What are Faeries?
When most people hear the term fairy they'll think off cute, winged, glowing pixies that are portrayed in children films and literature (ie. Tinkerbell). However, that is far from the truth. Faeries are nature spirits found all around the world, and just like us they come with a variety of appearances and personalities (which are not general to particular individuals). The most known stories of faeries come from Europe, but faeries are not limited there. There has been lore of similar beings in Asia, Australia, Africa, North, Central, and Latin America.
Faeries Around the World
Europe
The first accounts of faeries can be found in Greek mythologies, such as the nymphs, satyrs, and sileni. Then the household spirits of Roman mythology, such as penates, lares, and genii. The Norse had elves, disir, and trolls. In Wales they had the Tylwyth Teg and in Ireland they had the Tuatha de Danann, the Sidhe. According to Chaucer the land of Britian was filled with faeries before the time of King Arthur. However, it was not until William Shakespeare popularized faeries after his play "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
The first accounts of faeries can be found in Greek mythologies, such as the nymphs, satyrs, and sileni. Then the household spirits of Roman mythology, such as penates, lares, and genii. The Norse had elves, disir, and trolls. In Wales they had the Tylwyth Teg and in Ireland they had the Tuatha de Danann, the Sidhe. According to Chaucer the land of Britian was filled with faeries before the time of King Arthur. However, it was not until William Shakespeare popularized faeries after his play "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
Asia
Japan knows faeries as the Yosei or Yokai, such as onis, tengus, and kijimunas. Yakshas or Yaksinis is a general term for nature spirits in the mythology of India. Devas (the shining ones), in Hinduism and Buddhism, are exalted beings of various types. In Hinduism there are three types. Mortals living in a higher realm, enlightened ones who realized God, and Braham in the form of a personal god. In Buddhism devas are gods that subject rebirth. Presently, devas are seen as nature spirits that control the forces of nature. In Arabic Muslim countries there are the Djinn, a being of smokeless flame, spirits that are not quite angels nor demon, they were made before man from the element of fire. In Malaysia there was Raja Jinn Peri, who was also known as the king of faeries in Malaysian mythologies. There are also the orang bunian, the bediadari, and toyols.
In the Philippines there are the Kapre, Dewende, Nuno sa Punso.
Japan knows faeries as the Yosei or Yokai, such as onis, tengus, and kijimunas. Yakshas or Yaksinis is a general term for nature spirits in the mythology of India. Devas (the shining ones), in Hinduism and Buddhism, are exalted beings of various types. In Hinduism there are three types. Mortals living in a higher realm, enlightened ones who realized God, and Braham in the form of a personal god. In Buddhism devas are gods that subject rebirth. Presently, devas are seen as nature spirits that control the forces of nature. In Arabic Muslim countries there are the Djinn, a being of smokeless flame, spirits that are not quite angels nor demon, they were made before man from the element of fire. In Malaysia there was Raja Jinn Peri, who was also known as the king of faeries in Malaysian mythologies. There are also the orang bunian, the bediadari, and toyols.
In the Philippines there are the Kapre, Dewende, Nuno sa Punso.
Africa
In Sengal they had Yumboes, benevolent spirits that were apart of Wolof mythology. They are said to live on Goree Island, are about two feet tall and are pearly-white with silver hair. There are also the Asanbosam, Adze, and Aziza of West Africa, the Tokoloshe, Abatwa, and Eloko of Southern and Central Africa.
In Sengal they had Yumboes, benevolent spirits that were apart of Wolof mythology. They are said to live on Goree Island, are about two feet tall and are pearly-white with silver hair. There are also the Asanbosam, Adze, and Aziza of West Africa, the Tokoloshe, Abatwa, and Eloko of Southern and Central Africa.
Australia
In Northern Australia they have the mogwoi, a human-like trickster spirit that lives within rocks in caves. There are also the Tukonee, which are described as tiny cave dwelling helpers. In New Zealand, the Maori have the Patupaiarehe, that were found high up in the mountains or deep in the forests. They were known as seducers and could lure people away by the music from their flutes. The Maori also had the Ponaturi, who were fairy people from the sea. They had long claws, red hair and light skin, and came out to land during the night.
In Northern Australia they have the mogwoi, a human-like trickster spirit that lives within rocks in caves. There are also the Tukonee, which are described as tiny cave dwelling helpers. In New Zealand, the Maori have the Patupaiarehe, that were found high up in the mountains or deep in the forests. They were known as seducers and could lure people away by the music from their flutes. The Maori also had the Ponaturi, who were fairy people from the sea. They had long claws, red hair and light skin, and came out to land during the night.
North America
In North America they had the Nunnehis, in Cherokee, are friendly and strong spirits that appear as little people. The Passamaquoddy had two little people the Nagumwasuck and Mekumwasuck. The nagumwasuck were depicted as nasty and hideous sprites. Despite their appearance they brought good fortune and assisstance to those that respected them. On the other hand though, if one was to laugh at them or be rude, they would later find themselves ill or dead. The Mekumwasuck are little people that have long hair sprouting out from, and covering, their faces. They are elusive forest-dwellers that weren't all that helpful to the people. They could often be cruel and malicious, inflicting pain and agony for the slightest grievance or just for fun. Despite this, the Mekumwasuck are known as powerful medicine men and act as protectors, they also enjoy song and dance. There are also the Manogamesak which are water spirits, the Pukwudgie a malicious goblin, and the Kachina spirits in the west.
In the 1920s, the term Feufollet, was used to describe strange glowing swamp lights in the bayous of Lousiana. There are a number of beliefs on what these are, from spirits of the deceased to vampires, however it is more commonly known as a will-o-the-wisp.
In North America they had the Nunnehis, in Cherokee, are friendly and strong spirits that appear as little people. The Passamaquoddy had two little people the Nagumwasuck and Mekumwasuck. The nagumwasuck were depicted as nasty and hideous sprites. Despite their appearance they brought good fortune and assisstance to those that respected them. On the other hand though, if one was to laugh at them or be rude, they would later find themselves ill or dead. The Mekumwasuck are little people that have long hair sprouting out from, and covering, their faces. They are elusive forest-dwellers that weren't all that helpful to the people. They could often be cruel and malicious, inflicting pain and agony for the slightest grievance or just for fun. Despite this, the Mekumwasuck are known as powerful medicine men and act as protectors, they also enjoy song and dance. There are also the Manogamesak which are water spirits, the Pukwudgie a malicious goblin, and the Kachina spirits in the west.
In the 1920s, the term Feufollet, was used to describe strange glowing swamp lights in the bayous of Lousiana. There are a number of beliefs on what these are, from spirits of the deceased to vampires, however it is more commonly known as a will-o-the-wisp.
South & Central America
The Duendes are a type of little elves from Latin American mythology. They are described to look like the Irish leprechauns or Scandinavian trolls. They live in the jungle and large group and eat fruits and figs. They are said to grow about 20 inches tall, and have long hair. Duendes can stay hidden unless drunk. There are still some sightings and encounters of Duendes today. Aluxes are also similar, they are tiny Mayan spirits that wear traditional garments. They are visible most the time, but are known for shape shifting. Other South American spirits are the Patasola, a blood-drinking one-legged monster that was once believed to be human, and the Maun, a Mayan messenger demon that came in the form of a screech owl to deliver evil omens.
The Duendes are a type of little elves from Latin American mythology. They are described to look like the Irish leprechauns or Scandinavian trolls. They live in the jungle and large group and eat fruits and figs. They are said to grow about 20 inches tall, and have long hair. Duendes can stay hidden unless drunk. There are still some sightings and encounters of Duendes today. Aluxes are also similar, they are tiny Mayan spirits that wear traditional garments. They are visible most the time, but are known for shape shifting. Other South American spirits are the Patasola, a blood-drinking one-legged monster that was once believed to be human, and the Maun, a Mayan messenger demon that came in the form of a screech owl to deliver evil omens.
Courts
Now we have learned that not all faeries are good. Does this make them bad then? The answer is no, no it does not make them bad, as with us, it is hard to say whether people are truly good or evil. There's usually never an easy answer and most things are never that black and white, but are instead, a combination of grays. The terms these courts are given are just blanket terms and does not apply for each member of the court. As the courts are interchangeable.
Seelie
Also known as the blessed court. Those that make up this court are generally more benevolent. They, however, are still prone to mischief. Spring A court that branches off from the Seelie court. Focuses on creation and renewal, they tend to be very light and life-centric and shun any negative emotions. Summer A court that branches off from the Seelie court. Focuses on sustaining life, they understand negative emotions and death being necessary, but still focus on the positive. |
Unseelie
Also known as the unblessed court. Those that make up this court are generally more malevolent. This court seeks to inflict harmon humans. Fall A court that branches off from the Unseelie court. Focuses on destruction, death, and decay, they are very dark and death centric. They prefer to express their emotions and see not point of in saving a life if death is inevitable, and are very cut-throat. Winter A court that branches off from the Unseelie court. Focuses on stasis and recovery, while dark and death-centric they don't emphasize life over death. They are quiet, observant, and manipulative. |
Attracting Faeries
Learning how to attract the Fey into your life can be incredible and rewarding. Who doesn't like making friends with mystical beings from other realms. However, knowing that the fey are not always sunshine and sweetness, one should be careful in what they are getting involved with. That being said, adequate research on what type of faery you are trying to attract proves helpful, for both you and the fey.
Likes
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Dislikes
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When to find them.
During Beltane (May 1) and Midsummer (June 19-25) are said to be great times to contact the fey, however, the fey can be found anytime of the year. Faeries are easier to find during the "between times", these times occur when time changes between the major parts of the day. The "between times" are dawn, midday, dusk, and midnight.
During Beltane (May 1) and Midsummer (June 19-25) are said to be great times to contact the fey, however, the fey can be found anytime of the year. Faeries are easier to find during the "between times", these times occur when time changes between the major parts of the day. The "between times" are dawn, midday, dusk, and midnight.
Where to find them.
Although the fey can be found anywhere, it best to know the types of individual fey and where the prefer to spend their time. Pixies, elves, or dryads are commonly found in wilder places like a forested area, meadows, and fairy hills, but can even be found in a garden. Nymphs, nixies, and kelpies can be found in bodies of water like the ocean, a lake, pond, or river. Gnomes, or trolls can be mostly be found in or near caves, mines, under bridges, or hollow hills. Brownies, kobolds, or nissies can be found in homes, cottages, and barns.
Although the fey can be found anywhere, it best to know the types of individual fey and where the prefer to spend their time. Pixies, elves, or dryads are commonly found in wilder places like a forested area, meadows, and fairy hills, but can even be found in a garden. Nymphs, nixies, and kelpies can be found in bodies of water like the ocean, a lake, pond, or river. Gnomes, or trolls can be mostly be found in or near caves, mines, under bridges, or hollow hills. Brownies, kobolds, or nissies can be found in homes, cottages, and barns.
How to attract them.
The two most basic ways of garnering a faeries attention is to leave offerings and plant a faery garden. There are several types of offerings that faeries can take. Be sure that offerings are given consistently, otherwise the fey make feel unappreciated or abandoned and leave. When leaving out offerings, you can give the fey foods, such as bread, butter, honey, milk, wine, fruits (especially wilder kinds), and sweets. Other things that can be left out for the fey are little treasure that you think they can find interesting, buttons, gems, shells, or anything natural and colorful. Energy offerings and leaving out a bucket of clean water are other great offerings for the faeries. The second most common way of attracting the fey is to plant a faery garden. For the most part you want to make sure your garden attracts wildlife. Put in plants that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Add bird feeders, bird washes, butterfly puddling stations, bird houses, and even bat houses. Things like fountains, statues, and faery houses are great additions to your faery garden. Now that your faery garden can attract wildlife, you can add plants that faeries particularly love. For a comprehensive list visit HERE.
Faeries also enjoy songs, they love harmonic and melodic music, so things like flutes, chimes, harps, and voices are great. There are even chants that apparently help in bringing the faeries to your garden. As one such chant goes:
"Come one, come all
Good Fairies hear my call
I believe in you and your kind too
Dance on my garden's flowers
Stay and play for hours
Good fairies, you are welcome here
We hold your magic and lives dear
Good fairies, you are welcome here"
To see more chants, go HERE.
The two most basic ways of garnering a faeries attention is to leave offerings and plant a faery garden. There are several types of offerings that faeries can take. Be sure that offerings are given consistently, otherwise the fey make feel unappreciated or abandoned and leave. When leaving out offerings, you can give the fey foods, such as bread, butter, honey, milk, wine, fruits (especially wilder kinds), and sweets. Other things that can be left out for the fey are little treasure that you think they can find interesting, buttons, gems, shells, or anything natural and colorful. Energy offerings and leaving out a bucket of clean water are other great offerings for the faeries. The second most common way of attracting the fey is to plant a faery garden. For the most part you want to make sure your garden attracts wildlife. Put in plants that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Add bird feeders, bird washes, butterfly puddling stations, bird houses, and even bat houses. Things like fountains, statues, and faery houses are great additions to your faery garden. Now that your faery garden can attract wildlife, you can add plants that faeries particularly love. For a comprehensive list visit HERE.
Faeries also enjoy songs, they love harmonic and melodic music, so things like flutes, chimes, harps, and voices are great. There are even chants that apparently help in bringing the faeries to your garden. As one such chant goes:
"Come one, come all
Good Fairies hear my call
I believe in you and your kind too
Dance on my garden's flowers
Stay and play for hours
Good fairies, you are welcome here
We hold your magic and lives dear
Good fairies, you are welcome here"
To see more chants, go HERE.
Photos & Videos
Apparent video of a gnome in Argentina.
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A documentary about faeries.
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A brief show about Iceland's elves, what they are and why some people still believe in them.
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Sources
Aleta, Lady. "Dislikes." Aleta's Magical Land of Enchantment. 15 July 2014. Web. 09 May 2016.
Aleta, Lady. "Favorites." Aleta's Magical Land of Enchantment. 15 July 2014. Web. 09 May 2016.
Allen, Peter J., and Chas Saunders. "MUAN - the Mayan Demon." God Checker. 1 Jan. 2004. Web. 08 May 2016.
Canfield, May. "How to Attract Fairies Using Fairy Houses and Fairy Offerings." HubPages. HubPages, 12 July 2012. Web. 11 May 2016.
Chapman, Colin. "Mekumwasuck." Angelfire.com. Web. 08 May 2016.
"Devas." The Mystica. Web. 08 May 2016.
"Faeries." Timeless Myths. Web. 08 May 2016.
"FEU-FOLLET." Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. Web. 08 May 2016.
Haase, Donald. The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Folktales and Fairy Tales. A-F. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2008. 84. Print.
Hede, Marcela. "The Legend of La Patasola." Hispanic Culture Online. 13 Aug. 2014. Web. 08 May 2016.
Jestila, Michael. "Seelie Court and the Urseelie Court." Genealogy.com. 15 Nov. 2005. Web. 09 May 2016.
Knight, Sirona. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Elves and Fairies. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha, 2005. Print.
"Legendary Native American Figures: Manogamesak." Native-Languages. Web. 08 May 2016.
"Legendary Native American Figures: Nagumwasuck." Native-Languages. Web. 08 May 2016.
"Mexican Mythology: Duendes and Aluxes." Expatially Mexico. 17 Aug. 2012. Web. 08 May 2016.
Morningstar, Arshae. "On the Fae Court System, or Which Fae Is Which?" Sacred Liminality. Wordpress.com, 10 Apr. 2014. Web. 09 May 2016.
"Mythological African Creatures: Yumboes." The Illustrationist. 16 Jan. 2013. Web. 08 May 2016.
Swope, Lindsey. "Building Relationships with the Fairies." Fairy Human Relations Congress. Apr. 2008. Web. 11 May 2016.
Thakrar, Shveta, Valerie Frankel, Andrea Horbinski, and Cindy Pon. "A Global Compilation of Fey Creatures." Fairies Around the World. Frankel Associates. Web. 08 May 2016.
Wikaira, Martin. "Patupaiarehe." Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 08 May 2016.
Windsor, Brooke. "The Realm of the Fairies." Mystic Files. Paranormalhaze.com, 15 July 2010. Web. 11 May 2016.
"Faery Lore." Earth Witchery. Web. 11 May 2016.
Aleta, Lady. "Favorites." Aleta's Magical Land of Enchantment. 15 July 2014. Web. 09 May 2016.
Allen, Peter J., and Chas Saunders. "MUAN - the Mayan Demon." God Checker. 1 Jan. 2004. Web. 08 May 2016.
Canfield, May. "How to Attract Fairies Using Fairy Houses and Fairy Offerings." HubPages. HubPages, 12 July 2012. Web. 11 May 2016.
Chapman, Colin. "Mekumwasuck." Angelfire.com. Web. 08 May 2016.
"Devas." The Mystica. Web. 08 May 2016.
"Faeries." Timeless Myths. Web. 08 May 2016.
"FEU-FOLLET." Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. Web. 08 May 2016.
Haase, Donald. The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Folktales and Fairy Tales. A-F. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2008. 84. Print.
Hede, Marcela. "The Legend of La Patasola." Hispanic Culture Online. 13 Aug. 2014. Web. 08 May 2016.
Jestila, Michael. "Seelie Court and the Urseelie Court." Genealogy.com. 15 Nov. 2005. Web. 09 May 2016.
Knight, Sirona. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Elves and Fairies. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha, 2005. Print.
"Legendary Native American Figures: Manogamesak." Native-Languages. Web. 08 May 2016.
"Legendary Native American Figures: Nagumwasuck." Native-Languages. Web. 08 May 2016.
"Mexican Mythology: Duendes and Aluxes." Expatially Mexico. 17 Aug. 2012. Web. 08 May 2016.
Morningstar, Arshae. "On the Fae Court System, or Which Fae Is Which?" Sacred Liminality. Wordpress.com, 10 Apr. 2014. Web. 09 May 2016.
"Mythological African Creatures: Yumboes." The Illustrationist. 16 Jan. 2013. Web. 08 May 2016.
Swope, Lindsey. "Building Relationships with the Fairies." Fairy Human Relations Congress. Apr. 2008. Web. 11 May 2016.
Thakrar, Shveta, Valerie Frankel, Andrea Horbinski, and Cindy Pon. "A Global Compilation of Fey Creatures." Fairies Around the World. Frankel Associates. Web. 08 May 2016.
Wikaira, Martin. "Patupaiarehe." Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 08 May 2016.
Windsor, Brooke. "The Realm of the Fairies." Mystic Files. Paranormalhaze.com, 15 July 2010. Web. 11 May 2016.
"Faery Lore." Earth Witchery. Web. 11 May 2016.