Although fairies are most often associated with Western Europe (especially with the British Isles), creatures like them - nymphs and dryads from classical mythology, genies from Arabian tales, peri from Persian folklore - live in the legends of various peoples of the world.
There are many theories and opinions about the etymology of the word "fairy", which goes back to Latin and French sources. L. Spence expressed confidence that the "fairy" has a connection with fates (parks) in classical mythology. It is obvious that the word "fairy" is associated with the Latin fata - destiny. The noun fairy originally meant magic in English, only later it began to be used to describe supernatural beings.
The word "elf" is a medieval English form of the Anglo-Saxon word aelf, related to the Icelandic word alfr, the Scandinavian aIf and the German elf. Previously, the word "fairy" was used as a synonym for "elf", but later in the folklore differences were outlined.
It is difficult to classify magical people due to the variety of their types and habitats. In addition, throughout history, this word has undergone changes, and at different times it could be interpreted in different ways.
There are four types of fey-like creatures:
1) wizards;
2) creatures related to fairies or possessing their features;
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3) creatures associated with nature;
4) the fairies themselves.
The first group consists of wizards and sorceresses with supernatural abilities. Some of them are mortal, others are completely unusual creatures or partially people, -5 partially super-beings.
The second group implies monsters, demons, creatures associated with fairies or similar to them in any way. Jinn from Arab folklore can also be classified in the second category. They, like fairies, can change their appearance and steal people into their world. Some include dragons and giants in this group.
The next group of creatures is associated with animals or other objects of the natural world. These are mermaids, mermaids, wood goblins, witches.
The fourth group is the most important, these creatures can be considered real fairies. They live either in groups or singly, sometimes tied to a specific place or home.
Some faerie communities have a less organized social structure, others have a strict hierarchy with their own kings and queens. Groups with a monarchical structure maintain a large courtyard and maintain the established order in their country, spend most of their time in entertainment: dancing and singing.
Tuatha de Dannan (Ireland) The tribes of the goddess Danu are the most famous settlement of magical men with a monarchical structure. The Tuatha de Dannan maintain a wealthy courtyard, love parties and lead an idle lifestyle. Sometimes they arrange lavish horse processions. It is believed that all the fabulous little people of Ireland come from the Tuatha de Dannan.
Representatives of this tribe Tuan MacKyrill called the Celtic "gods", however, they can only be called gods with a stretch, despite the fact that the bards saw in them "the most beautiful, the most sophisticated in clothing and weapons, the most skillful in playing musical instruments, the most gifted the mind of anyone who has ever come to Ireland. " The Book of Armagh (VIII century) reduces this tribe only to dei terreni, that is, the forces of the earth, in charge of fertility and water, living in the hills, rivers and lakes. In this understanding, they are called sids, and are compared with fairies (fairies) or elves.
The Seed Riders. John Duncan, 19th century Scottish painter
Dwarfs live in underground kingdoms, they have their own king. They have wrinkled skin and long beards, and despite their small stature, they have great strength. Many of them are ugly, hunchbacked, with huge heads, flat noses and deformed limbs (and sometimes with hooves), but there are also attractive dwarfs, with the correct body proportions and good looks. In almost all legends, dwarfs are skilled artisans, most often blacksmiths. They mine ore and make swords, spears and other objects from it, investing in them magical power.
In Scandinavian mythology, alfar, or elves, are divine in nature. The prosaic Edda tells about two types of elves: dark elves, "blacker than pitch", who live in the earth, and light elves, "brighter than the sun", who live in the house of elves.
Some are reputed to be fragile harmless creatures, others are harmful, do harm to humans, for example, shoot arrows with a silicon tip.
Now let's talk about lone fairies. Some of them coexist with humans, some shy away from humans. Brownies, friendly creatures, live with humans and do some housework, such as helping the test fit, taking care of the children. Of these, the most famous are brownies (from brown - brown), they are dressed in rags of brown. If treated well, they can do various jobs, but if they don't like something, they can play tricks.
If the brownie leaves the house, then luck goes with him. Another similar creature is Peck, who was called Good Little Robin in Elizabethan times. Banshee is a lonely spirit who, with his howl, predicts the death of family members. Elves are fabulous shoemakers, grotesque little men, they wear a leather apron, silver-buckled shoes and glasses, and avoid human contact. If a person catches an elf, he must show where he keeps his treasures. But you can't take your eyes off him even for a second, otherwise he will run away.
Dwarves and trolls are more distant from fairies. Gnomes are small creatures that live underground and guard treasures. The word "gnome" is often used synonymously with elf or fairy.
In Norse mythology, trolls are giant creatures associated with the underworld. They live in mountain caves, they go out only at night (sunlight turns them to stone). They eat human flesh and drink blood, but they are rather stupid and can be easily outsmarted by humans.
Later, trolls were considered dwarf creatures that live in caves or underground dwellings. Dwarf trolls are by no means bloodthirsty monsters, they are smarter and prefer to steal women and children, love to dance, they often have beautiful wives and untold treasures.
The word "goblin" refers to evil spirits. They are most often ugly, grotesque, live in dark damp places, have great strength and cunning. In French folklore, goblins are house spirits such as brownies, prone to mischief.
Most descriptions of magical people emphasize that they have a human appearance, writers also talk about them as people. However, some of them have the appearance of an animal or have the ability to turn into animals, while others combine human and animal traits.
For example, Jimmy Square Foot is a half-pig, half-man; Kelpie - Scottish water creature, often appearing in the form of a horse; Urisk from the Scottish Highlands is half man, half goat. It so happens that fairies look like people, but they have slight differences: the forest wives of Elle in Scandinavian folklore are young attractive women, but they have an unusually sunken bottom.
Fairies can change their appearance. Moreover, they are credited with the ability to become invisible. Their height varies in different traditions. Some fairies are taller than humans, while others are only a few inches or less.
Although many consider fairies to be winged creatures, this opinion has not been supported by modern science. Perhaps such associations arose when angels were considered predominantly female beings, rather fallen spirits than supernatural creatures. People in the 19th century fairies with transparent wings were often represented, as evidenced by the works of art of the time.
Fairies have green robes, sometimes green hair and skin. In Elizabethan times, judging by Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream and Windsor Ridiculers, fairies became associated with green and white flowers. Some fairies prefer other colors and sometimes wear rather exotic clothing such as a batwing cloak.
Fairies are also very good at building. They grow their own food, but often steal food from a person or receive it as a gift. In England XVI century. there was a custom to bring out bread for fairies. They especially love milk, butter and cream.
Some fairies are friendly, others openly hate humans. However, most fairies do not show active dislike for humans. But they cannot stand disrespect for themselves and often punish people who violate their moral rules and taboos. For example, you cannot call fairies by their real names, you need to use various respectful nicknames: kind people, kind people, tiny people, etc.
It is dangerous to invade the territory of the fairies, they can pinch an intruder or cause more significant harm. At certain times, mostly in the middle of summer, fairies are especially active, and a person who has violated the boundaries of their domain is at serious risk.
You can protect yourself with a cross or a spell. And fairies are also afraid of iron.
Most magical men see nothing wrong with stealing, including people. They steal the women who look after their children, many kidnap beautiful women and men and use them as lovers.
However, people themselves sometimes willingly leave after the fairies and do not want to return to their world. Fairies often steal human children and leave their own child or old woman in exchange (in English there is a special word for such a replacement - changeling). The replacement is usually ugly, with a bad evil disposition.
As for the land of the fairies, opinions also differ, as well as on other issues. This is a place or land remote from the human world. The land of fairies can be underground, on an island, in a forest, in a castle, in a country adjacent to the human world. As Lord Dunsani describes, in this magical land, colors are brighter, the air plays and glows, and everything looks like our flowers and foliage reflected in June water.
A visit to the magical land by mortals is associated with danger. If people ate something there, they may never return. Those who return may lose their minds for life or will soon die.
In the land of the fairies, time flows much more slowly. A few hours there is equivalent to our several years. Therefore, fairies are believed to be immortal, or at least live for a very long time. A person who has ended up in a magical land also does not age, but upon his return everything falls into place.