Only Fairies | Fae-Folk | Fairies   The Site ž Home ž Contact Me ž Fairy Folk ž Fairy Art ž Fairy Artists ž Favourites ž Fairy Sites ž GuestBook ž Links ž WebRings FAIRIES They're defined as women with supernatural powers, virgins and kind, but there are also fairy men.. These fantastic spirits are represented under the form from a beautiful winged woman to which is attributed magic and different powers. The legend of the fairies has oriental origin and it acquired top in Europe after the crusades, incorporating to the noble poetry although it can be found in Scandinavian and Celtic mythology. It’s attributed to the fairies an intermediate nature between spiritual and human and the power of providing wealth and health. Beneficent and malicious fairies seem to exist. It’s said that them, as the gnomes and other spirits of the nature have been able to be photographed. The fairies intervene in the matters of the mortal beings; but their taskes refer to give energy to flowers, trees, seeds and other living species. The primitive function of the fairies was to appear in the house where it’ll take place a birth to protect to the mother and to give a gift to the recently born one, but if they didn't receive a kind treatment, they were offended and then they cursed to the family. With the step of the time they were intervening more and more in the human matters. In the old time they were considered since as goddesses it’s believed that they can influence in the destination of the humans Their size varies. The animals can see them but the humans not, except if there’s full moon, and then you can see them dancing; in case these supernatural creatures surprise a human looking at them, they can charm him. However, when they want it, they use their glamour ( innate quality and the fairies' sole right that it allows them to change aspect, to capture the humans and to grant gifts ) to be allowed to see. They’re very curious, sensitive and they get angry with easiness, for what it’s necessary to treat them with a lot of tact and fineness. They change character, as everybody, although, in general, they’re kind, nice and very amusing. Their biggest wickedness is to steal to a recently born boy of its cradle and to replace it for other or to leave in its place some sample that they have done it; they make this when they believe they’ve received an offense, given their sensibility. Another passion of these magnificent beings is the music, being all them very skillful in the handling of the instruments. They usually form always choirs in which they sing and dance without even stopping until 6 or 7 followed years. In the course of these dances they shouldn’t be bothered, then they get angry very much and they can end up making true catastrophes. They usually deceive overalls to the men, taking advantage of their beautiful bodies and slender figures, it stops then when by transforming them into slaves and to satiate their most varied desires. The fairies represent the archetype of the defense and protection of the environment and they’re able to cross without problems any material obstacle. The biggest obsession in the fairies is the flowers, to those that spoil and they take care with rigorous esteem. Always leave them in places where the vegetation is plentiful, but they're usually happier in valleys in which exotic flowers loose an intense aroma. There are fairies that live alone, and gregarious that make it in a community directed by the queen. The total society of the fairies is governed by the supreme queen, Titania, strict, fair and beautiful, and the prince Oberon, compassionate, troublemaker and very easily enamored; as it’s a matriarchal society, Oberon is a consort prince. The fairies, besides having a good time, to dance and to sing, they also have their chores, as knitting, to make bread and cooking. Another curious fact is that they can't stand the salt. • 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. • Fairy Plants: Bluebells: Fairies are summoned to their midnight revels and dances by the ringing of these tiny flowers. Primroses: Primroses are one key into fairyland. There is a German legend about a little girl who found a doorway covered in flowers, and when she touched it with a primrose, the door opened up, leading into an enchanted fairy castle. Fern: Pixie fairies are especially fond of ferns. One story tells of a young woman who accidentally sat on a fern, and instantly a fairy man appeared and forced her to promise to watch over his fairy son and remain in fairyland for a year and a day. Foxglove: The name "foxglove" came from the words "folk's glove." Folks referred to little people, or fairies. One legend says that fairies gave the blossoms to foxes to wear as gloves so they would not get caught raiding the chicken coop. According to another legend, if you picked foxglove, you would offend the fairies. And if the fairies stole your baby, the juice of the foxglove would help to get it back. In some stories, foxglove appears as a fairy's hat. Foxglove can sometimes heal and sometimes hurt. It is a poisonous plant, but it is also used as medicine to treat heart disease. Mushrooms: Used by fairies as tables and stools. The species Amanita is the red and white mushrooms very poisonous.... Ragwort, cabbage stalks, grass and straw: all of these were used by fairies for transportation in the same manner as a witch uses a broom. Saffron Crocus: The stamens from this fall flowering crocus constitute the herb saffron. Any food prepared with saffron is a favorite fairy food. Saffron used as a dye will turn cloth a royal gold. Such cloth is very valuable to 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. For other cultures you can find them, in the natural atmosphere, in a plant, a tree, the earth, a lake, in the breeze, the sun, in the perfume of the flowers and all the natural one that it surrounds us.     © Magnollyah 2002 • 2003 | All Rights Reserved | Enchanting Designz | Amy Brown Art