Elves are heroes of many legends and traditions in German-Scandinavian and Celtic folklore. They are also known as alves, but in principle it is the same word "elves", only in the pronunciation of some Germanic-Scandinavian peoples. Descriptions of these creatures are different depending on the folklore traditions of a particular country, but according to the general idea they are beautiful, bright creatures, forest spirits, friendly to humans. Along with gnomes, goblins and trolls, they are constant characters in fairy tales and fantasy literature.
Over the centuries, the legends about elves, descriptions of their appearance, purpose and characters have changed significantly, since the original appearance was created in the era of paganism. Later, the image of elves and their role in literary works were completely dependent on the will of the author and his ideas about the fairy people. The word "elf" itself is, in fact, a kind of generalization - elves in different regions called forest spirits, fairies, and even trolls. And the funny creatures accompanying Santa Claus and helping him deliver gifts were called Christmas elves.
In Germanic mythology, the origin of elves is closely associated with the history of the entire universe. There are two main types of elves: alphas - white, light, good elves, and dwargs - gloomy and sullen, cunning dwarfs (most likely, this is just another name for gnomes). In the epic "Elder Edda" it is said that the gods created two dwarfs "from the blood of Brimir, from the bone of Blain", and the rest were molded from clay.
A somewhat different story with the elves occurred among the Celts. Tuatha de Dannan (the tribes of the goddess Danu, or children of Danu) appeared in Ireland in ancient times. With their sorcery, they covered the land with thick mists and reigned supreme on the island, fighting with other tribes and demons-Fomorians who sailed from across the sea. Subsequently, the Tuatha de Dannan ceded power over Ireland to the Miles (the sons of Mile). The Milesians entered into an agreement with the Tuatami, according to which they receive the island in possession, and the children of Danu can stay in Ireland, but live not on the surface of the earth, but inside the hills called the Sids. Hence the new name for tuats - sids.
As a result of mythological transformations, the image of the Seeds almost completely coincided with modern ideas about elves that arose thanks to classical and modern literature. They were also tall and beautiful in face. On the other hand, one touch of them is enough to drive a person crazy; the poison-tipped seed arrows were killed on the spot.
Sidami rules Queen Medb is a beauty with blue eyes and long blond hair. The one who happened to see her was dying of love and longing. If the Sidam were not bothered, they did not pay the slightest attention to the people. They have their own lives, their own worries - they graze their wonderful cattle, dance, drink whiskey and play music. The Seeds were especially wary of Halloween (October 31st), which was an ancient pagan festival of the Celts. It was said that at this time, magical creatures moved from one hills to another.
Unlike the inhabitants of the Scandinavian Peninsula and Germany, the British did not distinguish between light and dark elves. The local inhabitants saw elves rather in the form of fairies - not evil, but not kind creatures, with their own oddities, addictions and vices. In some counties of England, people believed in more or less kind, albeit mischievous, elves. In others - in cruel, evil and ugly little men, named the same.
The elves had one not particularly attractive trait - a passion for theft. And they amused themselves not only by robbing the fields of peas and emptying barrels of beer or, climbing into the cellar, drawing expensive old wines through a straw. Their theft sometimes took a nasty turn: they often took the brides into the hills immediately after the wedding, or carried away newborn children before baptism. In place of the kidnapped babies, they put some of their freaks in the cradles, who tormented those around them with intolerable screams and whims. These character traits of the elves naturally turned people against them. Such legends, as well as the beliefs that served as their foundation, are so firmly rooted in the minds of the people that until now the inhabitants of villages in Sweden and Germany are very wary of lame, hunchbacked and sickly children, calling them "foundlings of elves."
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Fairy men in Denmark developed differently. There, the word "elves" meant creatures, the legends of which were widespread throughout northern Europe; they were called forest spirits or elle. Their descriptions are similar: men resemble old men in wide-brimmed hats, and women are young and beautiful, but they hide oxtails under green dresses (like elle men). And if you accidentally see an Elle woman from behind, you will notice that her back and nape are hollow.
Although the legends of the elves were not very widespread among the Swedes, their folklore included many tales and legends about all kinds of mystical creatures living in the forest. It was believed that the forest spirits mentioned in old Swedish traditions are actually the forest elves, or forest people. In the days of paganism, people believed that these creatures would certainly live in spreading and powerful trees.
In the European mythological tradition, elves have occupied, if not the main thing, then one of the places of honor. They are present in the works of Lord Dunsany, the image of elves by Shakespeare is interesting. They are also mentioned in Goethe's Faust. The elves received their "second birth" in the works of J. Tolkien. His "Silmarillion" speaks of the orcs as the antipode of the elves, their evil version - with black skin and fear of the sun. Some writers, as well as developers of role-playing systems, display the dark elves as a separate species of their race, often referring to the "separation" of the two peoples, united in ancient times. The most famous image of modern elves are the drow from the role-playing system Dungeons & Dragons, which have incorporated many features of both the mythical Svartalv and Tolkien's orcs.
The halo of holiness around the pagan groves originates from the ancient custom of making sacrifices in trees, which may have been borrowed from Greco-Roman culture. Nevertheless, in Sweden you can still see the so-called elven altars, on which rituals and sacrifices were performed during pagan times. Some of these rituals were carried out after the adoption of Christianity.
Pernatiev Yuri Sergeevich. Brownies, mermaids and other mysterious creatures