Post by Indilwen on Jul 12, 2011 14:02:13 GMT 12
Faerie Myths
Aibell (Irish) variations Aoibhill, Aiobhell
Queen of the Munster fairies and a guardian spirit who dwelled at
Craig Liath (the grey rock). Her name means "beautiful". She
possessed a magic harp which legend states that those who heard it
did not live long afterwards. Aibhinn, also spelled Aibhill, means
lovely one. She is a sister of Aine.She is both the fairy queen of
Munster, Irelands southern province, and thequeen of 25 County Clare,
Munster, Banshees. She was seen washing clothes in a stream before
disasters and told of Brain Boru, a king-hero's death. Aine and
Grain, her sister and/or alter ego, were the most revered of thepre-
christian gods.
Aillén Mac Midhna (al-yen mac mee-o-na) variations Aillen Mac Miona
(Irish) A fairy musician from Annwn who came out of his cave each
year to play his timpan (belled tambourine) at the feast of Samhain
(Halloween). Every year he would burn down the palace of Tara after
enchanting the residents with music. Eventually Fionn Mac Cumhail
resisted the music by pressing his spear to his own forehead and then
beheading Aillén.
Ailill - a king in North-east Ireland, father of Etain Eschrade
Áine (aw-ne) (Irish)
A faery queen and goddess of love and fertility. She is
associated with the moon and has occasionally been seen combing her
hair in the middle of a lake. Daughter of high king, Eogabail, the
foster son of sea god Mannanán Mac Lir. Her sister is Fenne or
Finnen. Aine, when seen in Lough Gur, had similaties to a mermaid.
She was the wife of Manannan, a sea-god. She was also the wife of
Echdae, the sky horse. Cnoc Aine and Lough (lake) Gur, in Munster,
having strong connections to Aine had a strong place in Munster
mytholgy. At mid-summer people, and in different processions fey,
would carry torches to the summit of Cnoc Aine and then around the
fields for luck with crops and cattle. This rather joyous occansion
did have a somber undertone. This being the night where the suns
power lessens was sometimes called Aine's funeral. She was
occasionaly seen at these celabrations, sometimes as an old woman.
Other names for Aine were Aine Cli, Aine of the light, and Aine
Cliar, The Bright. (Thank you Marigold !!))
Ankou (Ahn-koo)
Sometimes called the King of the Dead. He collects souls upon
their death and escorts them to the land of the dead. Traveling with
his own subjects he is a feared fairy that is mainly seen on
November Eve.
Annwn (a-noon) (Welsh) - "Land of Shadows". The otherworld.
Asrai
An ancient water fairy in female or male form that lives in the
sea. They are rarely seen and only at night. They are sometimes
called sea ghosts because of their extremely pale, translucent skin.
Legend states that they must not be exposed to the sun lest they
dissolve into a pool of water
Banshee - see Bean-Sidhe or Bean-Nighe
Bean-Sidhe - ( ban-shee )
This fairy woman is feared by humans because her wails and
moaning foretell the impending death of someone near. She has been
described as very beautiful, pale with long hair and fearsome red
eyes which some say is from her constant weeping.
Bean-Fionn
Also called Jenny Greentooth, she is a malevolent fairy who
lives underwater in streams and lakes. She can be either beautiful
or hideous and is known to reach up from her watery depths and drag
young children under the water with her.
Bogie
A male hobgoblin who is only up to evil and capricious acts of
wrongdoing. He enjoys tormenting any traveler who is unfortunate
enough to cross his path. Also called bogy, bug-a-boo, bogle or
boggart.
Brigid (Irish)
a much beloved triple goddess of healing, smiths, fertility and
poetry. Daughter of Dagda, her name means "fiery arrow".
Brownie
A scruffy small brown male fairy who wears dirty, torn clothing
and likes to live with humans. They like to help with chores but also
like to be left alone. They expect small rewards and will abandon a
home when there is no extra milk and cakes left for them. The Brownie
is generally helpful unless they are crossed then they become mean
and ill-tempered
Cait Sith (cait shee)
a Highland fairy cat that is as large as a dog, with a white spot
on it's breast.
Changeling
Some fairies love beautiful human babies and will steal them and
leave an old, near-death fairy in their place. Humans have been known
to place iron bars on or in their baby cradles to protect them from
such thefts.
Conare - son of Tethba/Mess Buachalla by a man who first appeared to
her as a bird, stepson of Eterscelae, a prince of Temuir
Corrigan
These female fairies are enchanted to forever roam the earth as
beautiful blonde women by day and repulsive old hags by night. Legend
states that if a mortal man loves the old hag and beautiful woman
equally the enchantment is lifted.
Daoine Sidhe (deena shee)
The Tuatha De Danann who chose to stay in Ireland after the
invasion of the Milesian, and took refuge under the hills. Trooping,
Seelie Court is one of Scotland's Sidhe. Faery Folk of Ireland,
sopposedly fallen angels. Inhabitants living underground,
underwater, in green raths or under the loughs or sea. Of these
derive Heroic Faery and the Medieval Fairy. Ireland has two races, a
visable race called the Celts and the invisible Faery People or the
Sidhe.
Donn - son of Midir and Etain
Druids
The Druids were important figures in Celtic Ireland and held
positions as advisors, judges and teachers. Draoi-id means "oak
knowledge". They were male and female and it tookup to 20 years to
learn all of the Druidical laws. Evans-Wentz in the book Fairy-Faith
in Celtic Countries states that they were magicians and prophets and
they could foretell the future and interpret the secret will of the
fairies.
Duergarrs (Doo-ay-gahrs)
A male dwarf fairy approximately 2 feet tall. They are
unfriendly to humans and guard fairy paths and hills.
Echu Arim - husband of Etain after she was reborn, father of Etain the
younger and father and grandfather of Tethba/Mess Buachalla
Ellyllon
The name given to the Welsh elves. They are tiny, diaphanous
fairies whose food is toadstools and fairy butter, a fungoid
substance found in the roots of old trees and in limstone crevices.
Their queen is Mab.
Elves
Elves are small and thin with pointed ears and sinewy bodies.
Despite their small stature they are very intelligent and
industrious and play a major part in the land of fairy.
Midir - husband of Etain, her second husband after she was reborn.
Etain - (aideen) a Irish fairy queen from the Tuatha Dé Danaan wed to
King Midhir. Daughter of Ailill, wife of Midir. Turned into a
butterfly by
Fuamnach who then caused for strong winds to blow her all over
Ireland until exhausted she fell into the cup of Etars wife. She
concieved Etain and she was reborn again into a kings family. She
married Echu Airem. After her marriage Midir found her and won a kiss
from her in a game with Echu. Midir turned them both into swans and
fled. Pursued and almost defeated by Echu, Midir lets him chose among
50 identical women including Etains and Echus daughter. Since Echu
chose his own daughter Etain was able to stay with Midir.
Etain the younger - Daughter of Etain and Echuu Airem. Midir giving
Echu a chance to reclaim his wife had him chose from 50 identical
women. Echu
unknowlingly chose his own daughter causing an incestous relationship.
Etar - his wife concieved Etain after she drank from the cup that
Etain as a
fly fell into.
Ethné (Irish)
exiled from the Tuatha Dé Danaan. She wanders the hills in vain
listening to the disembodied voices of the fairies so she can return.
Fairy Trees
All trees are sacred to fairies but the ones most mentioned in
fairy lore include: Oak, Ash, Apple, Hazel, Rowan, Holly, Willow,
Elder, Alder, Hawthorn and Blackthorn. Willows have been known to
uproot themselves on dark nights and follow solitary travelers
through the woods. Hazel nuts were thought to instill wisdom and
fertility and apples: power and youth.
Fairies / Faeries
The word "fairies" now encompasses all of the inhabitants of
Fairyland including the Daoine Sidhe of the Highlands. The Tuatha Dé
Danaan of Ireland. The Tylwth Teg of Wales. The Seelie and Unseelie-
Court and the Trooping and Solitary fairies. Other names given to the
fairy race include: Daoine Maithe `the good people', the Sidhe race,
the Gentry, the "People of Peace", "the still-folk", the "silent
moving folk", the Sith , the Fair-Family, Fair-Folk, and the Fées.
Fer I or Fer Fi, means Man of Yew. A brother of Aine. He is a red-
haired dwarf and hearing him laugh was said to bring good luck. On
his three stringed harp he only played three songs, Wail, Sleep and
Laughter.
Fir Darrigs (Fear Durgs)
Also called Rat Boys. They are very unpleasant fairies with fat
ugly features, hairy skin and long snouts which make them look like
large rats. They like to trick humans and other fairies out of their
possessions and they love to eat rotten fish and food.
Flower Fairy
18th Century fairy is now gentle spirit of earth, child-
spirits.They punish the bad and remain in peace with those who do
good by them. They now have all sorts of rememdies and superstitions
to ward off these evil fairies. Or to protect their homes and
childred from such.
Fuamnach - First wife of Midir, after Midir took Etain as another
wife she
cursed Etain and turned her into a butterfly.
Gancanagh (Gon-cawn-ah)
A legendary beautiful male fairy who enjoys seducing mortal
women to fall in love with him and then disappearing only to leave
them to search for him until their deaths.
Gentry - The most noble tribe of all the fairies in Ireland. A big
race who came from the planets and usually appear in white. The Irish
used to bless the Gentry for fear of harm otherwise.
Ghillie Dhu (Gillee Doo)
These are Scottish solitary tree fairies who disguise themselves
as leaves and love to play pranks on human travelers who unknowingly
have ventured into their forest. Their clothing is made of leaves and
moss.
The Glastig (clee-stickh) or Glaistig
An infamous water fairy who is believed to no longer exist. A
beautiful woman fairy of human size who is part goat and attempts to
lure mortal human males to be her companion and is friendly until
they notice her goat hooves. Then she either drowns them or drains
them of their blood. Her nature is typically faerie-perverse for she
can also be benign and gently tend children or old people. She will
also sometimes herd cattle for farmers.
Gnomes or Dwarves
Earth fairies who age very quickly. They seem to have been born
old and they live for hundreds of years. They are very intelligent
and they make their homes in hollowed out trees or partly
underground. They vary in personalities and temperament.
Gwragedd Annwn (Gwer-geth Ai-noon)
A beautiful blond water fairy of human size who is helpful and
kind to humans. She lives near lakes.
Gwyllion (gwithleeon)
The evil mountain fairies of Wales. They are hideous female
spirits who waylay and mislead travelers by night on the mountain
roads. They were friends and patrons of the goats, and might indeed
take goat form.
Goblins and Hobgoblins
A name given by humans to the mean, mischievous elves who
sometimes haunt their homes.
Heroic Faery
1113 CE Knights and ladies of the medieval romances, and Celt
Legends Aurthur became Heroic Faery; King of Faerie. King Aurther,
voyaging in his magickal ship Prydwen, visited many islands
inhabitated by Faeries,
Arthur had been sent to the Island Avalon mortally wounded to be
tended to by four Faerie Queens. Of which he is said to still waits
deep within the hill waiting.
Huldrafolk
Dark elves that cause deformaties with a lick of their dark brown
tongues. Can cause a human to turn against the world of mortals.
Kelpie
Scottish water faerie. Although sometimes appearing in the guise
of a hairy man, this is more often seen in the form of a young
horse. The Kelpie haunt rivers and streams and, after letting
unsuspecting humans mount him, will dash into the water and give them
a dunking. Each-Uisge (ech-ooshkya) or Aughisky (agh-iski) as he is
known in Ireland, inhabits seas and lochs and is far more dangerous.
Killmoulis
A particularly ugly Brownie who haunts mills. He is characterized
by an enormous nose and no mouth. To eat he presumably stuffs the
food up his nose. Although a Killmoulis works hard for the miller, he
delights in practical jokes and can therefore be a hindrance rather
than a help.
Knockers
Dwarf fairies who live underground and are expert miners
Leanan-Sidhe (lan-awn-shee) the Fairy Mistress
similar to the Lhiannan-Shee, except she is given a more
benevolent description by Lady Wilde in Ancient Legends of
Ireland: `The Leanan-Sidhe, or the spirit of life, was supposed to be
the inspirer of the poet and singer, as the Ban-Sidhe was the spirit
of death, the foreteller of doom.' Her inspiration comes at a price,
in that poets and artists fueled by her die an early death.
Leprechauns
A solitary male fairy with the cunning ability to steal or find
treasure. He loves riddles and dares others to find the treasure that
he has hidden, sometimes so well that he himself cannot find it.
Lhiannan-Shee (lannan-shee)
A beautiful vampiric fairy who has been said to either drain her
victims of blood or collect it in a cauldron where she performs
spells and rituals to keep herself youthful and beautiful.
The Lorelei
A lovely young woman faery who sings, luring men to their deaths.
They are found by cliffs near the sea.
Lunantisidhe
Pointed ears and long teeth, they are said to hate humans with a
fervent passion. Fierce protecters of blackthorn trees.
Medieval Fairy
Moving away from Ireland and into England, tales of such magick
and sorcery Wizards and Witches, Morgan LeFay & Avalon. The Fairy
size was now varying, from small fairies to hideous monsters.
Monastic Chroniclers took down in writing accounts of battles,
crusades and politics. Gathered by the monks of the new religion.
Majority of these chroniclers where churchmen, so the record of Faery
has become the fairy we know in modern tales. Arriving from
Aurthurian Legends of this race. The recordings of the Daoine Sidhe
indicate them enjoying the pleasures and occupations of medieval
chivalry.
Mermaids
Also called the merpeople, merrows. A generally gentle female
fairy who lives in the sea with a human torso and fish tail. They
sometimes travel upstream and have been known to take human lovers to
their underwater kingdoms.
Merman
A male counterpart of the mermaid. They also have human torsos
and fish tails but are not as interested in humankind as the
mermaids. They are wilder with pigs eyes, red noses and green hair
and tend to enjoy the stormier aspects of the sea.
Merrows - The Irish Merpeople are called Merrows and they can be
distinguished from other sea-dwelling faeries in that they wear red
feather caps to propel themselves down to their homes in the depths.
Should their caps be stolen, they can no longer return to their
watery homes. The female Merrow are very beautiful and, like other
mermaids, appear before storms as an omen, but they are gentle by
nature and often fall in love with mortal fishermen. This can partly
be explained by the extreme ugliness of the male Merrows. Despite
their alaming aspect, the males too have their redeeming features as
they are generally jovial in character.
Mórrigán (Irish)
a major triple goddess of war, death and slaughter. Her name
means great queen. She is interchangeable with Macha, Badb and
Nemain. Her favorite shape is that of the crow or raven.
Nucklelelavees
Foul smelling faeries that enjoy chasing humans as well as other
faeries. They arise out of the sea and bleed black blood when cut.
Orculli
Bad smeling faery that enjoys eating human flesh. Said to be
large and clumsy.
Phookas
A destructive fairy that travels in a pack, they have the body
of a goat or horse and the head of a human male. Fairies and humans
fear them and avoid them at all cost.
Pixies
A small, winged fairy with a large head, pointy ears, nose and
eyebrows. They are mischievous and love fancy clothing made to
resemble their favorite flowers. They love dancing, singing and merry
making.
Robin Goodfellow or Puck
This male fairy looks like a satyr with a boys head and the body
of a goat. He is playful and loves to play his pipes throughout the
forests which entices all the animals and fairies alike to follow his
melodious music.
The Seelie-Court
Seelie means "blessed", and this court consists of all the noble
and kind fairies whose inner code of fair and good ethics contrast
that of the Unseelie Court.
Selkies
Selkies appear as seals but are able to shed their sealskins and
walk on land in female or male form. If a human can capture this
skin, the Selkie can be forced to become a fine, if wistful, wife.
However, should she ever find her skin she immediately returns to the
sea, leaving the husband to pine and die. The males raise storms and
upturn boats to avenge the indiscriminate slaughter of seals.
Spriggans
A fairy monster who is able to inflate himself and float along
the countryside. They sometimes appears as rocks or stones and create
havoc on those who cross their paths.
Tara
The ancient hill fort that became the capital of the Tuatha Dé
Danaan. It was a meeting place for fairy kings and visiting
dignitaries.
Tir Nan Og or Tir Na N-og (teer na nogue)
"Land of the Young" an earthly paradise where time stopped and
the grass was always green and the flowers blossoming. A land of
beauty where there was much music, feasting, loving and hunting.
Trooping Fairies
Fairies are sometimes divided into two classes which includes
the trooping or solitary fairies.The trooping fay can be large or
small, friendly or sinister. They tend to wear green jackets, while
the Solitary Faery wear red jackets. They can range from the Heroic
Faery to the dangerrous and malevolent Sluagh, or tose Diminutive
Fairies who include the tiny nature spirits that make the fairy rings
with their dancing and speed the growth of flowers.
Tuatha Dé Danann (Too-ah-day Thay-nan)
Also called the Gentry. They are the earliest fairies. Their
goddess was Dana. They are the origin of the fairy race.
Tylwyth Teg (terlooeth teig)
A Welsh name for the "fair race". Given to represent all fairies
whom they believed lived in matriarchal clans. The most unusual name
for Welsh fairies, though they are sometimes called Bendith Y Mammau,
in an attempt to avert their kidnapping activities by invoking a
euphemistic name. They are fair-haired, and love golden hair. They
dance and make fairy rings. They are like the Daoine Sidhe, and
dwell underground or underwater. The fairy maidens are easily won as
wives and will live with human husbands for a time. Because of the
strange passage of time in Faeryland it is dangerous to visit them.
They give riches to their favorites, but these gifts vanish if they
are spoken of.
The Unseelie Court
These are the damned or unblessed of the fairy race and they
consist of all that is evil and ignoble in fairyland.
Will-o'-the- Wisp
Also called Fairy Lights, Elf-fire, Hobbedy's Lantern or Night
Whispers. Small winged fairies whose glowing lights can be seen at
dusk in the meadows and grassy hills.
Aibell (Irish) variations Aoibhill, Aiobhell
Queen of the Munster fairies and a guardian spirit who dwelled at
Craig Liath (the grey rock). Her name means "beautiful". She
possessed a magic harp which legend states that those who heard it
did not live long afterwards. Aibhinn, also spelled Aibhill, means
lovely one. She is a sister of Aine.She is both the fairy queen of
Munster, Irelands southern province, and thequeen of 25 County Clare,
Munster, Banshees. She was seen washing clothes in a stream before
disasters and told of Brain Boru, a king-hero's death. Aine and
Grain, her sister and/or alter ego, were the most revered of thepre-
christian gods.
Aillén Mac Midhna (al-yen mac mee-o-na) variations Aillen Mac Miona
(Irish) A fairy musician from Annwn who came out of his cave each
year to play his timpan (belled tambourine) at the feast of Samhain
(Halloween). Every year he would burn down the palace of Tara after
enchanting the residents with music. Eventually Fionn Mac Cumhail
resisted the music by pressing his spear to his own forehead and then
beheading Aillén.
Ailill - a king in North-east Ireland, father of Etain Eschrade
Áine (aw-ne) (Irish)
A faery queen and goddess of love and fertility. She is
associated with the moon and has occasionally been seen combing her
hair in the middle of a lake. Daughter of high king, Eogabail, the
foster son of sea god Mannanán Mac Lir. Her sister is Fenne or
Finnen. Aine, when seen in Lough Gur, had similaties to a mermaid.
She was the wife of Manannan, a sea-god. She was also the wife of
Echdae, the sky horse. Cnoc Aine and Lough (lake) Gur, in Munster,
having strong connections to Aine had a strong place in Munster
mytholgy. At mid-summer people, and in different processions fey,
would carry torches to the summit of Cnoc Aine and then around the
fields for luck with crops and cattle. This rather joyous occansion
did have a somber undertone. This being the night where the suns
power lessens was sometimes called Aine's funeral. She was
occasionaly seen at these celabrations, sometimes as an old woman.
Other names for Aine were Aine Cli, Aine of the light, and Aine
Cliar, The Bright. (Thank you Marigold !!))
Ankou (Ahn-koo)
Sometimes called the King of the Dead. He collects souls upon
their death and escorts them to the land of the dead. Traveling with
his own subjects he is a feared fairy that is mainly seen on
November Eve.
Annwn (a-noon) (Welsh) - "Land of Shadows". The otherworld.
Asrai
An ancient water fairy in female or male form that lives in the
sea. They are rarely seen and only at night. They are sometimes
called sea ghosts because of their extremely pale, translucent skin.
Legend states that they must not be exposed to the sun lest they
dissolve into a pool of water
Banshee - see Bean-Sidhe or Bean-Nighe
Bean-Sidhe - ( ban-shee )
This fairy woman is feared by humans because her wails and
moaning foretell the impending death of someone near. She has been
described as very beautiful, pale with long hair and fearsome red
eyes which some say is from her constant weeping.
Bean-Fionn
Also called Jenny Greentooth, she is a malevolent fairy who
lives underwater in streams and lakes. She can be either beautiful
or hideous and is known to reach up from her watery depths and drag
young children under the water with her.
Bogie
A male hobgoblin who is only up to evil and capricious acts of
wrongdoing. He enjoys tormenting any traveler who is unfortunate
enough to cross his path. Also called bogy, bug-a-boo, bogle or
boggart.
Brigid (Irish)
a much beloved triple goddess of healing, smiths, fertility and
poetry. Daughter of Dagda, her name means "fiery arrow".
Brownie
A scruffy small brown male fairy who wears dirty, torn clothing
and likes to live with humans. They like to help with chores but also
like to be left alone. They expect small rewards and will abandon a
home when there is no extra milk and cakes left for them. The Brownie
is generally helpful unless they are crossed then they become mean
and ill-tempered
Cait Sith (cait shee)
a Highland fairy cat that is as large as a dog, with a white spot
on it's breast.
Changeling
Some fairies love beautiful human babies and will steal them and
leave an old, near-death fairy in their place. Humans have been known
to place iron bars on or in their baby cradles to protect them from
such thefts.
Conare - son of Tethba/Mess Buachalla by a man who first appeared to
her as a bird, stepson of Eterscelae, a prince of Temuir
Corrigan
These female fairies are enchanted to forever roam the earth as
beautiful blonde women by day and repulsive old hags by night. Legend
states that if a mortal man loves the old hag and beautiful woman
equally the enchantment is lifted.
Daoine Sidhe (deena shee)
The Tuatha De Danann who chose to stay in Ireland after the
invasion of the Milesian, and took refuge under the hills. Trooping,
Seelie Court is one of Scotland's Sidhe. Faery Folk of Ireland,
sopposedly fallen angels. Inhabitants living underground,
underwater, in green raths or under the loughs or sea. Of these
derive Heroic Faery and the Medieval Fairy. Ireland has two races, a
visable race called the Celts and the invisible Faery People or the
Sidhe.
Donn - son of Midir and Etain
Druids
The Druids were important figures in Celtic Ireland and held
positions as advisors, judges and teachers. Draoi-id means "oak
knowledge". They were male and female and it tookup to 20 years to
learn all of the Druidical laws. Evans-Wentz in the book Fairy-Faith
in Celtic Countries states that they were magicians and prophets and
they could foretell the future and interpret the secret will of the
fairies.
Duergarrs (Doo-ay-gahrs)
A male dwarf fairy approximately 2 feet tall. They are
unfriendly to humans and guard fairy paths and hills.
Echu Arim - husband of Etain after she was reborn, father of Etain the
younger and father and grandfather of Tethba/Mess Buachalla
Ellyllon
The name given to the Welsh elves. They are tiny, diaphanous
fairies whose food is toadstools and fairy butter, a fungoid
substance found in the roots of old trees and in limstone crevices.
Their queen is Mab.
Elves
Elves are small and thin with pointed ears and sinewy bodies.
Despite their small stature they are very intelligent and
industrious and play a major part in the land of fairy.
Midir - husband of Etain, her second husband after she was reborn.
Etain - (aideen) a Irish fairy queen from the Tuatha Dé Danaan wed to
King Midhir. Daughter of Ailill, wife of Midir. Turned into a
butterfly by
Fuamnach who then caused for strong winds to blow her all over
Ireland until exhausted she fell into the cup of Etars wife. She
concieved Etain and she was reborn again into a kings family. She
married Echu Airem. After her marriage Midir found her and won a kiss
from her in a game with Echu. Midir turned them both into swans and
fled. Pursued and almost defeated by Echu, Midir lets him chose among
50 identical women including Etains and Echus daughter. Since Echu
chose his own daughter Etain was able to stay with Midir.
Etain the younger - Daughter of Etain and Echuu Airem. Midir giving
Echu a chance to reclaim his wife had him chose from 50 identical
women. Echu
unknowlingly chose his own daughter causing an incestous relationship.
Etar - his wife concieved Etain after she drank from the cup that
Etain as a
fly fell into.
Ethné (Irish)
exiled from the Tuatha Dé Danaan. She wanders the hills in vain
listening to the disembodied voices of the fairies so she can return.
Fairy Trees
All trees are sacred to fairies but the ones most mentioned in
fairy lore include: Oak, Ash, Apple, Hazel, Rowan, Holly, Willow,
Elder, Alder, Hawthorn and Blackthorn. Willows have been known to
uproot themselves on dark nights and follow solitary travelers
through the woods. Hazel nuts were thought to instill wisdom and
fertility and apples: power and youth.
Fairies / Faeries
The word "fairies" now encompasses all of the inhabitants of
Fairyland including the Daoine Sidhe of the Highlands. The Tuatha Dé
Danaan of Ireland. The Tylwth Teg of Wales. The Seelie and Unseelie-
Court and the Trooping and Solitary fairies. Other names given to the
fairy race include: Daoine Maithe `the good people', the Sidhe race,
the Gentry, the "People of Peace", "the still-folk", the "silent
moving folk", the Sith , the Fair-Family, Fair-Folk, and the Fées.
Fer I or Fer Fi, means Man of Yew. A brother of Aine. He is a red-
haired dwarf and hearing him laugh was said to bring good luck. On
his three stringed harp he only played three songs, Wail, Sleep and
Laughter.
Fir Darrigs (Fear Durgs)
Also called Rat Boys. They are very unpleasant fairies with fat
ugly features, hairy skin and long snouts which make them look like
large rats. They like to trick humans and other fairies out of their
possessions and they love to eat rotten fish and food.
Flower Fairy
18th Century fairy is now gentle spirit of earth, child-
spirits.They punish the bad and remain in peace with those who do
good by them. They now have all sorts of rememdies and superstitions
to ward off these evil fairies. Or to protect their homes and
childred from such.
Fuamnach - First wife of Midir, after Midir took Etain as another
wife she
cursed Etain and turned her into a butterfly.
Gancanagh (Gon-cawn-ah)
A legendary beautiful male fairy who enjoys seducing mortal
women to fall in love with him and then disappearing only to leave
them to search for him until their deaths.
Gentry - The most noble tribe of all the fairies in Ireland. A big
race who came from the planets and usually appear in white. The Irish
used to bless the Gentry for fear of harm otherwise.
Ghillie Dhu (Gillee Doo)
These are Scottish solitary tree fairies who disguise themselves
as leaves and love to play pranks on human travelers who unknowingly
have ventured into their forest. Their clothing is made of leaves and
moss.
The Glastig (clee-stickh) or Glaistig
An infamous water fairy who is believed to no longer exist. A
beautiful woman fairy of human size who is part goat and attempts to
lure mortal human males to be her companion and is friendly until
they notice her goat hooves. Then she either drowns them or drains
them of their blood. Her nature is typically faerie-perverse for she
can also be benign and gently tend children or old people. She will
also sometimes herd cattle for farmers.
Gnomes or Dwarves
Earth fairies who age very quickly. They seem to have been born
old and they live for hundreds of years. They are very intelligent
and they make their homes in hollowed out trees or partly
underground. They vary in personalities and temperament.
Gwragedd Annwn (Gwer-geth Ai-noon)
A beautiful blond water fairy of human size who is helpful and
kind to humans. She lives near lakes.
Gwyllion (gwithleeon)
The evil mountain fairies of Wales. They are hideous female
spirits who waylay and mislead travelers by night on the mountain
roads. They were friends and patrons of the goats, and might indeed
take goat form.
Goblins and Hobgoblins
A name given by humans to the mean, mischievous elves who
sometimes haunt their homes.
Heroic Faery
1113 CE Knights and ladies of the medieval romances, and Celt
Legends Aurthur became Heroic Faery; King of Faerie. King Aurther,
voyaging in his magickal ship Prydwen, visited many islands
inhabitated by Faeries,
Arthur had been sent to the Island Avalon mortally wounded to be
tended to by four Faerie Queens. Of which he is said to still waits
deep within the hill waiting.
Huldrafolk
Dark elves that cause deformaties with a lick of their dark brown
tongues. Can cause a human to turn against the world of mortals.
Kelpie
Scottish water faerie. Although sometimes appearing in the guise
of a hairy man, this is more often seen in the form of a young
horse. The Kelpie haunt rivers and streams and, after letting
unsuspecting humans mount him, will dash into the water and give them
a dunking. Each-Uisge (ech-ooshkya) or Aughisky (agh-iski) as he is
known in Ireland, inhabits seas and lochs and is far more dangerous.
Killmoulis
A particularly ugly Brownie who haunts mills. He is characterized
by an enormous nose and no mouth. To eat he presumably stuffs the
food up his nose. Although a Killmoulis works hard for the miller, he
delights in practical jokes and can therefore be a hindrance rather
than a help.
Knockers
Dwarf fairies who live underground and are expert miners
Leanan-Sidhe (lan-awn-shee) the Fairy Mistress
similar to the Lhiannan-Shee, except she is given a more
benevolent description by Lady Wilde in Ancient Legends of
Ireland: `The Leanan-Sidhe, or the spirit of life, was supposed to be
the inspirer of the poet and singer, as the Ban-Sidhe was the spirit
of death, the foreteller of doom.' Her inspiration comes at a price,
in that poets and artists fueled by her die an early death.
Leprechauns
A solitary male fairy with the cunning ability to steal or find
treasure. He loves riddles and dares others to find the treasure that
he has hidden, sometimes so well that he himself cannot find it.
Lhiannan-Shee (lannan-shee)
A beautiful vampiric fairy who has been said to either drain her
victims of blood or collect it in a cauldron where she performs
spells and rituals to keep herself youthful and beautiful.
The Lorelei
A lovely young woman faery who sings, luring men to their deaths.
They are found by cliffs near the sea.
Lunantisidhe
Pointed ears and long teeth, they are said to hate humans with a
fervent passion. Fierce protecters of blackthorn trees.
Medieval Fairy
Moving away from Ireland and into England, tales of such magick
and sorcery Wizards and Witches, Morgan LeFay & Avalon. The Fairy
size was now varying, from small fairies to hideous monsters.
Monastic Chroniclers took down in writing accounts of battles,
crusades and politics. Gathered by the monks of the new religion.
Majority of these chroniclers where churchmen, so the record of Faery
has become the fairy we know in modern tales. Arriving from
Aurthurian Legends of this race. The recordings of the Daoine Sidhe
indicate them enjoying the pleasures and occupations of medieval
chivalry.
Mermaids
Also called the merpeople, merrows. A generally gentle female
fairy who lives in the sea with a human torso and fish tail. They
sometimes travel upstream and have been known to take human lovers to
their underwater kingdoms.
Merman
A male counterpart of the mermaid. They also have human torsos
and fish tails but are not as interested in humankind as the
mermaids. They are wilder with pigs eyes, red noses and green hair
and tend to enjoy the stormier aspects of the sea.
Merrows - The Irish Merpeople are called Merrows and they can be
distinguished from other sea-dwelling faeries in that they wear red
feather caps to propel themselves down to their homes in the depths.
Should their caps be stolen, they can no longer return to their
watery homes. The female Merrow are very beautiful and, like other
mermaids, appear before storms as an omen, but they are gentle by
nature and often fall in love with mortal fishermen. This can partly
be explained by the extreme ugliness of the male Merrows. Despite
their alaming aspect, the males too have their redeeming features as
they are generally jovial in character.
Mórrigán (Irish)
a major triple goddess of war, death and slaughter. Her name
means great queen. She is interchangeable with Macha, Badb and
Nemain. Her favorite shape is that of the crow or raven.
Nucklelelavees
Foul smelling faeries that enjoy chasing humans as well as other
faeries. They arise out of the sea and bleed black blood when cut.
Orculli
Bad smeling faery that enjoys eating human flesh. Said to be
large and clumsy.
Phookas
A destructive fairy that travels in a pack, they have the body
of a goat or horse and the head of a human male. Fairies and humans
fear them and avoid them at all cost.
Pixies
A small, winged fairy with a large head, pointy ears, nose and
eyebrows. They are mischievous and love fancy clothing made to
resemble their favorite flowers. They love dancing, singing and merry
making.
Robin Goodfellow or Puck
This male fairy looks like a satyr with a boys head and the body
of a goat. He is playful and loves to play his pipes throughout the
forests which entices all the animals and fairies alike to follow his
melodious music.
The Seelie-Court
Seelie means "blessed", and this court consists of all the noble
and kind fairies whose inner code of fair and good ethics contrast
that of the Unseelie Court.
Selkies
Selkies appear as seals but are able to shed their sealskins and
walk on land in female or male form. If a human can capture this
skin, the Selkie can be forced to become a fine, if wistful, wife.
However, should she ever find her skin she immediately returns to the
sea, leaving the husband to pine and die. The males raise storms and
upturn boats to avenge the indiscriminate slaughter of seals.
Spriggans
A fairy monster who is able to inflate himself and float along
the countryside. They sometimes appears as rocks or stones and create
havoc on those who cross their paths.
Tara
The ancient hill fort that became the capital of the Tuatha Dé
Danaan. It was a meeting place for fairy kings and visiting
dignitaries.
Tir Nan Og or Tir Na N-og (teer na nogue)
"Land of the Young" an earthly paradise where time stopped and
the grass was always green and the flowers blossoming. A land of
beauty where there was much music, feasting, loving and hunting.
Trooping Fairies
Fairies are sometimes divided into two classes which includes
the trooping or solitary fairies.The trooping fay can be large or
small, friendly or sinister. They tend to wear green jackets, while
the Solitary Faery wear red jackets. They can range from the Heroic
Faery to the dangerrous and malevolent Sluagh, or tose Diminutive
Fairies who include the tiny nature spirits that make the fairy rings
with their dancing and speed the growth of flowers.
Tuatha Dé Danann (Too-ah-day Thay-nan)
Also called the Gentry. They are the earliest fairies. Their
goddess was Dana. They are the origin of the fairy race.
Tylwyth Teg (terlooeth teig)
A Welsh name for the "fair race". Given to represent all fairies
whom they believed lived in matriarchal clans. The most unusual name
for Welsh fairies, though they are sometimes called Bendith Y Mammau,
in an attempt to avert their kidnapping activities by invoking a
euphemistic name. They are fair-haired, and love golden hair. They
dance and make fairy rings. They are like the Daoine Sidhe, and
dwell underground or underwater. The fairy maidens are easily won as
wives and will live with human husbands for a time. Because of the
strange passage of time in Faeryland it is dangerous to visit them.
They give riches to their favorites, but these gifts vanish if they
are spoken of.
The Unseelie Court
These are the damned or unblessed of the fairy race and they
consist of all that is evil and ignoble in fairyland.
Will-o'-the- Wisp
Also called Fairy Lights, Elf-fire, Hobbedy's Lantern or Night
Whispers. Small winged fairies whose glowing lights can be seen at
dusk in the meadows and grassy hills.