The Ankou (+)
The Ankou is the henchman of Death (oberour ar maro) and he is also known as the grave yard watcher, they said that he protects the graveyard and the souls around it for some unknown reason and he collects the lost souls on his land. The last dead of the year, in each parish, becomes the Ankou of his parish for all of the following year. When there has been, in a year, more deaths than usual, one says about the Ankou:
– War ma fé, heman zo eun Anko drouk. ("On my faith, this one is a nasty Ankou.")
Anatole Le Braz
Summary
The Ankou is a psychopomp, guiding the recently dead into the afterlife. Appearing as a gaunt or skeletal figure with long white hair in a dark cloak with a wide-brimmed hat concealing its face, Ankou carries a large scythe. Ankou rides atop the Karrigell an Ankou a rickety cart with screeching wheels, drawn by two lean oxen, moving through an area to collect the souls of the dead. The cry of an owl is said to foretell their circuit in the dead of night.
The arrival of the Ankou means certain death. As one popular saying goes "When the Ankou comes, he will not go away empty".
It is said that the Ankou is the ghost of the last person to die in a parish in the year, taking up the mantle until the next year. When their time is up, the Ankou passes on the mantle and moves on themselves. They also serve as the guardian of their local cemeteries.
Spread
The legend of Ankou is commonly known throughout Duchy of Breizh and has spread beyond its borders into Anjev, Normaundie, Gallia and Aquitainia, although significantly lessened outside of its native origin.
Variations & Mutation
In the Eastern Counties of Breizh, Ankou's oxen are replaced by a large dark coach and four black horses with fiery eyes, accompanied by two ghostly figures on foot.
Cultural Reception
The Ankou is popularly accepted among both adherents of the Celtic Faith and the Southern Church, although outside of the latter's dogma.
In Art
Ankou's skeletal form appears on grave markers and churches, as well as carved into Druidic standing stones. Ankou makes a frequent appearance on Kalvar
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