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The origin of fairies (continued) Fairies are so prevalent in mythical culture that it's natural to wonder where they came from. Different societies have come up with very different explanations of the origins of 'the little people'. The Irish believe that the fairies are a previously conquered society, the Tuatha De Danaan (People of the Goddess Dana), who were driven into hiding when the Celts invaded Ireland. The Pagan gods of the Tuatha, skilled in building and magic, went underground to live in the tombs and mounds they had built. Hidden from sight, they grew smaller in the popular imagination until they turned into fairies. Other cultures believe that fairies are the souls of the dead, people not good enough to enter Heaven yet not bad enough for Hell. They wander the Netherland in between and are occasionally seen by humans. Along a similar theme, fairies are also believed to be angels that had been cast out of Heaven. Some fell into the sea and some onto the land, where they would do no harm if left alone. In Wales, fairies are thought to be a race of invisible spiritual beings living in a world of their own. Some people also believe that fairies were originally local gods or nature spirits that dwindled in majesty and size over time. |
What fairies are like (continued) A fairy is a tiny being with wings (such as butterfly wings, dragonfly wings, etc.), that looks like a person. They are said to have magical powers, such as the ability to change the seasons, weather, or other aspects of nature. Fairies move swiftly and can become invisible blending into the woods. They wear green clothes and tend to live on hills, in woody dells, underwater or the Otherworld where they frequently war with insects and reptiles. Fairies eat fruit and are capable of producing things like shoes and bows. They enjoy music and dancing and love to play tricks and brawl with each other. Capable of taking human lovers, fairies have been known to enchant humans and trap them in the fairy realm. More frequently, they just steal household items. How to See Fairies Fairies are rarely seen by humans. There are a few tricks one can use in order to see them:
Fairies are said to appear most frequently on the high days of the Celtic calendar. Beltane (May Eve), when they fight; Midsummer Eve, when they celebrate; and Samhain (November Eve) when they dance with ghosts and lament the coming of winter. Protection from Fairy Spells Fairies have a reputation for stealing infant babies and replacing them with changelings. Parents can protect against kidnapping by lying the father's trousers over the cradle or by hanging an open pair of scissors above it. *note: This information is based on myths and popular fairy culture. We can't guarantee fairy sightings, nor can we ensure protection against them! |
The Cottingley Fairies (continued) The controversy over the Cottingley pictures taken by Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths continued to rage until the 1960's, when new techniques for examining the photos brought them into question. Today these photos would be clearly labelled fakes: the lighting on the fairies does not match the girls and the fairies' wings do not show blurred movement even though they are in mid air. The girls, interviewed as adults, continued to be evasive stating that they had photographed "a figment of their imagination". In 1977 a historian of early nineteenth century book illustrations, Fred Gettings, uncovered drawings by Claude A. Shepperson in a 1915 children's book. They were, without a doubt, the models for the fairies which appeared in the photos. Incredibly, in the same book was a story 'Bimbashi Joyce' written by Arthur Conan Doyle! In 1982, the girls finally admitted that the fairies were indeed paper cutouts of fairy drawings held up by hat pins. The story was made into a feature film in 1997 called Fairy Tale: A True Story.
Visit Brian and Wendy Froud's sites: Got-Goblins.com and The World of Froud. Music featured in the Fairy Faith includes "Harp of wild and dreamlike Strain" by Elizabeth Jane Baldry. Visit her Web site: Fairyharp.com |
Where fairies live (continued) Director John Walker traveled to several locations during the making of The Fairy Faith. Here is some more information about them. Lough
Gur, Ireland Isle
of Skye, Scotland Schiehallion
Mountain, Scotland Eskasoni
Reserve, Nova Scotia
Contact us - We love to hear from you!. Let
us know if you have problems with this site: webmaster@thefairyfaith.com |
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