Background of the Fairies

Fairies never managed to settle in Greece because the nymphs and dryads soon drove them out, but they spread eastward, from Roman settlements in the Middle East, into many parts of Asia. During the last four centuries they have accompanied emigrants from Europe to North America, Australia and other parts of the New World. In Britain and Ireland they live everywhere except in the counties of Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset. They settled there soon after the Roman occupation but soon clashed with the original inhabitants, the pixies. During the reign of King Arthur the pixies fought the fairies in a great battle and drove them east of the River Pedder.

The function of the original fairies, the Fatae, was to appear in a household soon after a birth and bestow various gifts upon the newborn child. If the baby's relations treated them with extreme tact and sensitivity they donated such gifts as beauty, tranquillity, and loving kindness. But if any of the Fatae took offence at her reception she would balance these benefits by some taboo or embargo which affected the child for the rest of its life. In extreme cases, and offended Fatae might afflict adult members of the family with baldness, deafness, rheumatism, or other physical problems. Fairies throughout the centuries have continued this original function, but they have also expanded their activities very widely into other types of meddling in human affairs.

Can you see a fairy?
A fairy, whether male of female, usually assumes the form of a perfect miniature human. Those who have seen them say they are 'As high as a small man's knee' or 'About as high as a dog's head'. They may, however, increase of decrease this size at will, to shrink to the size of an acorn or grow to the stature of a human adult.

Contrary to popular belief, fairies do not possess the power of invisibility. Birds, horses, dogs, cattle, and all other animals except humans see them clearly. But humans see fairies only between two blinks of an eye, so that one may catch only fleeting glimpses of the fairy folk.

There are, however, some exceptions to this general rule. One is when the fairies themselves use their magical power (known as 'glamour') to enable a mortal to see a fairy troop or individual. Another occurs during certain seasons of phases of the moon - for example a full moon on Midsummer Eve. On such occasions a mortal may see fairy dances or other celebrations, but if he watches to closely they may punish him with moon-sickness. A third exception is caused by the use of a self-bored stone, i.e. a stone in which a hole has been made by tumbling in the waters of a brook. (Self-bored stones found on sea beaches are not suitable.) If a mortal holds such a stone to his eye and looks through the hole he will see fairies distinctly.

As most people, hopefully, know, a meeting with an elemental should not be taken lightly, as they wish to led you astray or even kill you.