Come on in and relax your wings,
As you stroll in through the mists, you hear the music, and breath in the peaceful aroma of honeysuckle sweetly scented...lavender and jasmin...
Suddenly you remember - what it is to forget all the petty problems you left behind. Time ceases to exist with each step...
Again, I bid you welcome to my my world, sit with me -we'll have a cup of fairy tea with honey made fresh from the bees.
Fairy Lore
Abarta: His name means Performer of Feats. He was a member of the Irish Tuatha dé Danann....
Abhean: He was the Harper of the Tuatha dé Danann.... Adhene: These are the fairies of the Isle of Man of the United Kingdom. It means themselves in Manx Gaelic. They were easily offended when called by the wrong name or by invoking them. They were extremely malicious when they thought themselves wronged by humans....
Aengus: A fairy known in Irish lore who is one of the Sidh and a member of the Tuatha dé Danann....
Aeval: Among the Celts of Ireland, Aeval was the Fairy Queen of Munster. She held a midnight court to determine if husbands were satisfying their wives' sexual needs, or not, as the women charged....
Aillen Mac Midhna: A fairy musician in Ireland's Tuatha dé Danann. He is described as being dark with flaming breath, and usually carried with him a poisonous spear. He played such beautiful music with his magical tambourine or harp that all who heard would fall to sleep. He would play to all gathered in the Celtic Samhain (Halloween), but annoyed when they fell asleep, he would take his spear and blast his fiery breath. After more than twenty years of Aillen's destruction, he was captured and died when forced to inhale the poison from his own spear.
Aibell: An Irish 'fairy' goddess....
Ainé (Aine): She is an Irish fairy queen, a member of the Tuatha dé Danann, and a woman of the Sidhe. There is much confusion as to who exactly fathered this royal fairy. One version accounts her as being the daughter of King Egogabal of the Tuatha dé Danann. Another states her as being the daughter Owel of Munster, and used her magic to kill the King of Munster, who had raped her. Legend tells that Gerald, the earl of Desmond, saw her brushing her hair by the banks of Lough Gur and instantly fell in love with her. He persuaded her to marry him after stealing her magical cloak, with the stipulation that Gerald never show surprise. They had a child named Gerald Fitzgerald, the fourth earl of Desmond, whose antics surprised his father, therefore breaking the promise. Ainé and her son were reclaimed by the Lough's waters and returned to their fairy world. Ainé's son is said to have a castle beneath the waters of the Lough, and emerges to our world on a white horse every seven years....
Ainsel: A child fairy in English (Northumberland) lore. She appeared to a young boy who refused to go to bed when his mother requested, preferring to stay by the fire. His mother warned that the fairies would come to him if he stayed up too long, and proceeded to go to bed herself. Just then, a fairy child flew down the chimney. When the boy asked for her name, her response was Ainsel, which means Ownself. Upon the fay child requesting his name, the boy teasingly answers as My Ainsel. Just then, he stoked the dying fire, inadvertently sending the embers flying at Ainsel. Upon her screams of pain, a voice, coming down the chimney, inquired as to who had hurt her. Scared, and remembering his mother's words, the child ran to bed just as the fairy mother appeared. The mother dragged her child back up the chimney in disgust after her daughter replied that My Ainsel, or My Ownself, had done it....
Alfheim: in Scandinavian mythology, a celestial city inhabited by the elves and fairies....
Alp Luachra: An evil Irish fairy. They are completely invisible except when a person falls asleep by the side of a stream. The Alp Luachra takes the form of a newt and crawl down said person's mouth and feed off the food they eat. Greedy as they are, the person devours astonishing amounts of food, yet become more and more emaciated. In Beside the Fire by Douglas Hyde, he accounts of a person who got rid of the Alp Luachra are eating large amounts of salted meat without drinking anything. He then went back to the stream and fell asleep with his mouth open, in which the Alp Luachra jumped into the water in thirsty desperation....
Alven (a.k.a. Otteermaaner): This fairy's origin is Netherlands. Besides that, there are no other known origins for this kind of watery fairy. Their main element is water, obviously and they do use this element in their daily life. These fairies trap themselves in little bubbles and use this pocket of air to fly since they do not have wings. Their bodies are so light that they are almost invisible. Sometimes these fairies will show themselves wearing the hides of otters. There malice to mankind is pretty much limited to those who would destroy and desecrate the sacred land around them, their home, plants, etc. These fairies are most active at night. According to stories, Alvens are creatures of the moon. They dance and play under the moonlight and they are water fairies that live in ponds, lakes and rivers. But the River Elbe is supposedly the most sacred place to them and so that is their principal home. These fairies cherish night blooming plants and so they will protect them if a human tries to pick them or harm them. The only enemies of these fairies are fish and so these fairies try to avoid them....
Amadán (Stroke Lad, Amadán Mór, Amadán na bruidne): An Irish fairy that is known as the fool of the Sidhe. He is a vicious fairy that is said to live in a castle called Bruidean. He chooses his human pawns randomly, punishing them with his touch. His victims suffer through a lifetime of ridicule and shun because of their disfigurements of face, limb, or body. People are more likely to encounter him in the month of June than in any other month....
Ana: In Gypsy folklore, she is the Queen of the Fairies. She is utterly beautiful, pure of heart. She lived in an enchanted mountain castle. Unfortunately, she one day met with the king of the demons, and from then on, her children were born as demons as well....
Angus Og (Angus Óc, Ængus Mac Og, Angug Mac Og): In Ireland's Tuatha dé Danann, he was the son of Dagda and Boanna and he lived in what is know known as the New Grange mound in County Meath, Ireland. He had a magic cloak that he always wore about him, and had the power to control time and transform himself into a swan. One day, a swan maiden visited him in his sleep, and he fell instantly in love, pining away for her until he found her amongst 149 other swan maidens. Because she could only assume her human form every other year, he divulged his swan form to spend the time with her. Anyone who heard their music would fall asleep, only to awaken when Angus and his bride returned to his castle in New Grange mound....
Anjanas: Las Anjanas are typical faeries of Cantabria, there are small and nice females who sometimes appear to people like part human and part animal (usually, it's bird or fish, but it's not always fifty-fifty). Good willing and peaceful, they can be found in woods, near small streams and that sort of quiet places....
Ankou: (a.k.a. Death, The Grim Reaper, Father Time): The ankou of Brittany in France but it also originates in the lore of Cornwall and Wales and is deeply a part of Irish mythology. This fairy gets to be part of all the elements including the fifth element spirit. This fairy is the personification of death and so he is male, dark and has on a black robe pulled high above his head. According to some lore, this fairy has a black cart drawn by four black horses in which he comes by to collect the souls of the dead. Some say the horses appear headless. They appear at dusk, and their footsteps make no sound on the ground as they pass. Seeing them means that either he/she or someone they love will soon die. No one ever has seen his face, and those who have are dead. He really doesn't have in interest in humans; he pretty much does his job. He is most active throughout the entire year therefore he's rather busy. In some places he's not an actual fairy, in others that's all he is. Don't go looking for him and don't try to contact him. He so busy you can't know where to find him anyway....
Anthropophagi: This fairy creature originates from England, which is odd because the name Anthropophagi is Greek. There is no known evidence of this fairy being involved with the Greek folk beliefs. In Greek, this fairy’s name translates to “Man eating”. This is an air fairy, meaning its main element is air. First of all, this is not a fairy you want to run into since he is a headless cannibal. The tiny brain he has in the first place is said to be near his reproductive organs. His eyes are placed on his shoulders, and his mouth is in the center of his chest. He has no nose, which is good because it enables him to eat human flesh without gagging. It is said they only kill when they are hungry but still be weary of them extremely weary. Do not try to contact them because they are unknown. No one knows where it is at and what help they could give you if found them. But, it would be a better idea not to go looking for them anyway. These fairies weren’t commonly known in England until the famous playwright William Shakespeare. In his plays Othello and Merry Wives of Windsor he made these horrible creatures famous. This type of fairy was already a part of the lore in England but his play made them even better known. Now, some people say these aren’t even real fairies, but a remnant memory of a cannibalistic race that migrated from Africa to Britain in the Dark Ages. Here is a fairy that proves not all fairy creatures that live in fairyland are nice people....
Aoibhinn: The Queen of the Fairies of North Munster and a woman of the Sidhe....
Ariel: A fairy said to live in the bell of a cowslip flower, and ride on the back of a bat....
Asrai: A water fairy from England (Cheshire and Shropshire). They may sometimes appear as very small humans. The Asrai are known to be exceptionally beautiful and gentle. They only rose from their depths once every hundred years and had to return to their homes before sunrise, else they would waste away. Legend tells of a fisherman that caught one, and despite its cries, was determined to bring it to land. By the time the fisherman made it to shore, the fairies cries had faded and all that was left was a pool of water and a welt on his hands where he had touched the Asrai to tie it up....
Ati: A Maori chief who caught a lovely fairy in a net and married her....
Attracting Faeries to your Garden: So you want to attract some faery folk to your garden or home, but how? There are several ways to attract the wee folk to your home. First you need to decide what type of faery you hope to attract. If you hope to attract flower and garden faeries you need to have some of their favorite plants around. Some of these are: Foxgloves Fairy like to make their clothing from them. Ferns these make nice soft beds for the little guys. Apple and or Oak trees Fae often inhabit these trees. The oak is held sacred by many of them. Tulips the faery like to use the tulip bloom to put their babies to bed. Rosemary, heartsease, forget-me-nots are some others. While there are many others that fairy like these are some of their favorites. You can also build a little faery house from twigs, stones, crystals or other items found in nature. Put a crystal on the house to attract the faery to it. Place it in your garden and soon a faery may make it home. Faery are attracted to bright and beautiful things. Oh and very important, if you want to keep the wee folk around keep the cat out of the garden!... Attracting Faeries to Your House: How to attract a house fairy? Fairy love honey cakes, honeyed milk or plain milk and sweet butter. Put some of the above in a bowl or plate and put outside on a stoop or in your kitchen. Don't be dismayed should you wake in the morning and find it still there. Though it may appear untouched, the fairy may have taken nourishment from the food's essence. They will often leave the food for their animal friends to enjoy. Most house fairy (elves, pixies, brownies) are very fussy about the homes they live in. It is important to keep your home clean and clutter free (sometimes they will lend a helping hand). They won't stick around long if you are a foul tempered person or unpleasant to animals and children. Most Fairies are offended by a spoken thank you. Leave them food or trinkets as thanks. One you've offended one of the wee folk they will leave and never return. Enjoy your small house guests. Most can be helpful and often playful. Some are quite fond of playing pranks. A happy home is a home with Fairy. Aguane: This is a race of female spirits. They are the spirits of the mountains and hills, and the streams and rivers. They love to wear the color red and usually have a magic cap of red to provide invisibility. Their associated element is Water. Aynia: A fairy queen of Ulster in northern Ireland....
Bazaloshtsh: A type of fairy from eastern Germany. Her name means God's Plaint and is described as a small, long haired woman. She will only appear to wail beneath the window of someone who is about to die.
Banshee or Benshee: an Irish fairy attached to a house. Common name for the Irish Bean Sidhe (see below). In Scotland the banshee is known as caoineag (wailing woman) and, although seldom seen, she often heard in the hills and glens, by lakes or running water.
Barbegazi: Most of us are familiar with the Yeti or Abominable snowman. There is another less well known faery creature the Barbegazi. Barbegazi are usually found in the Swiss Alps. They hibernate during the warmer months of the season. They come out of their burrows once the frigid winter has returned. They are a type of gnome. They have very large feet that enable them to move easily and quickly thru snow and ice. They are completely covered in icicles. It was revealed that they were quite ordinary looking gnomes under the ice. This occurred when several barbegazi were captured and taken from the cold mountains. Soon after the icicles melted revealing their true looks. The captured creatures soon died. The Barbegazi live in tunnels and caves within the mountains. Their call can be heard echoing thru the mountains as they call to one another. They are rarely seen and usually only before an avalanche or blizzard, which they enjoy very much. They have been known to warn humans of avalanches. In general though they prefer to steer clear of humans, disappearing before being spotted.
Basadone- Origin Italy: Known as the 'woman-kisser', he rides the noonday breezes and steals kisses as he passes by. Their associated element is Air.
Bean Nighe (Ban nighechain, nigheag na hath): This is the Scottish version of the BeanSidhe whose name means Washer at the Fords. They wander around deserted streams, washing out the grave clothes of those that are about to die. They are said to be women who died during childbirth, and are made to do this until the day when they would've normally died.
Beansidhe (Banshee, Ban shee, Badhbh, Badhbh Chaointe): A Celtic Irish fairy whose name literally means Woman of the Hill. Her name derives from bean, or woman, and Sidhe, or fairy. She looks like an old woman with deep-set, her eyes are fiery red from the constant weeping, and wears a cloak over a green dress. Another description places her with wild, long, red hair and in a long white dress. Another, still, described her as a beautiful woman, veiled, with a posture conveying great sadness. She attends the old Celtic families. Her keening wail is heard the night before a family member is going to die. Sometimes she takes on the form of a crow and beats her wings against a window as she lets out her mournful cry. Many have seen her as she goes wailing and clapping her hands. The caoine, or the Irish funeral cry, is said to be an imitation of her own cry. When more than one beansidhe wail and cry together, it is said to be for the death of some holy or great one. Unseen, banshees attend the funerals of the beloved dead, and sometimes she can be heard wailing along with the mournful cries of others. Each beansidhe attends her own mortal family. Her wails can be heard in either America or England, wherever the true Irish have settled. But, out of love or respect, she never forgets her blood ties. The Scottish version of the Banshee is the Bean Nighe. Aiobhill is the banshee of the Dalcassians of North Munster, and Cliodna is the banshee of the MacCarthys and other families of South Munster.
BeanTighe: There is an Irish Fae called the BeanTighe (BanTeeg). She is usually described as a small elderly woman. She always has a smile and full dimpled cheeks. They are always looking for a warm friendly home to guard over. The BeanTighe like the Beansidhe or Banshee attaches her self to a home. She is a faery house keeper. The members of the family would often wake to find unfinished chores done. She especially worked to help the tired and overworked mother. They love children and will make sure they are taken care of. They will adjust blankets, sing lullabies and close drafty windows. If you want to invite one to your home leave her a bowl of strawberries and cream. They are especially attracted to homes with children in. Do not keep your home spotless because she must feel needed. You are indeed blessed if the BeanTighe chooses to take up residence in your home.
Bediadari (Bidadari): These were the fairies in the beliefs of the Malay people of Western Malaysia. It means Good People.
Befana: An Italian fairy that is described as looking like an ugly old peasant. Lore tells that when the three wise king came by their way to visit the child Christ, she was so busy doing housework that she postponed any offer of hospitality until they came back. Some say that she was invited to go with the three king, but was so busy she declined. Other say that she accepted the offer and followed shortly thereafter, but got lost trying to follow them. Every Epiphany, having missed taking the Child Christ a gift, she goes about, filling children's shoes with candy and toys.
Béfind: A Celtic and French fairy. She is one of the three fairies that were invited to bestow gifts upon a new child and make predictions of his/her future.
Ben Socia (Bensocia): This is a French euphemism for fairy. It means Good Neighbor.
Blue Fairy: Although she is now known as tall and blonde due to Disney's rendition of her, the Italian people only know her as the Blue fairy. She was the fairy that helped Pinnochio become a human boy.
The Bendith Y Mamau: ("The Mothers' Blessing") is a Welsh Faerie. They are short and very ugly. Their limbs are misshapen and withered looking. They usually have straggly hair that hangs in long hanks. They are ugly creatures, and sometimes regarded as the result of interbreeding between goblins and fairies. They dislike being around humans and other faerie folk. They are usually bad tempered and are best left alone. The Bendith Y Mamau's children are called Crimbils. The Bendith's like to steal other faerie or human children because of their beauty. They than leave behind their deformed ugly baby in it's place. Through the intervention of a witch, the parents can regain the stolen child, who will remember nothing of its time with the Bendith Y Mamau, except for a vague recollection of sweet music. The Bendith Y Mamau while not pleasant to be around are not abusive to the children in fact they are treated fairly well. Boanna (Bóann): Mother of Angus Og and Dagda's lover. Wanting to be with her, Dagda sent her husband, Elcmar, on an errand that took nine months but seemed to take only one day.
Boggart: While most house faeries (elves, pixies, brownies, etc.) are helpful and pleasant to have around there are those that aren't. One in particular is the Boggart. The boggart looks much like a gnome but very dirty and messy looking. Their clothing is wrinkled and unkempt and they are often covered in a layer of dust. They are very unpleasant to be around. They are malicious and bad tempered Once in your home they can be extremely difficult to oust. Their favorite tricks to play are dumping over cups, or jugs with milk or liquid. They love the mess it makes. They like to torment dogs so that they bark endlessly. Cats will stay as far away from them as possible. Boggarts are one of the few faerie not afraid of cats. Boggarts enjoy pulling on a cat's tail or whiskers making him howl. The boggart also like slamming doors, turning out lights, and making a mess of electric cords. One of their favorite things to do is torment sleeping babies. They will pinch them, pull their hair or poke them until they wake screaming. If you find you have a boggart it will take much effort to get rid of it. Hang bells on the doors, bang pots, make a lot of noise. Sing at the top of your lungs in your worse voice. The point is to be even more annoying than he. Put iron nails on window sills and hang iron horse shoes above doors. While the iron and horse shoe may not chase out an existing one it may prevent one from showing up. Sometimes though no matter what you do a boggart is their to stay. Some folks have actually up and left a home to get away. It is important though to take precautions when moving or else he may just move with you. So if your home is plagued with more than it's share of mishaps it just may be a boggart has taken up residence.
Bonnes Dames (Nos Bonnes Mères): In Brittany, France, this term was interchangeable with the word fairy. It means Our Good Mothers.
Brother Mike: A fairy who makes his home in Suffolk, England.
Brown Men: Short thin male fairies that protect the wildlife in Cornwall, Scotland. They have copperish colored hair, long arms, and dress in withered foliage.
Brownie: a Scottish domestic fairy; the servants’ friend if well treated. Brownies are brown or tawny spirits, in opposition to fairies, which are fair or elegant ones; a legendary good natured elf that performs helpful services at night.
Bukura e dheut: A beautiful fairy among the ancient Albanians who is always very helpful. The supreme god Tomor is her lover. She is sometimes connected with the underworld and shows some demonical aspects. Her name means "the beauty of the earth". Her sister is Bukura e detit, and her name means "the beauty of the sea".
Bugul Noz: In Brittany is a faery named Bugul Noz. This poor creature is so ugly he is rejected by humans and faery alike. He lives in the deep woodlands of Brittany, spending most of his time underground. Even the woodland animals give him a wide berth. Bugul Noz is the last of his kind. He is an earth based fae. He craves the company of others and is very gentle and kind. Unfortunately his looks prevent him from finding friends. He is incredibly deformed and hideous to behold. Some have died from the sheer shock of seeing him. It is impossible to describe him because he is so awful looking. Not many have taken a good look and those that have are usually left incoherent due to shock. Even faery kind have rejected Bugul Noz. They can not bear to look upon him either. It is hard to say if Bugul Noz is even alive anymore. He has been hidden so long some speculate he faded away into nothingness, only to be found in the faery realm. Should you journey to the faeryland in meditation you can seek him out. He will not harm you and would be happy to aide you, but be prepared. Try not looking at him directly and his looks should not be so jarring. If you can get past his looks he will make a wonderful faery ally.
Bukura e dheut: In Albanian folklore, she is a very powerful fairy. Her name means Beauty of the Earth, lives in a wonderful castle, and has magical creatures as her guards. At time she is very benevolent, but her violent temper can make her as vindictive and destructive as a demon.
Butterfly Faery: (Sometimes called the moss people.) They originated in Switzerland and possibly Germany. Some are even known to have come from the Islands and Africa. These lovely creatures have butterfly wings attached to their bodies. They come in both female and male forms that are slender and human like. They are very shy. Human sightings are very rare especially as more woodland areas disappear to development. They are leery of us and avoid us when possible. They are often mistaken for butterflies especially the Monarch. They are experts at hiding and like to hide in mossy, dark areas. They generally don't aid humans but if they come to trust you are good luck to have around. Should you happen upon a butterfly faery move slowly and make no attempt to capture them. Let them know you are a friend and mean them no harm. Look carefully the next time butterflies visit your garden for it just may be the shy and timid butterfly faery. To have them around is very good fortune for you.
