Faerie Lore
The Fairy Call
Sit were the cat sits.
Cross your toes
Close your eyes
And smell a rose.
Then say under your breath
"I believe in faeries,
sure as death.
Gadflykins! Gladtrypins!
Gutterpuss and Cass!
Come to me fairly
Each lad and lass!"




*The word fairy in old English--is thought to be derived fromfate,the ancient Greek Fates who were pictured as three-winged women.Fay-erie was originally the "erie" state of enchantment that could be induced by the fays, and word only later became interchangable with the beings themselves. The fays were originally but one class of spirit being, and it was prehaps the general association of "little people" with enchantment that enabled the termfairy to become generic for fays, brownies, elves, pixies, and the like.

Fairies are nature spirits that, under diffrent names and guises, are found in every part of the world. Often pictured as small humanoid beings with wings, they appear to be miniangels. Unlike angels, however, fairies have always been thought to have a mixed relationship with humanity. As nature spirits concerned with natural process, they do not normally seek out human contact. On the other hand, they have been picutred as mischievous beings who enjoy playing pranks on people.

+There a four principal proposed origins of fairies:
1.Fairies are the souls of pagan dead.
2.Fairies are fallen angels.
3.Fairies are nature spirits.
4.Fairies are diminutive human beings.


Physical charatersitics of fairies vary. Some are tiny, winged, gossamer creatures a few inches tall who can alight on a drop of water and barely make it tremble.Some are drawfs and "little people barely smaller than mortals. Others are huge giants.

When won over by a mortal, fairies may be very generous with gifts, either material or psychic such as clairvoyance or the ability to heal.

Fairies are nocturnal creatures and like to drink,dance,and sing. Their music is exquisite.They keep many animals, including dogs,cattle,and sheep.

Fairies love to visit newborn babies of mortals and will not hesitate to steal those that are unbaptized, or "little pagans," substituting in their place changelings--wizened fairy children. Fairies particuarly desire fair-haired children, to improve their own hairy stock. To protect infants against kidnapping by fairies, and open pair of IORN scissors traditionally was hung over them in the cradle--for iorn is believed to repel fairies or an iorn pin was stuck in their clothes. Other measures included laying the trousers of the child's father across the cradle; sprinkling it and the cradle with holy water, and giving it a nickname.
If fairies do not know the true name of a child, they will not be able to cast a magical spell over it. All cultures and time periods have had some version of Faerie type creatures that have been a mainstay in their folk lore.The word "Faerie" itself did not come around until the medievil times.


Iceland: believed that while washing her childern, God spoke to Eve. In her surprise and awe, she hid the children she had not washed. God asked if all of her children were there, and she said"yes". Then he said that from then on, the children hidden from Him would be hidden from all mankind. They became Faerie Folk,Elves,and Hundre Folk*.


Devon:Pixies were considered the spirit of unbaptized childern


Elsewhere it is said that Faeries were fallen angels: to evil to enter heaven and too good to settle into hell.



There are many theories about where the faeries came from, and the name of the homelands.
Hy-Breasail: and island that is said to appear now and again in the Atlantic. Annwan(in Whales):generally believed to be ruled by Gwyrun ap Nudd. The Irish faeries reside in a place calledTuatha de Danann, children of the goddess Dana. She protects them and provides the isles in which they live. There is alsoTir Na Nog,"the Land of the Young".Tir Innambeo,"the Land of the Living'.Tir Tairnglre,"The Land of Promise"

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