ELVES

By: Shyan Chapman 08/18/04

Edited by D. C. Chapman

Many centuries ago Elves were worshipped as ancestral spirits, or spirits of the dead who granted fertility within Teutonic and Norse folklore.

They were later believed to be supernatural beings of child-like form, leaning either to light or darkness, those that were considered dark-elves might have also been seen as Goblin-like creatures due to their extreme grotesque nature and appearance.

In this later tradition Elves were worshipped with offerings of food and gifts to trees, mountains, and waterfalls so that they would grant wishes, or so the evil ones would not cause mischief.

Elves in Danish traditions are beautiful creatures, though they have hollow backs. Celtic Elves, derived from those of the Druidic tradition are the size of Humans, though size can vary depending upon which Celtic tribe one refers to.

Shorter Celts might have seen Elves as the same size as themselves, while taller Celts, like the Scots, may have viewed them as shorter, but perhaps had their own tradition of taller Elves as they were cousins of the shorter Irish Celts.

Belief in supernatural beings, such as Elves, seems to be an almost universal phenomenon. There can rarely be found a primitive tribe or group in this world who do not have some form of folk lore regarding little people, or small invisible beings that inhabit this world along side us even in this modern age.

The belief is especially profound on the British Isle, where Scots thrive in the northlands, bringing with them their Irish Celtic heritage, while the British people themselves live as a mix and matched race of various Celtic tribes who can also derive their beliefs partly from the northland of the Scots.

This culture contains many stories with reference to Elves, or Fairies (see fairies on main ‘Tiny Folk’ page) as they are called there, though the concept of Fairies as related to Elves is not particularly apparent in this age.

Oberon and Titania, the King and Queen of the Elves, appear frequently in some very important works of literature from medieval times to present day, such as Huon de Bordeaux and Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ as well as some paintings.