In Brittany, France Death is personified as Ankou. He drives a rickety wagon, that can be heard for miles around. He is also followed by a very cold wind that chills the bones. Ankou is a harvester of the dead, but Ankou is not death but a servant of death. Ankou is often believed to be the last person to die on New Years Eve and is condemned to wander the land gathering souls until next year. In same versions Ankou is the churchy and watcher who stands guardian over the cemetery. The last person who is buried at New Years Eve and must stand sentinel over the dead. When the year ends a new watcher is chosen. In another version Ankou is a rich and cruel spirit who lives in a castle in the Underworld decorated with a thousand candles. When a candle goes out, a person dies. Sometimes the evil Ankou will blow out a candle which also extinguishes a life. Ankou’s passion was hunting and he usually pursed a lunar white stag.( shades of the wild hunt) white animals, were sometimes sacrificed to Ankou. He was also said to ride a white horse. If one hears Ankou’s rickety cart it is best to hide. Since he would be looking for souls Ankou is described as a skeleton wearing a black shroud and carrying a scythe. He has sometimes been connected to Father Time.
