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FAERIES 'FAIRIES'
Fairies are supernatural beings and can best be described
by the Greek word daimon, which means "spirit". They
are not divine (god or goddess), in the usual sense of the
word, yet oftentimes they are classified as minor divinities.
In fact, in many cultures, the dividing line between fairy
and "god" is very thin and the two are often hard to
differentiate.
The name fairy comes from the Old French word faerie
and has been extensively overused, as it has come to
encompass a wide variety of supernatural beings.
Today, when we think of fairies, we visualize them as tiny, gossamer
creatures, with wings that glow in uncommon light. Many times
we think of them as possessing some sort of strange magical
powers. General traits include a fondness for pranks, a
willingness to help, and a kind, pleasing, personality.
In nursery book mythology, they are the personification of
Providence. However, the term fairy also has a sinister side
and in many areas of the world, such as Great Britain, more
often than not, the word is used to describe a supernatural
being with an evil demeanor.
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Fairies can be found in every corner of the world
and in every size, shape and form! The good ones have names such as fairies, elves, elle-folks,
and fae; the evil ones are urchins, redcaps, ouphes,
ell-maids, and ell-women, to name a few.
FAIRY FACTS:
- Tinkerbell: Created by author JM Barrie, she
inhabited Neverland with the Lost Boys in his
famous tale of Peter Pan.
- Oberon and Titania: The fairy king and queen
of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
- The Tooth Fairy: The creature who arrives in
the night to take milk teeth left under
children's pillows, leaving money in their
place.
- Sugar Plum Fairy: In folklore they are
rarely seen and then only at dawn. They were the
inspiration for Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker
Suite.
- Mavis Cruet: The fat fairy who couldn't fly,
part of the now cult children's TV show Wilo the
Wisp.
Variants:
Fae, Faerie, Fai, Faierie,
Faiery, Fair, Fairye, Farie, Fary, Fay, Fayerie, Fayery, Fayry,
Fee, Feiri, Fery, Fey, Feyrie, Feyrye, Phairie, Pharie, Pherie
(from the Latin: Fata "Fates")
Where the bluebells and the
wind are,
Fairies in a ring I spied,
And I heard a little linnet
Singing near beside.
Where the primrose and the dew are,
Soon were sped the fairies all:
Only now the green turf freshens,
And the linnets call.
Walter de la Mare, Bluebells
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