Fairy Facts
Return Home
Return to Fairy Index
The origin of fairies 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. Plants To Break Fairy Spells: Four-leaf clover: It has the power to break fairy spells and, if carried in one's hat, allows one to see invisible fairies. Thyme:Drinking a potion of thyme is supposed to enable a person to see fairies, while at the same time protecting them from fairy mischief. Calendula: This is another plant that, when eaten, was supposed to enable a person to see fairies. St. John's Wort: This healing herb can be used to break fairy spells and cure illness caused by fairy darts. In some stories, however, the plant is sacred to fairies and should never be stepped on. English Daisy: A chain made of English daisies and worn around the neck will protect children from fairy mischief. 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. Fae of the World * Pixies * Cheerful and mischievous. They often take the form of a hedgehog. They are also well known for their pranks. They adore music and dancing. Sing or play music for their favor. * Goblins * Vicious little creatures that can appear as animals. Make a scary carving in a squash or celery root glowing with candle lite, to keep them away from your home on Samhain. * Leprechauns * Irish fairies that are very cunning. Usually found among the clover. An offering of Ale is most welcome. * Elves * The Scandinavian form of fairies. Rich sweets as an offering will bring you abudance to come. * Sidhe * Irish fairies who are attracted to beauty. Roses & Elecampagne attract them to your garden. * Sprites * Spirit fairies. Their job is to change the color of the leaves in the fall. You will often find them wearing Acorn hats. * Dwarves * Usually found in the mountains. They often steal not only property, but it is said women and children as well. ! Beware this devilish clan ! * Dryads * Celtic spirit fairies of the trees. Find them in hollows of trees when Moon is full. See pic above ! * Gnomes * They prefer the forests. They are the guardians of sacred grounds, locations and monuments. They have a weakness for gem stones, coins and things that glitter. They are the knowers and are extremely clever. Make a magical offering to the Gnome and ask for "Earthly" favors * Sylphs * Spirit fairies of the Air. They are transparent and elusive. They seem to be surrounded by a glow. They love acts of courage and quick movement. Make an offering to a Slyph and ask for "Airy" favors * Salamanders * Spirit fairies of the Fire. The salamander embodies the intuitive element of fire. Quick to defend you when called upon to do so, work with the salamander also to help strengthen your intuitive side. If ever you should had need to call upon the salamander for defense, remember that fire is as dangerous in our world AND theirs. * Selkies * Usually found in seas and oceans. They first appear as seals but become beautiful women when they shed their skin. * Undines * Spirit fairies of the Water. Usually found in forest pools and waterfalls. They have beautiful voices and can sometimes be heard singing over the sound of the water. An offering of perfume will keep them in your favor. Love rules this "watery" creature. If you can see with a child's eye there is a world full of color, joy and wonder to be seen. The fairy realm reminds us to keep this joy and creativity alive. Each cave and hollow tree has a doorway to another world. Every flower, leaf and blade of grass has a story to tell. Streams sing and the winds whisper ancient secrets into the ears of those who will listen. The best places to find fairies are in the "tween places" like forks in the road, where streams divide or border hedges; the best time to find them is in the "tween times" like dusk or dawn. Until you are atuned to the fairy realm you may not see their approach, however, an unexplained ripple in water or a sudden chill may indicate their presence and their wish for you to join them. They range in size from the very very tiny flower fairies often smaller than a firefly to the great stone divas and the fairies that guide the wind. They have vast storehouses of knowledge and wealth that they will bestow on us. All of the gifts and help they give have been touched with magic. They will bring us romance and true love, open doorways to success, and reveal to us all the great treasures of the earth. Above all else they work to alleviate our pain and suffering, serving as our guardians and helping us grow. Fresh flowers and laughter are the best ways of attracting fairies to you for as we know just as each flower has its own fairy each tear that is shed from laughter creates a new fairy. What most attracts fairies? Laughter is the biggest. Fairies always seem to gather wherethere are children playing. Where there is joy, ceremony and color fairies will be found. Fairy Sayings And Quotes You can only see a Fairie, if she wants to be seen Everytime a child says that they don't believe in fairies, a little fairy falls down dead When a new story is told, a fairy is born Never trust a demon offering a drink, nor deny a fairy a dance Fairy Rings Dark circles of grass in lighter grass Or rings of mushrooms, are the signs Of the wild revelry under the stars Often mortals are enticed into the dancing For a night then step from the round to Find that a hundred years have Passed in their own world Fairy Music The fairies are passionately fond of music it is therefore dangerous for a young girl to sing when she is all alone by the lake, for the spirits will draw her down to them to sing to them in the fairy palace under the waves and her people will see her no more. Yet sometimes when the moonlight is on the water and the waves break against the crystal columns of the fairy palace far down in the depths they can hear her voice, and they know that she is singing to the fairies in the spirit land beneath the waters of the lake. Fairy Facts Some fairies are mischevious by nature but very seldom mean any real harm There are a few ways of protecting yourself against little fairy pranks Turn clothes inside out Bells Iron A crucifix or cross (When marked on the top of cakes will prevent faeries from dancing on them) Running water Bread Salt Red thread or ribbon worn on clothing or in the hair Daisy chains Horseshoes Shoes placed with toes pointing away from the bed A Sock under the bed A Knife under the pillow A twig of a broom The burning of thorns on top of a faerie hill will release captive children Fairy Hours Twelve o'clock Noon Twelve o'clock Midnight Sunrise Early Evening Dusk Full Moon New Moon Bright Starlit Nights
