If, being in Cornwall or Devon, a traveler meets on his way a tiny little man in green clothes, he should not be surprised - in front of him is just a pixie, a mischievous creature, eager for jokes and practical jokes.
Pixies are the "old-timers" of British legends, inherited from the Celts. In the old days, they were often called just a little people and were considered a kind of elves or fairies.
They are spirits of the forest, about 10 inches tall, without wings, with long pointed ears, sharp little old muzzles, and robes of grass and leaves.
It was believed that they are a kind of analogue of the German forest gnomes or the Russian goblin. Pixies, like other magical creatures, are able to change their appearance and appear in different guises.
They live mainly near forest and other swamps, as it is rather gloomy there; they can still settle in caves (again, it depends on the species). They are fighting mercilessly for the caves with cave trolls, who are their main enemies.
Pixies are squint-eyed, love green and love to wear pointed hats. Some can fly, although they do not have wings. They also cleverly hide when they do not want to draw attention to themselves, and, of course, they are always ready for a prank or two, sometimes not harmless and even dangerous.
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Pixies are pretty vindictive; playing pranks on people, they hate it when they poke their noses into their affairs. Moreover, those who tried to chase and catch pixies usually disappeared without a trace.
Pixies harm in different ways. For example, sworn turf can be scattered along the road. If a person steps on it, he will stop recognizing the area and will wander around his native place, as if in an unfamiliar country. Pixies can also drive horses - this leaves crop circles, which are considered dangerous. If you enter such a circle, you can get into an enchanted country and never return.
However, pixies can be useful: sometimes they clean graves, leave flowers on them, keep order in cemeteries, clean the house. They feed on all kinds of vegetation and its fruits. If they live in the house of the magicians, then they eat what they will be given. You can always cajole them with inexpensive gifts and the simplest food, like bread and milk.
If treated well, they can even help a person in a difficult matter. Well-fed pixies become so kind that they are sometimes ready to help their respected mistress with homework. True, they quickly get bored with such work, and they quit it at the first opportunity. If the pixie is given new clothes, he will immediately put them on and declare that he will no longer work.
These creatures are not always affectionate towards people. Devon is home to treacherous pixies, often luring late passers-by deep into the Dartmoor swamps. The old-timers' advice in such cases is one: if you feel that some unknown force is leading you where you do not need at all, turn your coat, jacket or other piece of outerwear inside out - this will certainly confuse the pixie.
By the way, a similar trick works not only with them, but also with fairies. Pixies have another weakness in common with fairies - they hate touching iron products.
Where did pixies come from? On this score, information in myths is contradictory.
One story tells that their ancestors were a tribe whose people were not good enough to go to heaven, but not evil enough to go to hell. As a result, the tribe was doomed to remain forever on earth.
During the Middle Ages, another version appeared, as if the pixies were once druids who did not accept Christianity. Angry with the pagans, God made them shrink until they believed in his existence. It is evident that the pixies persisted for quite a long time, and they did not go to either heaven or hell: they do not deserve heaven, because pagans, and to go to hell, they did not sin much enough.
In the literature (by Charles de Lint) you can find the following description of the pixie: “Suddenly a crowd of little men in green clothes appeared, pushing and shoving in the most good-natured way. At the same time, they constantly whispered and giggled. Each and every one was … red … ugly, with small, as if chopped off muzzles, snub noses, snouts and pointed ears."
Pixies are said to turn into hedgehogs during the day and roam among mortals in this form.
Of course, such wonderful folklore creatures appear in many literary and film works. The famous fairy Tinker Bell (Tinker Bell) from Peter Pan is a real pixie who doesn't really like people.
By the way, pixies also appeared in the book "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", in an episode with a lesson on defense against the dark arts. True, in the film of the same name, pixies look more like long-eared monkeys than people. But, most likely, real pixies would forgive the filmmakers for this metaphorical liberty.
Darnaya Ekaterina