This is a type of sprite or mannikin in British, Icelandic, Scandinavian, and Teutonic legend. The name may be spelled Aelf, Alfe, Elve, or Ylf. Originally the word in the Anglo-Saxon meant all types of faeries, but later denoted a special class. This change of meaning was then adopted into the other cultures. Elves are tiny human-shaped supernaturals who can shape shift at will.
In England the Elf men are described as being like little old men, but the Elf maidens are young and beautiful and they are believed to live in communities with kingdoms and kings in the same way as humans. they exert their supernatural powers over humans whenever they can, sometimes benevolently but more often with mischievous intent. The Elves live in the forsts and woods, often in the hollows of tree trunks; they also live in old long-barrows and ancient burial mounds from which they emerge at night to dance in the grass by moonlight.
In Teutonic mythology the Alfar are subdivided into Dark and Light Elves who are malicious and benevolent, respetively. In German folklore the Forest Elf is called Schrat.
In Danish folklore the Ellen or Elle Folk are particularly malicious toward humans if seen in the woods. They reward a housewife whose home is particularly clean, but are prone to stealing her bread and other things from her kitchen.
In Sweden the Elves are known as Elvor, Grove Folk, or Grove Damsels.
In Iceland they are known as Spae-wives. Sometimes they will be friendly towards humans and stories are told of them asking for help, but the Elf community is usually quite independent and very powerful, taking terrible revenge on any human who offends them. They may steal babies, cattle, milk, and bread or enchant and hold young men in their spell for years at a time. an example of this is the well-known story of Rip Van Winkle.
--- Faeries --- Brian Froud and Alan Lee
