What Do You Call Them?
What would the world of folklore
be without fairies? These spirits, often perceived as “little people” have been
helping humans, plants, and animals here as well as in other realms for a very
long time. Perhaps, according to some legends and folk tales, even before then.
The word Fairy- also spelled as
Faery - originates from the Latin word fatum which means fate or destiny. The
English version we are all familiar with has roots in the French version fee. It has been suggested that the
Saxon word feie refers to a specific
world inhabited by fairies.
That world can exist in many
places. Depending upon the culture, it can be over the rainbow, under the sea
or in the stars. It can also be found in tree roots, summer breezes and winter
snow.
Here are some of the names
different cultures have given these ‘other worldly beings’:
Asparas
– These feminine sky dancers have the ability to swoop
down and bless people during important rites of passage, such as births and
weddings.
Brownie – Residing over
Scottish Lowlands and Highlands, these spirits are often compared physically to
very short men who appear at night to complete the work of servants. Named after their ragged brown clothing and rugged
brown skin, they come out at night to help to take care of work that has been
left by the servants.
Glaistig -
Part woman, part goat, these water
fairies can do many things. They can lure men in order to drink their blood,
they can help old people and young children, and they can help with the herding
of cattle.
Ohdows
- This family of dwarf, well-formed people of Native
Americans stories and myths live underground, inside the belly of the earth. From
there they can thwart above ground deities that cause destruction, such as earthquakes.
Tokolosh
–South African legends say that these spirits, covered
in black hair, live near waterways and scare lone travelers by causing other
animals to cry out in fear.
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