Solitary and Trooping Fairies

In Celtic myths, Ireland is the residing place of numerous amounts of fairies but there are two main types, Solitary fairies and leprechauns and gregarious Trooping fairies.  Solitary try to avoid large gatherings, unlike Social, or Trooping, fairies who entice the large groups and socializing.  Some of the well-known Solitary fairies are Far Darrig, the malicious practical joker, Far Gorta, who appeared during times of famine, and the headless coachman whose black vehicle was a sign of death, Dullahan.  A more evil fairy, Leanhaun Shee, was dangerous and would drain life from her human lovers.  Trooping fairies were similar in the fact that they are either threatening or very captivating, although they are closely associated with features of landscape such a lakes, caves, mounds, etc.  They construct fairies rings as their daily work, making circles of dark green grass in pastures and meadows and often circled with mushrooms.  These fairy rings marked places where they staged their night time dances.  Solitary and Trooping fairies are typically distinguished but the color of their jackets.  Solitary fairies would commonly wear red jackets, whereas Trooping fairies all wore green jackets.

Joe, Jimmy. "Timeless Myths." Faeries. N.p., 24/11/2004. Web. 1 Nov 2010.
            <http://www.timelessmyths.com/celtic/faeries.html>.

http://www.fairiesworld.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=41&pos=17

Brownie

Fairies World

Everyone likes Brownies

Our first instincts are usually that all fairies are females because we picture them as exquisitely beautiful creatures.  Brownies are the unfamiliar, domestic fairies that we all love.  They are the male race of earth-elemental fairies.  They range from one to three feet tall and appear somewhat grungy wearing frayed, brown clothing made from skins of mice or rats with a full head of bushy hair, as attractive as this might sound, its not the only reason we love them.  Brownies are nocturnal fairies who get all their work done under the dark sky with only like light of the moon.  Their main purpose is to complete the work that was left unfinished by peasants and/or servants at the end of the day, and were "sometimes accompanied by their good friends, Pixies, who would help complete their tasks for the night"(Allan 90-95).  They would take charge in helping out in the farm they chose to reside in, but "can wrech havoc if not properly rewarded with pastries and milk"(Sweet).  Brownies were able to select where they wanted to inhabit and it was usually determined due to an attraction to one particular family member.  Not only did Brownies help out and do work, but they also see to the protection of his family members.

Allan, Tony. "Fairies." The Mythic Beastiary. London: Duncan Baird Publishers, 2008. Print.

Sweet, J.H. "Brownies." The fairy Chronicbles.  Sourcebooks Inc., n.d. Web. 24 Nov 2010. <http://www.fairychronicles.com/Fairy-Handbook/Brownies.html>

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Air Fairy

Friendster

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Subterranean Fairy

Violet Cottage

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Water Fairy

Amanda Panda

A Glimpse at the True Twinkle of a Fairy

"The word fairy is derived from the Latin word fatum meaning 'fate'"(Allan 90-95).  Fairies were present at every birth to assign new borns their destiny,  this tradition remained on in folktales of Fairy Godmothers.  There are several different types of fairies but they all share common characteristics.  Age and sickness are two things that are unknown to fairies, they live eternal lives of health.  They also all have powers, although they might not all be the same.  Shape-shifting, enchantment, flying and healing at the touch are all common abilities of a fairy, as well as delighting people with their phenomenal talent in making music.  Fairies typically reside in Ireland and Celtic lands but do inhabit areas all over the world.

There are two main types of fairies, domestic and wild.  Domestic fairies are often more compassionate and involve themselves in the affairs of humans, whereas wild fairies are typically dangerous and will harm or kill any human who tries to interfere in the life of the fairy.  Within the two main groups, are three more types of fairies.  There are air sprites, or fairies, that live in the mists, clouds, and air and are often invisible to the human eye.  Subterranean sprites lye within the earth and stone.  "When a swamp or bog gas would ignite upon reaching the surface, it was called a "fairy fire", brought on by the subterranean fairies" (Smith 233-236).  The water sprites reside in lakes, rivers, streams, seas, and etc.  They are stunning saviors of sailors and fishermen who are lost or in danger on the waters. 

Allan, Tony. "Fairies." The Mythic Beastiary. London: Duncan Baird Publishers, 2008. Print.

Smith, Evans Lansing. "Fairies." The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythology. New York City, NY:
          Penguin Group, 2007. Print.

Fairies vs. Pixies

 Fairies, now-a-days, are seen as little, flawless creatures that fly around and throw pixie dust on people, such as Tinkerbell.  They are strikingly beautiful and are often sweet little individuals in modern movies, although, they are much different in Celtic mythologies.  Rather than being just a few inches tall, Celtic fairies were human sized or larger.  Tinkerbell is portrayed as a fairy in the Disney movie Peter Pan, but can be better described as a Pixie.  Pixies are charming, petite, winged creatures that wear green, have red hair, and pointed ears.  "They are mischievous and good pranksters who enjoy having a laugh at human expense especially when one passes on their territory, yet rarely cause humans harm" (Smith 233-236).  Although they like to joke with humans, they disapprove strongly of the bad ones.  Pixies are wrathful towards sinful man, and few dark-hearted humans escape the realm of the pixies unharmed.

A war between fairies and pixies had once broke out over a dispute over their domain and territory.  Pixies are thought to take the victory, pushing the fairies as far east as the Parrett River.  The river became the new border between the two creatures, the west being the Pixyland and the east being Fairyland.

Smith, Evans Lansing. "Fairies." The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythology. New York City, NY:
          Penguin Group, 2007. Print.

my.curse.com/members/Niselma30.aspx
Curse.com
November 18, 2010

The Origin of Fairies

I chose to research further about celtic fairies because they are never quite what you would think your typical fairy would be.  Some fairies are considered to be beautiful and flawless while others are seen as monstrous and ugly.  Some believe that fairies live alongside of the human race somewhere between heaven and Earth.   In Celtic myth, Ireland is lush with supernatural creatures and the fairies are known as Sidhe.  The Sidhe originate from the prehistoric tribe of Tuatha De Danann.  Under the Goddess Danu, these were the people who colonized Ireland prior to the existence of man.  The men, or Gaels, brawled with the Tuatha De Danann and won, forcing them to reside underground in hollowed out hills.  There, the Sidhe became the protectors of the hills.

Joe, Jimmy. "Timeless Myths." Faeries. N.p., 24/11/2004. Web. 1 Nov 2010.
            <http://www.timelessmyths.com/celtic/faeries.html>.

Mendham, Trevor. "Wyrdology." Fairies. N.p., 2004. Web. 1 Nov 2010.
            <http://www.wyrdology.com/fairies/index.html>.