Urisk
A Scottish grotesque yet friendly elf like being.
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Monday, April 15, 2013
Sylph
Sylph
A elemental being that governs and exists within the element of air. From Greek origins.
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Pooka
Pooka or Phouka
Phouka - Can appear in various animal forms and are considered to be dangerous. Pooka pronounced poo-ka is from the old Irish ‘Puca, which means ‘goblin’. There are many variations of the spelling Pooka some of which are Puca, Plica, Phuca,Pwwka, Puka or Pookha all of which are totally acceptable. It is possible that the origin of the word Pooka may come from the Scandinavian word Pook or Puke meaning ‘nature sprit’. In Ireland, the Pooka seems to be the most feared Faerie possibly because it appears only at night and enjoys creating havoc and mischief. We feel this is doing the Pooka an injustice because there are no recorded incidences of a Pooka actually causing a human any harm. A Pooka is a shape-shifter and can take any form it chooses but usually it is seen in the form of a dog, rabbit, goat, goblin or even an old man but traditionally a Pooka is seen as a dark, sleek horse with a long wild flowing mane and luminescent golden eyes. An important thing to always remember about a Pooka is that they have the power of human speech and when inclined make great sport of those they talk to as they like to embellish the truth. Where can you find a Pooka? Pooka’s can be found in any rural location and every county in Ireland has its very own Pooka. They like open mountainous areas so that they can run free while in horse form. Many small mountainous lakes and springs in Ireland are called ‘Pooka Pools’ or ‘Pollaphuca’, which means Pooka or Demon hole. Some of these are found at the sources of major Irish rivers such as the Liffey that runs through Dublin or the River Bann, which is the longest river in Northern Ireland that runs through Coleraine in County Derry. Over the last thousand years Christians have changed the name of some of the Pooka Pools to St. Patrick’s Wells. Pooka superstitions & customs There are a lot of superstitions and customs that are still observed to-day in Ireland regarding the Pooka and these vary depending on which region you happen to find yourself in. Although there seems to be a common ground when you talk about a Pooka some of the stories are alike and just differ on the minor details. Would you accept a Lift? When a Pooka is in horse form, which it seems to favour a lot, he tends to have fun by inviting a rider to jump on his back this seems to happen when the rider has had a little too much to drink and is making his weary way home from the pub and would gladly jump at the chance of a lift. Thus starts the wildest trip the rider will ever know for the Pooka loves to terrify the rider with its great prowess jumping over hedges and rocks and making death defying leaps. Come the grey dawn the rider is thrown off the Pookas back and left trembling but none the worse from the night’s events to find his own way home. This is maybe where the Pookas reputation slips a bit as while on a wild night out like this they do tend to run through crop fields and knock down fences without a care. Stop For a Chat Another thing the Pooka love, as with all us Irish people, is to chat and will happily stop and ‘shoot the breeze’ with you, sometimes giving great advice and making exceptional prophecies. In some rural areas you will see houses that will have a bench on the right side of the door and the gatepost on the right will be smooth whereas on the left there will be a rockery or some sort of uncomfortable mound this is because a good Pooka will always sit on the right and the more mischievous sprite will favour the left. The Pooka tends to use the same opening gambit to introduce himself it will be something like, “You are new here I think. Many years ago I used to live in this house..” One of his favourite topics is how the family lost its fortune or was swindled out of their money and lands. The odd thing about a conversation with a Pooka is that you may have sat and chatted to him for over an hour but he will suddenly disappear without saying good-bye (a Pooka never says good-bye) and you will be left with the uncomfortable feeling of not knowing for sure if the past hour was real. The Pooka will never leave any sign that he was there. The Pookas Share Pookas are mainly associated with Samhain (31st Oct) and November 1st is considered Pookas Day. This coincides with the harvest and the traditional customs that when the harvest is being brought in the reaper must leave a few stalks behind this is called the Pookas share and must be left to appease the Pooka because we for one would not like to incur his wrath. It is said that when we see the rain falling on a sunny day, which it does a lot in Ireland, the Pooka will definitely be out and about that night. Also berries that have been killed by the frost overnight should never be eaten as it is the Pookas spit that is on them and that would render them poisonous. Pooka in modern Popular Culture The Pooka in all his shapes and forms has made it into many books and films one of the most famous is Harvey the six foot white rabbit from the play by Mary Chase immortalised in film by Jimmy Stewart. Or the infamous scene in Darby O’Gill and the Little People when the Pooka scares Darby into falling down the well and he first meets King Brian. More modern films have Pookas appearing in animal form as well for example in the 2001 film Donnie Darko, a Pooka in rabbit form encourages Donnie to do malicious acts which have a positive and negative result on the people around him. |
Mer- People
Mer-People
includes the well known mermaid, mermen, and the smaller, fresh water dweller known as a Gherring. Merpeople are neutral but cooperate well with the elves and barter with them. They tend to be superficial and self centered and are often depicted with a mirror and a comb. They are generally unhappy about the pollution and destruction of their waters and they tend to hold humans responsible for this. Still, Mermaids in particular tend to be very fond of human males and often fall in love with them which unfortunately often ends with the human drowning. They live in social communities.
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Leprechauns
Leprechauns
Are sly and tricky and can disappear in the blink of an eye. They are particularly fond of, and active on, Saint Patrick's day, but any day is good for them.You may end up being the luckiest person alive if you ever manage to catch a Leprechaun but there again it could bring more than enough trouble for what its worth. A Leprechaun is a smart, devious little thing and who’ll do anything to escape capture even if it means turning you into a frog. They are the exception in the Faerie realm as they are the only Faerie that has a trade other than cattle trading. They are shoe-makers.As part of Irish mythology and folklore the Leprechauns are part of our faerie folk, called by some as the “wee folk”. As a cousin of the clurichaun they are known to inhabited Ireland well before the arrival of the Celts. Small enough for one to sit comfortable on your shoulder they are very smartly dressed in small suites with waist coats, hats and buckled shoes. As mischievous and intelligent folk they are general harmless to the general population in Ireland, although they are known to play the odd trick on farmers and local population of villages and towns. It is said that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold, hidden deep in the Irish countryside. To protect the leprechaun’s pot of gold the Irish fairies gave them magical powers to use if ever captured by a human or an animal. Such magic an Irish leprechaun would perform to escape capture would be to grant three wishes or to vanish into thin air! Leprechauns are also very keen musicians who play tin whistles, the fiddle and even the Irish Harp and various other Irish traditional instruments. They are known to have wild music sessions at night which in Ireland are known as Ceili’s with hundreds of Irish leprechauns gathering to dance, sing and drink. The leprechaun is fond of drinking Poteen, moonshine, but must not be mistaken by their Irish cousins the cluricauns who are drunken creatures who love to cause chaos around Ireland at night time, a headache for us humans. William Butler Yeats once said, because of their love of dancing they (the Fae) will constantly need shoes He goes on to tell the story of a woman who had been spirited away by the Faeries and had been returned seven years later minus her toes. She had danced them off!!! The famous 1959 movie Darby O’Gill and the little people show us a great example of who the Leprechauns are and how we vision them. We’ve found a great clip of this movie that you can watch below, click on the play button to start watching.If you get lucky and manage to catch a leprechaun you need to be smarter than him or else you will be easily tricked which can have damaging results, never take your eye off him or he will vanish. A captured leprechaun will grant you three wishes or a gold coin to bribe his way to freedom but this is when things can go terrible wrong if the wrong decisions are made. Many of an Irish man who thought he could out smart an Irish leprechaun had selected the three wishes and would either go insane trying to think of what to wish for or their wishes would back fire with something bad happening. One common story was of Seamus in County Mayo who wished to be the richest man on a tropical Ireland but when his wish came true he suddenly realized that there were no shops or pubs on the island to spend his money or even people to talk with. Unfortunately Seamus became bored after a few hours on the Island and had to waste his third wish to return to Ireland. This could be how the phrase “luck of the Irish” originated from. One of the biggest tips an Irish person can give anyone is to never listen to what the Irish leprechaun says, no matter what. The leprechauns are great mind players and will say anything into confusing you into making the wrong wishes, although he is smart he can be fooled. Irish leprechauns are devious little creatures and will do anything to escape from man so they should never be trusted. Some say angry leprechauns are more common than a friendly one but this is very untrue as Irish leprechauns are very friendly but tend to dislike humans who always seem to chase them for wishes and pots of gold. If you ever spot a leprechaun you may be better off to pass him by without taking notice, you can end up in more trouble than its worth if decide to chase them as the people of Ireland only know to well. Unfortunately with cities in Ireland expanding the poor wee leprechauns are being driven further underground away from man, taking their rainbows with them. |
Inviting and spells
Inviting and Spells
Do your homework before you invite a fairy into your life rather it be your home or your garden. If you do invite them in be prepared to leave offerings to help keep them happy.
Calming of the Fairies This spell is for an unruly mob - the fairies. For this spell you need an offering: a small piece of cake a thimble of honey  anything you think a fairy might like. Place the offering in a clearing in your garden and whisper the following verse: Little fairies with tiny feet Play in this garden - but leave it neat Little fairies with hands so sweet I leave this offering - for you to eat Little fairies, if this garden is neat Ill leave more offerings at your tiny feet. Continue to leave little fairy treats about once a month. This spell is best done at dusk as fairies are usually asleep in the day and dancing at night. |
Hobgoblins
A dark brown creature who inhabits the forests areas and lives in trees, the Hobgoblin is a solitary fae which enjoys keeping to himself (or herself). This neutral fairy is generally a peaceful fellow and is not aggressive unless provoked. His temper can flare easily so it is wise to try and stay on his good side. They can get especially nasty if their tree is threatened
Grundolyns
Most often found in the homes of larger Elves, Grundolyns have a symbiotic relationship where they work for the elves in exchange for a protected home. They are dedicated to their host family of elves and generally stay with the same family for generations, moving with them as necessity dictates. Grundolyns are about 2 1/2 feet tall, and always wear red and white horizontally striped clothing.
Gnomes
These kind hearted forest dwellers generally make their homes underground near oak trees. They are known for their protection and healing of wildlife and in general are very beneficial to have around. In appearance, they are around 10-12” tall and wear a red pointed hat with blue or green jackets. They mature early and both sexes have white hair by the time they are 100 or so with a life-span of over 1000 years. On rare occasion they can be found in human dwellings but usually prefer to live in the woods, closer to nature.
Fauns
A creature of the woodland forests, the faun has horns on his head and a body that resembles a goat below the waist and a human above. Fauns tend to be alluring, seductive and compelling, often preying upon the unsuspecting by using mind control and magic conjured from their pipes or flute to get what they desire from their victim. According to the elves, if one sees a faun, avert your eyes because as soon as they have your attention, you are under their control. That’s why humans have depicted satan to be a faun. They are neutral but can be very dangerous.
Elves
Elves - Another name by which trooping fairies in are known. They can be divided into the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. An elf (plural elves) is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings (wights, vættir) endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind. In medieval Norse mythology, they appear to have been divided into light elves and dark elves, difficult to delineate from the Æsir (gods) on one hand and the dvergar (dwarves) on the other.
In early modern and modern folklore, they become associated with the fairies of Romance folklore and assume a diminutive size, often living mainly in forests but also underground in hills or rocks, or in wells and springs. 19th-century Romanticism attempted to restore them to full stature, making them men and women of great beauty, often depicted as very young.
From their depiction in Romanticism, elves entered the 20th-century high fantasy genre in the wake of the published work of J. R. R. Tolkien (especially the posthumous publication of hisSilmarillion where Tolkien's treatment of the relation of light elves, dark elves and dwarves is made explicit).
The "Christmas elves" of contemporary popular culture were popularized during the 1870s in the United States, in publications such as Godey's Lady's Book. The earliest preserved descriptions of elves comes from Norse mythology. In Old Norse they are called álfar (nominative singular álfr). Crossbreeding was possible between elves and humans in the Old Norse belief The human queen who had an elvish lover bore the hero Högni, and the elf-woman who was raped by Helgi bore Skuld, who married Hjörvard, Hrólfr Kraki's killer. The saga of Hrolf Kraki adds that since Skuld was half-elven, she was very skilled in witchcraft (seiðr), and this to the point that she was almost invincible in battle. When her warriors fell, she made them rise again to continue fighting. The only way to defeat her was to capture her before she could summon her armies, which included elvish warriors The Old English form of the word is ælf (pl. ælfe, with regional and chronological variants such as ylfe and ælfen). Words for the nymphs of the Greek and Roman mythos were translated by Anglo-Saxon scholars with ælf and variants on it.
Old English tradition preserves the ylfe exclusively as mischievous, harmful beings. The 10th century Metrical Charm "Against A Sudden Stitch" (Wið færstice) offers remedy against sudden pain (such as rheumatism) caused by projectiles of either ése or ylfe or witches (gif hit wære esa gescot oððe hit wære ylfa gescot oððe hit wære hægtessan gescot "be it Ése-shot or Elf-shot or witch-shot").
In relation the beauty of the Norse elves, some further evidence is given by old English words such as ælfsciene ("elf-beautiful"), used of seductively beautiful Biblical women in the Old English poems Judith and Genesis A. Although elves could be considered to be beautiful and potentially helpful beings in some sections of English-speaking society throughout its history, Old English evidence also attests to alignments of elves with demons, as for example in line 112 of Beowulf. On the other hand, oaf is simply a variant of the word elf, presumably originally referring to a changeling or to someone stupefied by elvish enchantment. Very little material concerning elves or elben survives in Old High German beyond the mere noun form alp, plural alpî, elpî. Middle High German has a feminine singular elbe and a pluralelbe, elber, but the word becomes very rare, mostly surviving in the adjective elbisch, and is replaced by the English form elf, elfen via 18th century German translations of Shakespeare's A Midsummernight's Dream. The masculine alp survives in German with a shifted meaning of "nightmare".
Found in many places throughout the world, elves are very plentiful in Scandinavia, many parts of Europe, and more recently, the United States. They are a very long lived race and are gifted with sharper senses, grace, agility and perceptions than humans. They excel in the arts and crafts, including the art of magic which they define as the gathering, focusing and directing of natural energy. In general, they dislike technology and live close to nature in an idyllic setting, respecting and working with all aspects of nature.
Physically, elves are generally the same height as humans or taller but slighter in build. (There are some exceptions to this rule however and a much shorter variety of elves does exist.) In appearance, their faces might seem to be more angular than humans and they do have the more pointed ears so often depicted in books and movies. They prefer to wear medieval-type clothing but have also been known to enjoy wearing a more modern style of clothing such as jeans, on occasion.
They are divided into two basic groups now: the Seelie–those that want to work with humans to heal the planet we both share and the Unseelie–those who would rather solve the problem by eliminating humans all together. It is recommended that you avoid contact with the Unseelie altogether.
In early modern and modern folklore, they become associated with the fairies of Romance folklore and assume a diminutive size, often living mainly in forests but also underground in hills or rocks, or in wells and springs. 19th-century Romanticism attempted to restore them to full stature, making them men and women of great beauty, often depicted as very young.
From their depiction in Romanticism, elves entered the 20th-century high fantasy genre in the wake of the published work of J. R. R. Tolkien (especially the posthumous publication of hisSilmarillion where Tolkien's treatment of the relation of light elves, dark elves and dwarves is made explicit).
The "Christmas elves" of contemporary popular culture were popularized during the 1870s in the United States, in publications such as Godey's Lady's Book. The earliest preserved descriptions of elves comes from Norse mythology. In Old Norse they are called álfar (nominative singular álfr). Crossbreeding was possible between elves and humans in the Old Norse belief The human queen who had an elvish lover bore the hero Högni, and the elf-woman who was raped by Helgi bore Skuld, who married Hjörvard, Hrólfr Kraki's killer. The saga of Hrolf Kraki adds that since Skuld was half-elven, she was very skilled in witchcraft (seiðr), and this to the point that she was almost invincible in battle. When her warriors fell, she made them rise again to continue fighting. The only way to defeat her was to capture her before she could summon her armies, which included elvish warriors The Old English form of the word is ælf (pl. ælfe, with regional and chronological variants such as ylfe and ælfen). Words for the nymphs of the Greek and Roman mythos were translated by Anglo-Saxon scholars with ælf and variants on it.
Old English tradition preserves the ylfe exclusively as mischievous, harmful beings. The 10th century Metrical Charm "Against A Sudden Stitch" (Wið færstice) offers remedy against sudden pain (such as rheumatism) caused by projectiles of either ése or ylfe or witches (gif hit wære esa gescot oððe hit wære ylfa gescot oððe hit wære hægtessan gescot "be it Ése-shot or Elf-shot or witch-shot").
In relation the beauty of the Norse elves, some further evidence is given by old English words such as ælfsciene ("elf-beautiful"), used of seductively beautiful Biblical women in the Old English poems Judith and Genesis A. Although elves could be considered to be beautiful and potentially helpful beings in some sections of English-speaking society throughout its history, Old English evidence also attests to alignments of elves with demons, as for example in line 112 of Beowulf. On the other hand, oaf is simply a variant of the word elf, presumably originally referring to a changeling or to someone stupefied by elvish enchantment. Very little material concerning elves or elben survives in Old High German beyond the mere noun form alp, plural alpî, elpî. Middle High German has a feminine singular elbe and a pluralelbe, elber, but the word becomes very rare, mostly surviving in the adjective elbisch, and is replaced by the English form elf, elfen via 18th century German translations of Shakespeare's A Midsummernight's Dream. The masculine alp survives in German with a shifted meaning of "nightmare".
Found in many places throughout the world, elves are very plentiful in Scandinavia, many parts of Europe, and more recently, the United States. They are a very long lived race and are gifted with sharper senses, grace, agility and perceptions than humans. They excel in the arts and crafts, including the art of magic which they define as the gathering, focusing and directing of natural energy. In general, they dislike technology and live close to nature in an idyllic setting, respecting and working with all aspects of nature.
Physically, elves are generally the same height as humans or taller but slighter in build. (There are some exceptions to this rule however and a much shorter variety of elves does exist.) In appearance, their faces might seem to be more angular than humans and they do have the more pointed ears so often depicted in books and movies. They prefer to wear medieval-type clothing but have also been known to enjoy wearing a more modern style of clothing such as jeans, on occasion.
They are divided into two basic groups now: the Seelie–those that want to work with humans to heal the planet we both share and the Unseelie–those who would rather solve the problem by eliminating humans all together. It is recommended that you avoid contact with the Unseelie altogether.
Dwarfs
Dwarfs - Are stocky, short and powerful. They mature at three years old and are grey and bearded by the age of seven. It is said they cannot appear in the light of day for to do so would turn them to stone. However, there are potions and spells that empower them to endure sunlight. In Scandinavian legends the dwarfs (duergar) were great craftsmen in legend. Some of their accomplishments included Odin's spear, Gungnir and Thor's hammer Mjollnir. They brewed the mead of poetry, and created many magical runes and songs. According to Snorri Sturluson, they were originally maggots who feasted on the flesh of the giant Ymir, and were granted intelligence and shape by the gods. The duergar could not face the light of day, which turned them to stone. Later they degenerated into the huldre-folk of Norwegian and Swedish folklore. Later, the Gaelic and Norman peoples carried their traditions to the British Isles, where can be found several types of fairies resemble dwarfs, such as the trow of the Shetland isles and the spriggan of Cornwall. Dwarfs usually look like grave old men, with grey, flowing beards and hunched backs. They are much shorter than humans - some may be only 18 inches high, while the taller ones are usually the height of a two year old child. It is said 4tTheir aged appearance seems to be caused by the fact that they reach maturity at age three.
Dwarfs live deep under the ground in mines, or in the hearts of mountains and dig for gold and precious stones. Mountain dwarfs live in huge underground halls, full of glittering jewels and piles of gold. They have their own kings and kingdoms, chieftains and tribes. Mountain dwarfs are skilled in the working of all kinds of metals Mystical metal workers, dwarfs are at home amid their mountain forges. Their knowledge of metal's properties, both physical and magical, is legendary. Their work sells for astounding prices; their payment is almost always made in gold or other magical treasures. Some of the most famous weapons forged by the dwarves are the hammer Moljnir (Thor), the lance Gungnir (Odin), the sword Durandal (Roland), the sword of Dooder de Mayence and the cord that helped tied Fenfir. The dwarves' wealth is best left untouched by humans.
Dwarfs are sensitive about showing their feet since they are usually deformed in some way. If you are curious of their feet, the only way to get an idea is to put flour, ash, or something of that sort in their path and to look at their footprints. Dwarves can't be above ground during the day since sunlight turns them to stone. Some say they exist as toads during the day and assume their familiar dwarvish form at night.
Behavior
In Germany the dwarfs are usually friendly, or at least neutral, in their dealings with man. They were interested in the work of mortals, and would often spy on them unbeknowst, wearing their fog caps which gave them invisibility. Sometimes they would help men with their labours, but they expected to be repaid in full. On ther other hand, those who help dwarfs often get repaid with treasure from their hoard. But those who steal their treasure have bad luck, or find that the stolen gold has turned into worthless dry leaves. When in need, they would steal, and if reproached for the act, or caught and punished, they became furiously angry. Sometimes a whole kingdom of dwarfs could be roused to anger for such an act, and would move away. Today, most kingdoms are gone, and only rarely may an individual dwarf be seen.
Those who reside in mines are more foul of temper than their mountain brethren. Unless they receive offerings from their human counterparts, they are known to sabotage efforts to extract earth's valuable minerals. Their interference includes the breaking of tools and pulling down mine roofs.
Dwarfs live deep under the ground in mines, or in the hearts of mountains and dig for gold and precious stones. Mountain dwarfs live in huge underground halls, full of glittering jewels and piles of gold. They have their own kings and kingdoms, chieftains and tribes. Mountain dwarfs are skilled in the working of all kinds of metals Mystical metal workers, dwarfs are at home amid their mountain forges. Their knowledge of metal's properties, both physical and magical, is legendary. Their work sells for astounding prices; their payment is almost always made in gold or other magical treasures. Some of the most famous weapons forged by the dwarves are the hammer Moljnir (Thor), the lance Gungnir (Odin), the sword Durandal (Roland), the sword of Dooder de Mayence and the cord that helped tied Fenfir. The dwarves' wealth is best left untouched by humans.
Dwarfs are sensitive about showing their feet since they are usually deformed in some way. If you are curious of their feet, the only way to get an idea is to put flour, ash, or something of that sort in their path and to look at their footprints. Dwarves can't be above ground during the day since sunlight turns them to stone. Some say they exist as toads during the day and assume their familiar dwarvish form at night.
Behavior
In Germany the dwarfs are usually friendly, or at least neutral, in their dealings with man. They were interested in the work of mortals, and would often spy on them unbeknowst, wearing their fog caps which gave them invisibility. Sometimes they would help men with their labours, but they expected to be repaid in full. On ther other hand, those who help dwarfs often get repaid with treasure from their hoard. But those who steal their treasure have bad luck, or find that the stolen gold has turned into worthless dry leaves. When in need, they would steal, and if reproached for the act, or caught and punished, they became furiously angry. Sometimes a whole kingdom of dwarfs could be roused to anger for such an act, and would move away. Today, most kingdoms are gone, and only rarely may an individual dwarf be seen.
Those who reside in mines are more foul of temper than their mountain brethren. Unless they receive offerings from their human counterparts, they are known to sabotage efforts to extract earth's valuable minerals. Their interference includes the breaking of tools and pulling down mine roofs.
Dryads
Dryads - They ae spirits that dwell in the trees, preferably Oaks.The Druids turned to them for inspiration. Dryads are tree nymphs in Greek mythology. In Greek drys signifies "oak", from an Indo-European root *derew(o)- "tree" or "wood". Thus Dryads are specifically the nymphs of oak trees, though the term has come to be used for all tree nymphs in general. "Such deities are very much overshadowed by the divine figures defined through poetry and cult," Walter Burkert remarked of Greek nature deities. They were normally considered to be very shy creatures, except around the goddess Artemis, who was known to be a friend to most nymphs. Dryads, like all nymphs, were supernaturally long-lived and tied to their homes, but some were a step beyond most nymphs. These were the Hamadryads who were an integral part of their trees, such that if the tree died, the Hamadryad associated with it died as well. For these reasons, Dryads and the Greek godspunished any mortals who harmed trees without first propitiating the tree-nymphs. The Dryad of ash trees were called the Meliai. The ash-tree sisters tended the infant Zeus in Rhea's Cretan cave. Gaea gave birth to the Meliai after being made fertile by the blood of castrated Uranus. Nymphs associated with apple trees were Epimeliad, and walnut-trees Caryatids.
Changling
In Ireland, the Faerie folk are always treated with respect, but many accusations are hurled at them as well, from making crops wither to milk tuning sour.
One of the most common accusations is that they steal humans and spirit them away to live in the Faerie realm, this person is known as a Changeling.
The humans most at risk are said to be midwives and new mothers who are taken so that they may become the servants of the Faerie queens and tend to the Faerie children. Faerie women find childbirth difficult and the Faerie children that survive are often deformed and stunted.
Handsome young men are also at risk, as they are taken to become lovers of the female Faeries. One theory why this happens is that the Faeries see humans as a sturdier and healthier race and are trying to strengthen their own bloodline by breeding with humans.
The humans most at risk though are babies and young children. They are taken and in their place a Faerie child is left, this child is known as a changeling although the term changeling can also refer to someone who has been taken and then returned to the mortal world a few years later.
The Faeries covert human babies as they tend to be happy, healthy, sturdy beings and have no hesitation in swopping them with their own sickly babes. On occasion they have been known to take a child because they believe it is not loved enough by its human parents or sometimes they take the child out of malice or spite, one can never be sure what a Faeries motive is.
How to recognise a Changeling?
It is said that you can tell a changeling baby by its appearance and manner as it will be ill-tempered and wizened and will have very dark eyes that if you look into them you can see wisdom well beyond their age. Within a few weeks the changeling will have a full set of teeth and their legs and arms will be really bony and thin.
A changeling doesn’t always appear as a baby and occasionally the Faeries will leave a piece of enchanted wood called a ‘stock’ in the cradle instead. This stock will appear to grow sick and die right in front of the ‘parents’ eyes.
It is told that babies are taken as it is easier to integrate them into the Faerie community and there is less chance of them remembering their real parents.
Very occasionally, some people leave the mortal world to live in the Faerie realm by choice. They don’t usually stay in the Faerie realm for life and will return to their home after several years. None of them return the same person and will be different they will have ‘changed’ in some way. Traditionally, the person who returns will possess a ‘gift’ of some type and may be a master of herbal or magical knowledge.
A real Changeling
In a little village on the Cavan/Leitrim border their lived a man whom it was said, had been taken as a baby by the Faeries but was returned to his loving family 10 years later. His story of being a real changeling is still told to this day.
Methods of returning a Changeling
The changelings’ new family will never have any good luck while the changeling resides in the family home as the changeling will drain the family of any good fortune that would come their way. A warning though to all those people who become parents to a changeling, it must be loved and cared for if you ever want to have a chance of seeing your own child again.
The unspoken threat is that if the changeling is harmed or abandoned in any way, the Faeries will treat your child just as badly or possibly even worse, a risk parents aren’t willing to take.
But don’t despair there are methods of returning a changeling from where it came from and ensuring the safe return of the child that has been taken. The most traditional methods in existence are:
Trooping Faeries leave their barrow, (their home) several times a year. A direct swop is possible at this time although to be successful specific spells and rituals need to be performed.
A Faerie changeling is often weak and feeble so they must be nurtured and loved so that he/she becomes healthy and happy. When this occurs the Faerie parents usually decide that they want their natural child back and will switch them, themselves. This is probably the best and safest way to return a changeling to its proper parents as I really wouldn’t recommend the next method myself.
In some areas in Ireland, Faeries are seen as demons so the stolen person is not seen as kidnapped but possessed and it is believed that Faeries can be exorcised just like demons. The victim is beaten or tortured in the hope that life within the ‘host’ will become so unpleasant the Faerie be cast out.
Faeries and Fire
In Ireland it is wildly believed that the Sidhe are terrified of fire and some alleged changelings have been badly burned or even killed by the efforts of others in order to make the Faerie leave. One well recorded case of this happening took place in 1895 and is of Bridget Cleary.
If all else fails
Now if after all these attempts at returning the changeling fail what can the unlucky ‘parents’ expect. A changeling will often grow up to be a snivelling, dim-witted person who will no longer be a changeling but will be known as an ‘ouphe’ which is an original ‘oaf’.
So if the changeling becomes an ouphe what becomes of the human child living in the Faerie realm? Some are reported to pine and grieve so much for their loved ones in the mortal world they wither and die. While others adapt well and live quite happily within the Faerie realm enjoying a long life filled with happiness, Irish music and Irish dancing.
One of the most common accusations is that they steal humans and spirit them away to live in the Faerie realm, this person is known as a Changeling.
The humans most at risk are said to be midwives and new mothers who are taken so that they may become the servants of the Faerie queens and tend to the Faerie children. Faerie women find childbirth difficult and the Faerie children that survive are often deformed and stunted.
Handsome young men are also at risk, as they are taken to become lovers of the female Faeries. One theory why this happens is that the Faeries see humans as a sturdier and healthier race and are trying to strengthen their own bloodline by breeding with humans.
The humans most at risk though are babies and young children. They are taken and in their place a Faerie child is left, this child is known as a changeling although the term changeling can also refer to someone who has been taken and then returned to the mortal world a few years later.
The Faeries covert human babies as they tend to be happy, healthy, sturdy beings and have no hesitation in swopping them with their own sickly babes. On occasion they have been known to take a child because they believe it is not loved enough by its human parents or sometimes they take the child out of malice or spite, one can never be sure what a Faeries motive is.
How to recognise a Changeling?
It is said that you can tell a changeling baby by its appearance and manner as it will be ill-tempered and wizened and will have very dark eyes that if you look into them you can see wisdom well beyond their age. Within a few weeks the changeling will have a full set of teeth and their legs and arms will be really bony and thin.
A changeling doesn’t always appear as a baby and occasionally the Faeries will leave a piece of enchanted wood called a ‘stock’ in the cradle instead. This stock will appear to grow sick and die right in front of the ‘parents’ eyes.
It is told that babies are taken as it is easier to integrate them into the Faerie community and there is less chance of them remembering their real parents.
Very occasionally, some people leave the mortal world to live in the Faerie realm by choice. They don’t usually stay in the Faerie realm for life and will return to their home after several years. None of them return the same person and will be different they will have ‘changed’ in some way. Traditionally, the person who returns will possess a ‘gift’ of some type and may be a master of herbal or magical knowledge.
A real Changeling
In a little village on the Cavan/Leitrim border their lived a man whom it was said, had been taken as a baby by the Faeries but was returned to his loving family 10 years later. His story of being a real changeling is still told to this day.
Methods of returning a Changeling
The changelings’ new family will never have any good luck while the changeling resides in the family home as the changeling will drain the family of any good fortune that would come their way. A warning though to all those people who become parents to a changeling, it must be loved and cared for if you ever want to have a chance of seeing your own child again.
The unspoken threat is that if the changeling is harmed or abandoned in any way, the Faeries will treat your child just as badly or possibly even worse, a risk parents aren’t willing to take.
But don’t despair there are methods of returning a changeling from where it came from and ensuring the safe return of the child that has been taken. The most traditional methods in existence are:
Trooping Faeries leave their barrow, (their home) several times a year. A direct swop is possible at this time although to be successful specific spells and rituals need to be performed.
A Faerie changeling is often weak and feeble so they must be nurtured and loved so that he/she becomes healthy and happy. When this occurs the Faerie parents usually decide that they want their natural child back and will switch them, themselves. This is probably the best and safest way to return a changeling to its proper parents as I really wouldn’t recommend the next method myself.
In some areas in Ireland, Faeries are seen as demons so the stolen person is not seen as kidnapped but possessed and it is believed that Faeries can be exorcised just like demons. The victim is beaten or tortured in the hope that life within the ‘host’ will become so unpleasant the Faerie be cast out.
Faeries and Fire
In Ireland it is wildly believed that the Sidhe are terrified of fire and some alleged changelings have been badly burned or even killed by the efforts of others in order to make the Faerie leave. One well recorded case of this happening took place in 1895 and is of Bridget Cleary.
If all else fails
Now if after all these attempts at returning the changeling fail what can the unlucky ‘parents’ expect. A changeling will often grow up to be a snivelling, dim-witted person who will no longer be a changeling but will be known as an ‘ouphe’ which is an original ‘oaf’.
So if the changeling becomes an ouphe what becomes of the human child living in the Faerie realm? Some are reported to pine and grieve so much for their loved ones in the mortal world they wither and die. While others adapt well and live quite happily within the Faerie realm enjoying a long life filled with happiness, Irish music and Irish dancing.
Brownie
Brownie: A friendly goblin or sprite of Scottish Gaelic folklore whose name seems to be known exclusively in the English form, which derives from the earlier ‘little brown man’. The brownie wears a brown hood, attaches himself to families, and may reside in farm-houses or barns. He does the chores at night when people sleep; he has even been known to assist in childbirth. If criticized the brownie may revenge himself by breaking dishes, spilling milk, driving the cows astray, or spoiling the crops. Although always thought to be of Scottish Gaelic origin, the brownie is widely known in other parts of the British Isles and the English-speaking world. The brownie has much in common with the kobold of Germanic folklore and may be classed as a solitary fairy, "Brownies" were an ancient and well-organized band long before there was a Covenanter to flee to caves and caverns. Indeed, from what can be gathered from the writings of ancient authors, one is led to believe the "Brownie" idea is a very old one. It is fair to presume that the "Brownies" enjoyed their nightly pranks, or skipped over the dewy heather to aid deserving peasants even before the red-haired Dane crossed the border to be Caledonia's unwelcome guest. Every family seems to have been haunted by a spirit they called "Brownie" which did different sorts of work, and they in return gave him offerings of the various products of the place. The "Brownie" idea was woven into the affairs of everyday life. In fact it seemed to be part of their religion, and a large part at that. When they churned their milk, or brewed, they poured some milk or wort through a hole in a flat, thin stone called "Brownie's stone." In other cases they poured the offerings in the corner of the room, believing that good would surely come to their homes if "the Brownies" were remembered. On out of the way islands, where the people could neither read nor write, and were wholly ignorant of what was going on in other parts of the country, so much so that they looked upon a person that could understand black marks on paper as a supernatural being, the "Brownie" was regarded as their helper.
The poet Milton had doubtless one of these "Brownies" in his mind when he penned the lines in "L'Allegro" to the "lubber fiend," who drudged and sweat
"To earn his cream-bowl duly set."
But, strange to say, he was not as complimentary as the untarnished reputation of the "Brownies" might lead one to expect. In some villages, near their chapel, they had a large flat stone called "Brownie’s stone," upon which the ancient inhabitants offered a cow’s milk every Sunday to secure the good-will of the "Brownies." That the "Brownies were good eaters, and could out-do the cat in their love for cream, is well proven in many places.
IT may be gratifying to some to know that even kings have not thought it beneath their dignity to dip the royal pen in the "Brownies" behalf. King James in his "Demonology" says:" The spirit called 'Brownie' appeared like a man and haunted divers houses without doing any evil, but doing as it were necessarie turnes up and down the house, yet some were so blinded as to believe that their house was all the sonsier, as they called it, that such spirits resorted there." Other writers say that the "Brownie" was a sturdy fairy, who, if he was fed well and treated kindly would do, as the people said, a great deal of work. He is said to have been obliging, and used to come into houses by night, and for a dish of cream perform lustily any piece of work that might remain to be done.
The superstitious inhabitants had absolute faith in the "Brownies" wisdom or judgment. The "Brownie" spirit was said to reach over the table and make a mark where his favorite was to sit at a game if he wished to win, and this "tip" from the "Brownie" was never disregarded by the player.
THE seeker after facts concerning the origin of the "Brownies" will find it difficult to gather them in. He may visit the largest libraries in the land and turn the leaves of old volumes that have been neglected for centuries, and fail to find more than that at one time in the long long ago, the "Brownie" was a power in the land that no well-regulated family could fail to do without. One thing is certain, however, the more we learn about the "Brownies" the more we like them. Theirs is a genealogy that one can trace back through the dusty centuries of the past without finding one blot on their scutcheon, or discovering that they descended from a race of robbers or evil doers. It is indeed refreshing to learn that at a time when the age was so dark that even Christianity could scarcely send a ray of light through it, and when every man's hand seemed to be against his brother, when poachers, moss-troopers and plundering men of might were denuding the land, the "Brownies" through rain and shine were found at their post every night, aiding the distressed, picking up the work that weary hands let fall, and in many ways winning the love and respect of the people.
The poet Milton had doubtless one of these "Brownies" in his mind when he penned the lines in "L'Allegro" to the "lubber fiend," who drudged and sweat
"To earn his cream-bowl duly set."
But, strange to say, he was not as complimentary as the untarnished reputation of the "Brownies" might lead one to expect. In some villages, near their chapel, they had a large flat stone called "Brownie’s stone," upon which the ancient inhabitants offered a cow’s milk every Sunday to secure the good-will of the "Brownies." That the "Brownies were good eaters, and could out-do the cat in their love for cream, is well proven in many places.
IT may be gratifying to some to know that even kings have not thought it beneath their dignity to dip the royal pen in the "Brownies" behalf. King James in his "Demonology" says:" The spirit called 'Brownie' appeared like a man and haunted divers houses without doing any evil, but doing as it were necessarie turnes up and down the house, yet some were so blinded as to believe that their house was all the sonsier, as they called it, that such spirits resorted there." Other writers say that the "Brownie" was a sturdy fairy, who, if he was fed well and treated kindly would do, as the people said, a great deal of work. He is said to have been obliging, and used to come into houses by night, and for a dish of cream perform lustily any piece of work that might remain to be done.
The superstitious inhabitants had absolute faith in the "Brownies" wisdom or judgment. The "Brownie" spirit was said to reach over the table and make a mark where his favorite was to sit at a game if he wished to win, and this "tip" from the "Brownie" was never disregarded by the player.
THE seeker after facts concerning the origin of the "Brownies" will find it difficult to gather them in. He may visit the largest libraries in the land and turn the leaves of old volumes that have been neglected for centuries, and fail to find more than that at one time in the long long ago, the "Brownie" was a power in the land that no well-regulated family could fail to do without. One thing is certain, however, the more we learn about the "Brownies" the more we like them. Theirs is a genealogy that one can trace back through the dusty centuries of the past without finding one blot on their scutcheon, or discovering that they descended from a race of robbers or evil doers. It is indeed refreshing to learn that at a time when the age was so dark that even Christianity could scarcely send a ray of light through it, and when every man's hand seemed to be against his brother, when poachers, moss-troopers and plundering men of might were denuding the land, the "Brownies" through rain and shine were found at their post every night, aiding the distressed, picking up the work that weary hands let fall, and in many ways winning the love and respect of the people.
Bogles
Bogles - Generally evil-natured Goblins although they are more disposed to do harm to liars and murderers.
Banshee
"Woman Fairy"; a spirit attached to certain families. When a member's death approaches, the family will hear the banshee crying. Not always terrifying.Banshee (bean-sidhe) means ‘Faerie woman’ or ‘woman of the Faerie mound. Many legends exist surrounding the Banshees and just how evil is she meant to be.
The Legends of the Irish Banshee
The first is that she is the ghost of a young woman who was brutally killed and died so horribly that her spirit is left to wander the world watching her family and loved ones warning them when a violent death is imminent.
This particular type of Banshee appears as an old woman in rags with dirty grey hair, long fingernails and sharp pointed rotten teeth. Her eyes are blood red and filled with so much hatred and sorrow that to look into them will cause instant death. The Banshees mouth is permanently open as she emits a long and painful scream to torture the souls of the living.
According to legend there are a few Banshees that relish in taking a life and will stalk their victim wailing and screaming at them to the point that the victim goes insane or die. It has been told that the Banshee has ripped many a brave man to death with her bare hands. This is the type of Banshee portrayed in Hollywood ‘horror’ films.
Here in Ireland we have a much less gory view of the Banshee. She does attach herself to families usually with an O or a Mc in the surname such as O’Brien or McNeill etc, and she does indeed foretell a death in the family.
The Banshee does not ‘bring’ death but warns that death is near and this gives the family a chance to prepare and it is not necessarily a violent death it may be of a family member that has lived to 106 years of age! She is there as an escort to ensure that the loved one passes safely to the other side.
Stories have been passed down through generations of families of ‘O’s and ‘Mc’s of their personal experiences with their own Banshee and my family are no different.
I remember being told of an uncle who was walking home one cold blustery night (probably three sheets to the wind after partaking of a snifter to keep the cold out!) and on arriving home told my grand-mother that he had tried to comfort an old woman, dressed in black with a veil over her face, who was crying and wailing outside the house but every time he went over to her she moved away and kept pointing at the house.
My grand-mother knew straight away what this old lady represented and sent my uncle to bed telling him she would have a look. Needless to say she didn’t dare look herself. Three days later my grand-mothers brother died peacefully in his sleep. As children we used to plague my uncle to recount the story of the night he tried to invite the Banshee in for tea!
The Banshee may sometimes only be heard keening (an Irish word used to describe the wailing that women used to do over the body of a deceased person to ward off evil spirits) but when the Banshee decides to appear she may take the form of the following:
An old woman dressed in black with long grey hair and covering her face with a veil.
An old woman with long white hair, red eyes and dressed in a green dress.
A deathly pale woman with long red hair dressed in a white dress sometimes a shroud.
A beautiful woman wearing a shroud.
A beautiful woman with silver-white hair wearing a long shimmering silver dress.
A headless woman naked from the waist up and carrying a bowl of blood.
Of course no-one wishes a visit from a Banshee no matter how alluring she is but she does serve a purpose to the family by letting them know that they should start making preparations for a traditional funeral.
The Legends of the Irish Banshee
The first is that she is the ghost of a young woman who was brutally killed and died so horribly that her spirit is left to wander the world watching her family and loved ones warning them when a violent death is imminent.
This particular type of Banshee appears as an old woman in rags with dirty grey hair, long fingernails and sharp pointed rotten teeth. Her eyes are blood red and filled with so much hatred and sorrow that to look into them will cause instant death. The Banshees mouth is permanently open as she emits a long and painful scream to torture the souls of the living.
According to legend there are a few Banshees that relish in taking a life and will stalk their victim wailing and screaming at them to the point that the victim goes insane or die. It has been told that the Banshee has ripped many a brave man to death with her bare hands. This is the type of Banshee portrayed in Hollywood ‘horror’ films.
Here in Ireland we have a much less gory view of the Banshee. She does attach herself to families usually with an O or a Mc in the surname such as O’Brien or McNeill etc, and she does indeed foretell a death in the family.
The Banshee does not ‘bring’ death but warns that death is near and this gives the family a chance to prepare and it is not necessarily a violent death it may be of a family member that has lived to 106 years of age! She is there as an escort to ensure that the loved one passes safely to the other side.
Stories have been passed down through generations of families of ‘O’s and ‘Mc’s of their personal experiences with their own Banshee and my family are no different.
I remember being told of an uncle who was walking home one cold blustery night (probably three sheets to the wind after partaking of a snifter to keep the cold out!) and on arriving home told my grand-mother that he had tried to comfort an old woman, dressed in black with a veil over her face, who was crying and wailing outside the house but every time he went over to her she moved away and kept pointing at the house.
My grand-mother knew straight away what this old lady represented and sent my uncle to bed telling him she would have a look. Needless to say she didn’t dare look herself. Three days later my grand-mothers brother died peacefully in his sleep. As children we used to plague my uncle to recount the story of the night he tried to invite the Banshee in for tea!
The Banshee may sometimes only be heard keening (an Irish word used to describe the wailing that women used to do over the body of a deceased person to ward off evil spirits) but when the Banshee decides to appear she may take the form of the following:
An old woman dressed in black with long grey hair and covering her face with a veil.
An old woman with long white hair, red eyes and dressed in a green dress.
A deathly pale woman with long red hair dressed in a white dress sometimes a shroud.
A beautiful woman wearing a shroud.
A beautiful woman with silver-white hair wearing a long shimmering silver dress.
A headless woman naked from the waist up and carrying a bowl of blood.
Of course no-one wishes a visit from a Banshee no matter how alluring she is but she does serve a purpose to the family by letting them know that they should start making preparations for a traditional funeral.
Asrais
Asrais - Are small, delicate, female fairies. They cannot be exposed to sunlight or captured; else they shall melt away into a pool of water. In English folklore an Asrai is a type of aquatic fairy, similar in some ways to mermaids. Some sources describe them as timid and shy, standing only between 2 and 4 feet tall, while others depict them as tall and lithe. They are said to look like beautiful young maidens, sometimes as young as children, while actually being hundreds of years old. They may have webbed hands and feet, resembling some descriptions of selkies.
If an Asrai is seen by a man, her beauty is so great that, according to folklore, the man will instantly wish to capture her. The Asrai are as deathly afraid of capture as they are of the sun, because if captured or if a single ray of sunlight touches them, it is said that they die and turn into a pool of water. They are, however, said to enjoy bathing in the moonlight
The tale told of one fisherman who caught an Asrai claims that the touch of her skin was so cold, that where the Asrai touched his arm while pleading for her freedom—and her life—the flesh has never been warm since.
Their inability to survive daylight is similar to that of the Scottish Fuath and the Germanic Dwarves
If an Asrai is seen by a man, her beauty is so great that, according to folklore, the man will instantly wish to capture her. The Asrai are as deathly afraid of capture as they are of the sun, because if captured or if a single ray of sunlight touches them, it is said that they die and turn into a pool of water. They are, however, said to enjoy bathing in the moonlight
The tale told of one fisherman who caught an Asrai claims that the touch of her skin was so cold, that where the Asrai touched his arm while pleading for her freedom—and her life—the flesh has never been warm since.
Their inability to survive daylight is similar to that of the Scottish Fuath and the Germanic Dwarves
Fairy
The Little People are said to be the dispossessed early tribes of the British Isles.They faded away into inhabited places, growing smaller and smaller with time as they were forgotten and passed into legend. The Tuatha de Danann, People of the Goddess Dana, ruled Ireland before the Milasian invasion. They were driven underground where they became the Daoine Sidhe fairies.
The word Fairy is derived from the ancient "faunoe o fatuoe" which, in the pagan mythology, indicated the faun's (deer) companions, creatures endowed with power of foretelling the future and ruling the human events. The word Fairy also comes from "fatigue", which in Middle Ages was synonymous with "wild woman", that is woman of woods, waters and, in general, of the natural world. Fairies are super natural creatures endowed with magic power, thanks to which they can change their appearance and make it change to the others. They frequent caves, rocks, hills, woods and sources; they are ready to help innocents and victims of persecution; they make up for a wrong, they avenge an offense, but they also can be malicious and vengeful. According to tradition, they are present at men's birth in order to give them special gifts and influence their existence in a benevolent or malevolent way. Fairies are naturally complicated and their behavior is ruled by a moral code which is very different from ours. Most of these little creatures, apart their size, appearance and nature, have hidden powers and are able to give, as much as they please, good and bad luck. Therefore, the more you know about Fairies, the best chances you have to come out of an encounter unscathed. When you have dealings with Fairies it is of primary importance that you treat them with kindness and all respect. It is too easy to offend them and Heaven help you if you take liberties with them
Fairies are constantly attracted by every form of creativeness and, most of all, by instants of deep feeling, which they want to share. Lovers, poets, artists, writers, sculptors, weavers, musicians and all arts have to admit they are in debt to a unidentifiable force, which is invisible, capricious, sensible, delicate, incomprehensible and powerful, called "inspiration" or "Muse" which, when it is present, is generally irresistible. Fairy's world is full of dark enchantment, of charming beauty, of incredible ugliness, of hard superficiality, of spirit, malice, joy and inspiration, of terror, laughter, love and tragedy. Their world is richer than fairy-tales make believe.
Special Dates for Fairies
Midsummer's Eve (June 24). On Midsummer's Eve the fairies are at their merriest
Fairy Food
When it comes to fairy food, we read stories to discover that mallow fruits are fairy cheeses, and dogwood fruits are pixie pears. Little cakes are another favorite fairy food, and if they are made with saffron, they are especially cherished since saffron is highly valued by fairies
What do Fairies Love ?
Fairies love beauty and splendor, grace of movement, music and pleasure, everything in fact that is artistic. They do not like any sort of violent, brutal enjoyment. They hate greedy people who gather the last bit of grain, or drain the last bit of milk from the glass, or pluck the trees bare of fruit leaving nothing for the spirits who wander by in the moonlight.
Always leave a bit of milk or drink in your glass at a feast and never pick the last fruit from the tree. Don't stay up too late either, for fairies like to gather round after the family is in bed and drink and eat.
If treated well, the fairies will bestow good fortune and reveal the mysteries of plant herbs. For acts of kindness bestowed upon the spirits, fairy blessings will come in the form of unexpected good luck.
Fairies could bestow good fortune on people, but if they felt offended they could cast spells and cause mischievous trouble. Therefore be kind to a vagabond, for he may be a fairy prince in disguise, who has come to test the depth of your charity, and of the generous nature that can give liberally out of pure love and kindliness to those who are in need, and not in hope of a reward.
The most popular pastimes of fairies are music and dancing. At night the fairies would rise from their homes and come out to dance away the hours of darkness. They especially love to dance in the evening of the full moon. When the morning sun begins to rise, the fairies vanish.
Many mortals were enticed by the beauty of dancing fairies and sought to watch them dance at night. But this was very dangerous, because if the fairies lured and trapped a mortal, the mortal could be forced to dance all night until they collapsed from exhaustion.
Fairy music is more melodious than human music and there are many songs and tunes which are said to have originated from the fairies. Many pipers and fiddlers of Europe learned their songs from the fairies
The word Fairy is derived from the ancient "faunoe o fatuoe" which, in the pagan mythology, indicated the faun's (deer) companions, creatures endowed with power of foretelling the future and ruling the human events. The word Fairy also comes from "fatigue", which in Middle Ages was synonymous with "wild woman", that is woman of woods, waters and, in general, of the natural world. Fairies are super natural creatures endowed with magic power, thanks to which they can change their appearance and make it change to the others. They frequent caves, rocks, hills, woods and sources; they are ready to help innocents and victims of persecution; they make up for a wrong, they avenge an offense, but they also can be malicious and vengeful. According to tradition, they are present at men's birth in order to give them special gifts and influence their existence in a benevolent or malevolent way. Fairies are naturally complicated and their behavior is ruled by a moral code which is very different from ours. Most of these little creatures, apart their size, appearance and nature, have hidden powers and are able to give, as much as they please, good and bad luck. Therefore, the more you know about Fairies, the best chances you have to come out of an encounter unscathed. When you have dealings with Fairies it is of primary importance that you treat them with kindness and all respect. It is too easy to offend them and Heaven help you if you take liberties with them
Fairies are constantly attracted by every form of creativeness and, most of all, by instants of deep feeling, which they want to share. Lovers, poets, artists, writers, sculptors, weavers, musicians and all arts have to admit they are in debt to a unidentifiable force, which is invisible, capricious, sensible, delicate, incomprehensible and powerful, called "inspiration" or "Muse" which, when it is present, is generally irresistible. Fairy's world is full of dark enchantment, of charming beauty, of incredible ugliness, of hard superficiality, of spirit, malice, joy and inspiration, of terror, laughter, love and tragedy. Their world is richer than fairy-tales make believe.
Special Dates for Fairies
Midsummer's Eve (June 24). On Midsummer's Eve the fairies are at their merriest
Fairy Food
When it comes to fairy food, we read stories to discover that mallow fruits are fairy cheeses, and dogwood fruits are pixie pears. Little cakes are another favorite fairy food, and if they are made with saffron, they are especially cherished since saffron is highly valued by fairies
What do Fairies Love ?
Fairies love beauty and splendor, grace of movement, music and pleasure, everything in fact that is artistic. They do not like any sort of violent, brutal enjoyment. They hate greedy people who gather the last bit of grain, or drain the last bit of milk from the glass, or pluck the trees bare of fruit leaving nothing for the spirits who wander by in the moonlight.
Always leave a bit of milk or drink in your glass at a feast and never pick the last fruit from the tree. Don't stay up too late either, for fairies like to gather round after the family is in bed and drink and eat.
If treated well, the fairies will bestow good fortune and reveal the mysteries of plant herbs. For acts of kindness bestowed upon the spirits, fairy blessings will come in the form of unexpected good luck.
Fairies could bestow good fortune on people, but if they felt offended they could cast spells and cause mischievous trouble. Therefore be kind to a vagabond, for he may be a fairy prince in disguise, who has come to test the depth of your charity, and of the generous nature that can give liberally out of pure love and kindliness to those who are in need, and not in hope of a reward.
The most popular pastimes of fairies are music and dancing. At night the fairies would rise from their homes and come out to dance away the hours of darkness. They especially love to dance in the evening of the full moon. When the morning sun begins to rise, the fairies vanish.
Many mortals were enticed by the beauty of dancing fairies and sought to watch them dance at night. But this was very dangerous, because if the fairies lured and trapped a mortal, the mortal could be forced to dance all night until they collapsed from exhaustion.
Fairy music is more melodious than human music and there are many songs and tunes which are said to have originated from the fairies. Many pipers and fiddlers of Europe learned their songs from the fairies
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