All About Fairies Direct Linking Warning Fairies are supernatural beings that have been included in folklore from around the world. For instance, nymphs and dryads appeared in classical mythology, djinn or genies were popular in Arabic lore and peri were fairy-like creatures that occurred in Persian lore. Although belief in fairies waned by the seventeenth century, interest in them in the nineteenth century increased, possibly as a reaction to the rationalization and industrialization of society. Fairy lore extends back to the time of classical mythology and belief in fairies as actual beings that lived in rural areas depends greatly on the time period. During the Middle Ages, people tended to be more superstitious and placed a great deal of credibility into the belief of supernatural beings such as fairies, devils, and angels. This behavior is evidenced in the trial of Joan of Arc who was interrogated on the following issues: her belief in fairies, if she believed they were evil, and whether she had ever had any experiences with them. At the end of this period, people were beginning to place more importance on viewing nature from a more scientific perspective. Those who still believed in the existence of fairies viewed them as evil, due in part, to the practice of witchcraft. From the late, seventeenth century to the late eighteenth century, belief in fairies was viewed as merely superstitious. Finally, in the late eighteenth century into the nineteenth century, fairies, although still viewed as from the realm of superstition by the Victorians, were given more interest from a nostalgic viewpoint. In part, the interest in fairy lore was generated by a reflection of the Age of Reason with its faith in modernity, industry, and reason. Fairy lore provided a release from the pressures of modern society. Literature of the nineteenth century, for example, is nearly dominated by the theme of rebellion against the artificiality of modern society, a preference for forest and field over city and factories. This general feeling of fondness for fairy lore is evidenced by the use of the fairy motif in literature of the nineteenth century. Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, although not a fairy tale per se, has a variety of fairy imagery concerning creatures such as brownies, goblins and will-o'-the-wisps woven throughout it. Fairies represent quite a diverse group. Some are no more than a few inches in height, while others can be taller than humans. They live in places like fields, hills, mountains, caves, trees, seas, lakes and rivers or can become quite attached to a particular household, like the brownie. These fairies are quite small and look like wrinkled old men. They are brown in color and their clothes (if any are worn at all) are brown. The brownie is known to watch over the owner's animals and tend to chores that need to be done. Goblins, on the other hand, are of a variety of fairy that is quite ugly and evil. They tend to be thieves and, especially on Halloween, are believed to be the companions of the dead. They have been known to lure unsuspecting humans to their death. Dwarfs, also ugly, tend not to live in open areas like most fairies but instead reside underground. Pixies tend to like to play tricks and particularly enjoy stealing horses, but are not quite as harmful as goblins. The will-o'-the-wisp, also known as ignis fatuus which means "foolish fire", resembles a flame flickering in the distance over marshes. The flame can be described as "foolish" because it appears to be burning in an area that is surrounded by water. Also, the traveler that sees this flame can be fooled into thinking that s/he have come across a village or a house that may offer a place of refuge when, in fact, the flame is leading her/him into the marshes. The light is actually due to the combustion of gases within the marsh. Before the seventeenth century when fairy belief was common, all the varieties of fairies seem to share in common a way of helping human beings describe the world around them. This was especially important in a time when people often inhabited areas that were quite dark and solitary and needed ways of coming to terms with any instances that seemed strange like the phenomenon of ignis fatuus. In the nineteenth century, although fairy belief was seen as superstitious, interest in them increased. In Jane Eyre, the use of the fairy motif offers a way of validly explaining events and characters in the novel. Faery Facts - Fairy Poems - Fae Galleries 1 - 2 - 3 - Causes of the Fae Faery Reading Section - The Whimsical Fae of Amy Brown - Faery Links 1 - 2 What's New - Doll Hunt - Faery Magic ButtonEx - Rumbles SP - Pet Section - Aromatherapy Section - Horoscopes - S2S Spirit Dusters - Babysitting Tips - Christmas 2004 Project - Flowers & Gardens - Breast Cancer Awareness - Bubblin' Betty Boop - Little Dragon Castle SP - Awards for You - Deaf Awareness - Spirits 2 Shine SP - VE Page - Pondering - Angels - A Love Poem - Link to The Playground - Visit the Fae - The Elfin Wood - Unicorn Index - That Martian With An Attitude - The Toon Spot - Who's Paulina - The Whatnot Page - The Grown-Ups Page - Cats Are Wonderful Creatures - Cliques - Pick a Clique - Paulina's Picks 1-4 - Gifts Bestowed 1-2 - Tiggers Are Wonderful Things - Kieben's Korner - Awards 1-3 - Dragon's Den - Endangered Section - Webring Index - Graphics Credits - Child Safety - Internet Crimes & Safety - Public Law No: 105-314
Direct Linking Warning Fairies are supernatural beings that have been included in folklore from around the world. For instance, nymphs and dryads appeared in classical mythology, djinn or genies were popular in Arabic lore and peri were fairy-like creatures that occurred in Persian lore. Although belief in fairies waned by the seventeenth century, interest in them in the nineteenth century increased, possibly as a reaction to the rationalization and industrialization of society. Fairy lore extends back to the time of classical mythology and belief in fairies as actual beings that lived in rural areas depends greatly on the time period. During the Middle Ages, people tended to be more superstitious and placed a great deal of credibility into the belief of supernatural beings such as fairies, devils, and angels. This behavior is evidenced in the trial of Joan of Arc who was interrogated on the following issues: her belief in fairies, if she believed they were evil, and whether she had ever had any experiences with them. At the end of this period, people were beginning to place more importance on viewing nature from a more scientific perspective. Those who still believed in the existence of fairies viewed them as evil, due in part, to the practice of witchcraft. From the late, seventeenth century to the late eighteenth century, belief in fairies was viewed as merely superstitious. Finally, in the late eighteenth century into the nineteenth century, fairies, although still viewed as from the realm of superstition by the Victorians, were given more interest from a nostalgic viewpoint. In part, the interest in fairy lore was generated by a reflection of the Age of Reason with its faith in modernity, industry, and reason. Fairy lore provided a release from the pressures of modern society. Literature of the nineteenth century, for example, is nearly dominated by the theme of rebellion against the artificiality of modern society, a preference for forest and field over city and factories. This general feeling of fondness for fairy lore is evidenced by the use of the fairy motif in literature of the nineteenth century. Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, although not a fairy tale per se, has a variety of fairy imagery concerning creatures such as brownies, goblins and will-o'-the-wisps woven throughout it. Fairies represent quite a diverse group. Some are no more than a few inches in height, while others can be taller than humans. They live in places like fields, hills, mountains, caves, trees, seas, lakes and rivers or can become quite attached to a particular household, like the brownie. These fairies are quite small and look like wrinkled old men. They are brown in color and their clothes (if any are worn at all) are brown. The brownie is known to watch over the owner's animals and tend to chores that need to be done. Goblins, on the other hand, are of a variety of fairy that is quite ugly and evil. They tend to be thieves and, especially on Halloween, are believed to be the companions of the dead. They have been known to lure unsuspecting humans to their death. Dwarfs, also ugly, tend not to live in open areas like most fairies but instead reside underground. Pixies tend to like to play tricks and particularly enjoy stealing horses, but are not quite as harmful as goblins. The will-o'-the-wisp, also known as ignis fatuus which means "foolish fire", resembles a flame flickering in the distance over marshes. The flame can be described as "foolish" because it appears to be burning in an area that is surrounded by water. Also, the traveler that sees this flame can be fooled into thinking that s/he have come across a village or a house that may offer a place of refuge when, in fact, the flame is leading her/him into the marshes. The light is actually due to the combustion of gases within the marsh. Before the seventeenth century when fairy belief was common, all the varieties of fairies seem to share in common a way of helping human beings describe the world around them. This was especially important in a time when people often inhabited areas that were quite dark and solitary and needed ways of coming to terms with any instances that seemed strange like the phenomenon of ignis fatuus. In the nineteenth century, although fairy belief was seen as superstitious, interest in them increased. In Jane Eyre, the use of the fairy motif offers a way of validly explaining events and characters in the novel. Faery Facts - Fairy Poems - Fae Galleries 1 - 2 - 3 - Causes of the Fae Faery Reading Section - The Whimsical Fae of Amy Brown - Faery Links 1 - 2 What's New - Doll Hunt - Faery Magic ButtonEx - Rumbles SP - Pet Section - Aromatherapy Section - Horoscopes - S2S Spirit Dusters - Babysitting Tips - Christmas 2004 Project - Flowers & Gardens - Breast Cancer Awareness - Bubblin' Betty Boop - Little Dragon Castle SP - Awards for You - Deaf Awareness - Spirits 2 Shine SP - VE Page - Pondering - Angels - A Love Poem - Link to The Playground - Visit the Fae - The Elfin Wood - Unicorn Index - That Martian With An Attitude - The Toon Spot - Who's Paulina - The Whatnot Page - The Grown-Ups Page - Cats Are Wonderful Creatures - Cliques - Pick a Clique - Paulina's Picks 1-4 - Gifts Bestowed 1-2 - Tiggers Are Wonderful Things - Kieben's Korner - Awards 1-3 - Dragon's Den - Endangered Section - Webring Index - Graphics Credits - Child Safety - Internet Crimes & Safety - Public Law No: 105-314
Direct Linking Warning
Fairies are supernatural beings that have been included in folklore from around the world. For instance, nymphs and dryads appeared in classical mythology, djinn or genies were popular in Arabic lore and peri were fairy-like creatures that occurred in Persian lore. Although belief in fairies waned by the seventeenth century, interest in them in the nineteenth century increased, possibly as a reaction to the rationalization and industrialization of society. Fairy lore extends back to the time of classical mythology and belief in fairies as actual beings that lived in rural areas depends greatly on the time period. During the Middle Ages, people tended to be more superstitious and placed a great deal of credibility into the belief of supernatural beings such as fairies, devils, and angels. This behavior is evidenced in the trial of Joan of Arc who was interrogated on the following issues: her belief in fairies, if she believed they were evil, and whether she had ever had any experiences with them. At the end of this period, people were beginning to place more importance on viewing nature from a more scientific perspective. Those who still believed in the existence of fairies viewed them as evil, due in part, to the practice of witchcraft. From the late, seventeenth century to the late eighteenth century, belief in fairies was viewed as merely superstitious. Finally, in the late eighteenth century into the nineteenth century, fairies, although still viewed as from the realm of superstition by the Victorians, were given more interest from a nostalgic viewpoint.
In part, the interest in fairy lore was generated by a reflection of the Age of Reason with its faith in modernity, industry, and reason. Fairy lore provided a release from the pressures of modern society. Literature of the nineteenth century, for example, is nearly dominated by the theme of rebellion against the artificiality of modern society, a preference for forest and field over city and factories. This general feeling of fondness for fairy lore is evidenced by the use of the fairy motif in literature of the nineteenth century. Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, although not a fairy tale per se, has a variety of fairy imagery concerning creatures such as brownies, goblins and will-o'-the-wisps woven throughout it.
Fairies represent quite a diverse group. Some are no more than a few inches in height, while others can be taller than humans. They live in places like fields, hills, mountains, caves, trees, seas, lakes and rivers or can become quite attached to a particular household, like the brownie. These fairies are quite small and look like wrinkled old men. They are brown in color and their clothes (if any are worn at all) are brown. The brownie is known to watch over the owner's animals and tend to chores that need to be done.
Goblins, on the other hand, are of a variety of fairy that is quite ugly and evil. They tend to be thieves and, especially on Halloween, are believed to be the companions of the dead. They have been known to lure unsuspecting humans to their death. Dwarfs, also ugly, tend not to live in open areas like most fairies but instead reside underground. Pixies tend to like to play tricks and particularly enjoy stealing horses, but are not quite as harmful as goblins. The will-o'-the-wisp, also known as ignis fatuus which means "foolish fire", resembles a flame flickering in the distance over marshes. The flame can be described as "foolish" because it appears to be burning in an area that is surrounded by water. Also, the traveler that sees this flame can be fooled into thinking that s/he have come across a village or a house that may offer a place of refuge when, in fact, the flame is leading her/him into the marshes. The light is actually due to the combustion of gases within the marsh. Before the seventeenth century when fairy belief was common, all the varieties of fairies seem to share in common a way of helping human beings describe the world around them. This was especially important in a time when people often inhabited areas that were quite dark and solitary and needed ways of coming to terms with any instances that seemed strange like the phenomenon of ignis fatuus. In the nineteenth century, although fairy belief was seen as superstitious, interest in them increased. In Jane Eyre, the use of the fairy motif offers a way of validly explaining events and characters in the novel.
Faery Facts - Fairy Poems - Fae Galleries 1 - 2 - 3 - Causes of the Fae Faery Reading Section - The Whimsical Fae of Amy Brown - Faery Links 1 - 2 What's New - Doll Hunt - Faery Magic ButtonEx - Rumbles SP - Pet Section - Aromatherapy Section - Horoscopes - S2S Spirit Dusters - Babysitting Tips - Christmas 2004 Project - Flowers & Gardens - Breast Cancer Awareness - Bubblin' Betty Boop - Little Dragon Castle SP - Awards for You - Deaf Awareness - Spirits 2 Shine SP - VE Page - Pondering - Angels - A Love Poem - Link to The Playground - Visit the Fae - The Elfin Wood - Unicorn Index - That Martian With An Attitude - The Toon Spot - Who's Paulina - The Whatnot Page - The Grown-Ups Page - Cats Are Wonderful Creatures - Cliques - Pick a Clique - Paulina's Picks 1-4 - Gifts Bestowed 1-2 - Tiggers Are Wonderful Things - Kieben's Korner - Awards 1-3 - Dragon's Den - Endangered Section - Webring Index - Graphics Credits - Child Safety - Internet Crimes & Safety - Public Law No: 105-314
Faery Facts - Fairy Poems - Fae Galleries 1 - 2 - 3 - Causes of the Fae Faery Reading Section - The Whimsical Fae of Amy Brown - Faery Links 1 - 2
What's New - Doll Hunt - Faery Magic ButtonEx - Rumbles SP - Pet Section - Aromatherapy Section - Horoscopes - S2S Spirit Dusters - Babysitting Tips - Christmas 2004 Project - Flowers & Gardens - Breast Cancer Awareness - Bubblin' Betty Boop - Little Dragon Castle SP - Awards for You - Deaf Awareness - Spirits 2 Shine SP - VE Page - Pondering - Angels - A Love Poem - Link to The Playground - Visit the Fae - The Elfin Wood - Unicorn Index - That Martian With An Attitude - The Toon Spot - Who's Paulina - The Whatnot Page - The Grown-Ups Page - Cats Are Wonderful Creatures - Cliques - Pick a Clique - Paulina's Picks 1-4 - Gifts Bestowed 1-2 - Tiggers Are Wonderful Things - Kieben's Korner - Awards 1-3 - Dragon's Den - Endangered Section - Webring Index - Graphics Credits - Child Safety - Internet Crimes & Safety - Public Law No: 105-314
