

  • Omens and Superstitions: Curious facts and illustrative sketches. (1868). Edinburgh: William P. Nimmo, p. 137.
  • Guilbert, A.M. (1844). Histoire des villes de France: Bretagne. Touraine. Lyonnais. Béarn. Navarre. Provence. Vol. 1. Bureau des publications illustrés, p. 320.
  • MacKillop, James. (2004). Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.
  • Spence, Lewis. (1917). Legends and Romances of Brittany. New York: Fredrick A. Stokes, p. 100.