A fairy, often known as the Fae, belongs to the realm of mythical beings in European folklore. They are typically characterized as ethereal, otherworldly, and supernatural spirits, and can also be classified as such.
Overview[]
The concept of fairies is indeed multifaceted and encompasses a variety of interpretations and beliefs. "Fairy" can refer to a single being or a group of beings, which may include creatures like trolls, banshees, and gnomes. Different cultures and traditions have attributed various origins to fairies, describing them as spirits of the dead, alchemical elementals, demoted angels, demons, pagan deities, or even a distinct type of human. They are often seen as the opposites and adversaries of Creatures of the Night and demons, indirectly aligning them with angels.
Despite the contemporary notion of fairies as sweet and innocent beings, folklore portrays them as vicious, vindictive, and cruel entities, often embodying the forces of nature and appearing more as monstrous figures rather than the winged, pixie-like creatures commonly associated with the term today.
Fairies go by numerous names, with their primary title, "fairies," derived from their homeland, the world of Faerieland. They are also referred to as fey, Fair Folk, the Kind Ones, Little People, Good Neighbors, and various other euphemisms. This variety in nomenclature can be attributed to both the extensive diversity within the fairy realm and the ancient superstitions surrounding invoking their names.
In folklore, fairies were held responsible for a wide range of mischievous and harmful activities, spanning from minor acts like vandalism and theft to more serious offenses, including murder and kidnapping. They were often believed to be the cause of livestock falling ill or dying, leading travelers astray during the night, or luring individuals to their doom near bodies of water. When provoked, fairies were even said to take lives.
Fairies had a penchant for abducting women, children, and men as they pleased, frequently substituting infants with changelings. However, travelers and musicians were particularly common targets, as many fairies were known to have a deep love for song and dance. Legends warn of the dangers of such merriment, as captivated mortals who joined a fairy troop in their revelry might be spirited away to the "other world" to live with the fairies, often never to be seen again by mortal eyes.
The world of fairies encompasses several distinct types and courts, with the two most well-known being the Seelie Court, also known as the Summer Court, and the Unseelie Court, often referred to as the Winter Court. The Seelie Court is both respected and feared, while the Unseelie Court is the most feared and malicious. Members of the Unseelie Court, including Redcaps, Goblins, Hags, Hiisi, and other malevolent spirits, were known for attacking and harassing mortals without provocation.
Beyond these courts, there were other fairy groups and individuals, although they were generally amoral concerning mortals, ruling with a manner reminiscent of ancient gods, evoking both vengeance and fear.
The Sluagh, a horde of restless spirits and fairies of the undead, was a source of caution and fear for both the Seelie and Unseelie Courts.
While the majority of fairies were believed to reside in Europe, there were also fairy beings in other parts of the world, such as the Jengu in West Africa and the Dokkaebi in Korea. Additionally, there were various other fairy tribes, such as the Haltija and Haldjas.
Description[]
They are most well-known in both the mundane and supernatural worlds for their characterization as cunning and cruel sense of humor, as well as their delight in tricking others. They frequently characterized as seeking to bargain with mortal beings, offering someone their heart's desire but never mention that said desire comes with a terrible cost. They are committed to notions of honor and etiquette. While they are always exactly to the letter of any promise they have made, they deliver these results with great irony and often use clever wordplay to their advantage in order to create loopholes for them to exploit.
They are unable to lie. They might, however, tell what they believe is true, even if it is not. They may expertly weave lies into sentences by using methods such as not telling the whole truth, letting others assume things, or not correcting the people with whom they're speaking; this does not, however, apply to the half-fairies who possess the ability to lie as easily as any other being. Fairies are also capable of manipulating one another. There have apparently been times when these either playful or serious manipulations, specifically resulting from problems or conflicts between powerful fey, bleed into the world.
Appearances[]
Fairies are often depicted as having a human-like appearance and possessing magical abilities. There are records of diminutive fairies that date back centuries, coexisting with human-sized beings. These smaller fairies can vary in size, ranging from extremely tiny to the size of a human child, and their size might change magically rather than being constant. Some smaller fairies, despite their usual size, could alter their forms to mimic humans.
Fairies are renowned for their otherworldly beauty, with many described as exceptionally attractive, featuring delicate and regal facial features. While they mostly resemble human beings, some possess extraordinary traits such as wings, horns, uniquely colored eyes, or skin. Pointed ears are a common characteristic among them. Fairies often incorporate elements of flora and various types of vegetation into their attire and appearance.
Types of Fairies[]
- Aos Sí - Common Celtic fairy
- Alp (Believed)
- Anthousai
- Banshee - Hostile Irish fairy
- Bean nighe - Scottish death fairy
- Bluecap
- Boggart
- Brownie - English and Scottish household spirit
- Changeling - Fairy child that replaced an human child
- Cu-Sith
- Dokkaebi - Trickster spirit
- Doxy
- Dullahan - Demonic fairy
- Dwarf
- Dryad
- Meliad
- Daphnaie
- Epimelid
- Hamadryad
- Elf
- Svartálfar
- Dark Elf
- Dokkalfar
- Svartálfar
- Huldufólk
- Fairy Godmother
- Fastachee
- Fenghuang - Chinese avian fairy
- Goblin - Grotesque fairy
- Alux - Mayan goblin
- Bauchan - Scottish domestic goblin
- Bugbear - English hobgoblin
- Chaneque - Aztec nature goblin
- Farfadet - French goblin
- Gremlin - English air goblin
- Hiisi
- Kallikantzaros
- Kobold - Germanic goblin
- Lutin - French hobgoblin
- Muki - Peruvian goblin
- Pombero - Brazilian goblin
- Redcap - Murderous Goblin
- Trauco - Chiloé forest goblin
- Tokoloshe - Zulu/Xhosa evil goblin
- Green Man
- Gruagach
- Hag - Wizened fairy or old woman
- Jengu - Water spirit
- Kelpie - Water spirit
- Lake Maiden - British Lake Spirit
- Leprechaun
- Clurican
- Far Darring
- Melusine - Water spirit
- Nymph - Nature spirit
- Napaea
- Nickar - Hostile water spirit
- Pixie
- High Pixie
- Cornish Pixie
- Puka
- Rusalka
- Satyr - Nature spirit
- Samodiva - Slavic fairy
- Spriggan
- Silky
- Sprite - Commons woods fairy
- Tianlong - Asian dragon fairy
- Vila - Slavic fairy
- Vodyanoy - Russian water spirit
Notable Fairies[]
- Life - Personification of Life and Creator of the Fae
- Spring Sprite - Preserver of the Fae and the Fairyland
- Oberon - High King of the Fae, the Seelie and Unseelie Court, and the Fairyland
- Titania - High Queen of the Seelie Court
- Mab - High Queen of the Unseelie Court
- Finvarra - King of the Daoine Sidhe
- Puck - Jester of the Fairyland's Court
- Vivian - Lady of the Lake and mother of Lancelot
- Nimue - Lady of the Lake and daughter of Diana
- Eitri
- Brokkr
- Melusine
- Lancelot du Lac - King of the Lake (Half-Fairy)
- Morgan Le Fay - Lady of Magic and Queen of Avalon (Half-Fairy)
- Green Knight
- Tam Lin
- Gan Jiang
- Mo Ye
- Maggie
- Erl-King
- Snow Queen
- Carabosse
- Peter Pan
- Tinker Bell
- Queen Elfaria - Queen of Ringford
- Mercedes - Princess of Ringford
- Pan (Outsider)
- Faunus (Outsider)
- Lauma (Outsider)
- Arawn (Outsider)
- Tuatha Dé Danann (Outsiders)
- Flaga (Outsiders)
- S (Outsider)
- Jack Frost (Outsider)
- Weird Sisters (Mistakenly Believed)
- Hermes (Mistakenly Believed)
- Odin (Mistakenly Believed)
Quotes[]
| “ | Honored for their gifts and feared for their wrath, the fairies remind us to respect the world we live in and the forces we cannot see. | „ |
| — Eddie Lenihan in the book Meeting the Other Crowd. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Christian interpreters have sometimes regarded the Tuatha Dé Danann as fairies, even though they are originally considered deities in Irish mythology.
- It is indeed ironic that after the Celtic Pantheon waned in prominence, the Tuatha Dé Danann were often associated with the Fae and came to serve Oberon in some interpretations. This blending of mythology and folklore illustrates how stories and beliefs can evolve and intertwine over time.
- According to Oberon, he and the Tuatha Dé Danann's ancestors were brothers, whether this mean a familia connection or simply brothers-in-arms is unknown.
- In some mythological and folklore interpretations, the minor god Pan is also said to have joined or become associated with the Fae, further demonstrating the fluid and interconnected nature of mythological narratives over time.
- It is indeed ironic that after the Celtic Pantheon waned in prominence, the Tuatha Dé Danann were often associated with the Fae and came to serve Oberon in some interpretations. This blending of mythology and folklore illustrates how stories and beliefs can evolve and intertwine over time.
- The Fae are often believed to preside in Fairyland, a realm created for them by Life. This realm is typically associated with the Otherworld, a mystical and otherworldly dimension separate from the mortal world.
- Fairyland is a rich and diverse realm with various sectors or regions. Some of these include Avalon, Elfhelm, Fairy Forest, Neverland, Ringford (which exists in the realm of Erion), and numerous others.
- Fairies are known to have a presence in various mythological realms and mystical places. Some of these realms include Alfheim, Vanaheim, Svartalfheim, Nidavellir, Tir Na Nog, Fólkvangr, the Moors, the Nevernever, certain Underworlds, and other mystical locations.
- Although the Wild Hunt is closely associated with the Creatures of the Night, it is also considered a part of the Fae Folk.
- Fairies frequently select items from the natural world, such as acorns, leaves, and flowers, to convey their messages.
- The secrets of fairies are occasionally encoded and shared through ballads performed by human musicians. An illustrative instance of this can be found in the tales of Thomas the Rhymer, which serve as both a narrative and instructions on how to liberate someone from Fairyland.