Faerie Folk
● Fairy comes from the old French word faerie.
○ supernatural beings that can be best described by the Greek word – daimon, which
means spirit
○ not divinity (ie. god or goddess, in the usual sense of the word)
○ often, it is easier to classify them as minor divinity
○ Most of us think of fairies as tiny creatures, flitting about on gossamer wings, waving
a magic wand, but history and folklore tell a different tale.
○ When addressing them, most people do not like to mention them by name and so
referred to them by other names: the Little People or the Hidden People
○ Most find the name "Fae" offensive or as a slur. Refer to them as: "The Fair Folk" or
"Hidden folk" ect.
○ There are hundreds of different kinds of fairies – some are minute creatures, others
grotesque – some can fly, and all can appear and disappear at will
○ Also known as fay or fae, they are a type of "mythical being or legendary creature" in
European folklore
○ Often described as metaphysical, supernatural, or preternatural. Fairies resemble
various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term fairy
offers many definitions.
● Faeries can be found loosely in the mythical beings in Greek mythology, such as
the nymphs, satyrs and sileni.
○ nymphs can be considered as fairies
○ even the river gods in Greek myths can be classified as fairies
○ these are spirits or minor deities of nature or of natural phenomena
● There are household or guardian spirits that can also be found in Roman
religion and mythology
○ penates, lares and genii
● The Norse versions of the fairies are the wide variety of elves
○ the dísir that exist in the Teutonic traditions
○ valkyries are also classified as fairies
○ leprechauns, Changelings ect.
● Fairies can be of benevolent or malevolent
○ exerting good/bad influences over the lives of humans
○ fairies are considered to be supernatural, preternatural or metaphysical beings in
possession of un-bounded magical power
○ magical attributes endow them with the ability to
○ can appear or disappear at will
○ can change shape into animal forms, spiritually
○ draining of energy
○ hexing/cursing
○ phycological meltdowns
● Physical harm
○ bruises
○ scratches
○ bites
● Fairy entities, in a restricted sense, are unique in English folklore
○ abound in Celtic, Norse, Slavic Germanic ect folk beliefs.
○ among European folk and fairy tales the fairies of French and Celtic romances are often
merged with the elves of Teutonic myth
● In Scottish folklore
○ the good fairies, the Seelie Court, are well disposed towards humans,
○ the unseelie court or bad and malicious fairies work their evil against mortals
because some fairies are noted for malice and mischief
○ they milk cows and ride horses during the night, blow out candles and disrupt
households
○ their pranks can be a punishment for a perceived wrong
○ therefore fairies hostile to people are feared because they ruin/steal:
■ crops
■ drink
■ food
■ tools
■ grain
● Fairy assistance to humans and mortals is well attested with regard to home,
hearth and farm.
○ although in general terms fairies are helpful
○ they are also mischievous and harmful to people if so roused.
○ in the household they will do chores such as:
■ floor sweeping
■ dish washing
■ tending the fire
● Small List as a kind of, a key of sorts.
○ Brownies and other hobgoblins are guardian fairies. They are useful ones and do
housework and odd jobs around the house.
○ Banshees are less common and more sinister, but normally not hostile. They
usually only appear to foretell a tragedy, unless Provoked, Invoked or Summoned
of course.
