Fairies

Like gnomes, fairies are magical beings found world wide. A fairy (aka faery, faerie, fay, fae) may be either one of the hidden people or the Fates personified. The hidden people are species of small supernatural beings with butterfly wings (Pixie’s have dragonfly wings and are a whole difference species). Moirai (the personified Fates who determines the course of and ending of human life) is sometimes thought to take the form of a fairy.

History

Historical References

Known by many names, Middle English: fairie, fayere, ferie French: faerie, feerie, fee, Celtic: sidhe Latin and Italian: fata and Spanish hada, the wee folk have a changeable description. They are said to be able to change size and form at will as well as to be visible or not at whim. Historically, they have been blamed for many ills and were thought to be both mischievous and malicious. (Fortunately today’s fairies have forgiven us but may still be mischievous).

Some of their pranks which are generally include tangling the hair of sleepers into "Elf-locks", stealing small items (and you were blaming your gnome?) or leading travelers astray. In medieval times, fairies were unfairly blamed for a whole host of dangerous behaviors. A sudden death was a fairy kidnapping, consumption (tuberculosis) was due to fairies forcing young men and women to dance at revels every night. Fairies riding domestic animals could cause paralysis or mysterious illnesses.

Charms

In the past, practical advice regarding fairies was to avoid them or use a protective charm. Charms for warding off fairies include cold iron (poisonous to them), wearing clothing inside out (we think this was used as an excuse for those who were too hung over to dress properly), running water(fairies were not supposed to be able to cross running water), bells (especially church bells), St. John's wort (removes the depression left after frolicking with the fae), and four-leaf clovers (the fourth leaf is for luck and keeps evil away), among others.

Fairies of Today

Of course, today, fairies are like the gnomes have been driven from their homes and are making their lives among men. If you have them in you area, you should treat them with respect and they will reward you. Treat them poorly and they will play pranks on you. Above all else, DON”T DIG in their fairy mounds!

So you know what to look for The Reverend Robert Kirk, Minister of the Parish of Aberfoyle, Stirling, Scotland, wrote in 1691:

"These Siths or Fairies they call Sleagh Maith or the Good People...are said to be of middle nature between Man and Angel, as were Daemons thought to be of old; of intelligent fluidous Spirits, and light changeable bodies (like those called Astral) somewhat of the nature of a condensed cloud, and best seen in twilight. These bodies be so pliable through the sublety of Spirits that agitate them, that they can make them appear or disappear at pleasure" - from The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies.