WHAT ARE FAERIES?

Faerie (also Fae, Fey, Fay, Faery and Fairy) is the comman term for a group of supernatural beings who meddle in human affairs via their magic. Faerie type creatures are not the product of anyone country and have a long pedigree. However the mixing of various cultures means that the original folk products are obscured since various types of Faerie have blended together.

The traditional Faerie is not usually of Tinkerbell proportions but rather is of human or slightly less than human stature. Though it is not uncommon for them to be reported as being only one or two foot tall or to be giants. In the general sense Faeries include goblins, hobgoblins, solitary (and often local) hags, bogies and others. They are generally humanish in looks.

Faeries exhibit a curious dependancy on humankind. They steal food. They take human babies and replace them with faerie children. They have been known to use human midwives. Sometimes they even marry mortals. It is as if, for all their power, they require humans for their survival in a far more mundane way than need of our belief that some fairy tales or games would have us think is all they need of us.

On the subject of food. The helpful members of the Faery race will work for humans but usually expect payment in the form of cakes and milk. By the same token malevolent members of faeriekind can often be persuaded not to attack by leaving the same food and drink outside. Perhaps two different methods of gaining something necessary without stealing it.

Human encounters with faeries seem dependant on it being the right time or place or both. Those who entered the Faerie Realm found their time sense destroyed for the duration of the visit. A long visit could turn out to have lasted only a few moments and a short visit could turn out to be several years long.

Faeries also possessed 'glamour' a power to control human perception. A hag, for example, might appear as a beautiful young woman or a leaf as a gold coin

Fairy Call

A spell for summoning the fairies

Sit where the cat sits.
Cross your toes.
Close your eyes.
And smell a rose.
Then say under your breath:
"I believe in fairies, sure as death."
Gadflykins! Gladtrypins!
Gutterpuss and Cass!
Come to me fairily
Each lad and lass!

From "Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book"