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A fairy (sometimes seen as faery, faerie, or even fae; collectively wee folk) is a spirit or supernatural being that is found in the legends, folklore, and mythology of many different cultures. They are generally portrayed as humanoid in their appearance and have supernatural abilities such as the ability to fly, cast spells and to influence or foresee the future. Although in modern culture they are often depicted as young, sometimes winged, females of small stature, they originally were of a much different image: tall, angelic beings and short, wizened trolls being some of the commonly mentioned fay. The small, gauzy-winged fairies that are commonly depicted today did not appear until the 1800s.

The words fae and færie came to English from Old French which originated in the Latin word "Fata" which referred to the three mythological personifications of destiny, the Greek Moirae (Roman Parcae, "sparing ones", or Fatae) who were supposed to appear three nights after a child's birth to determine the course of its life. They were usually described as cold, remorseless old crones or hags (in contrast to the modern physical depiction). The Latin word gave modern Italian's fata, Catalan and Portuguese fada and Spanish hada, all of which mean fairy. The Old French fée, had the meaning "enchanter." Thus féerie meant a "state of fée" or "enchantment." Fairies are often depicted enchanting humans, casting illusions to alter emotions and perceptions so as to make themselves at times alluring, frightening, or invisible. Modern English inherited the two terms "fae" and "fairy," along with all the associations attached to them.

A similar word, "fey," has historically meant "doomed to die," mostly in Scotland, which tied in with the original meaning of fate. It has now gained the meaning "touched by otherworldly or magical quality; clairvoyant, supernatural." In modern English, the word seems to be conjoining into "fae" as variant spelling. If "fey" derives from "fata," then the word history of the two words is the same. [1]

Strictly, there should be distinctions between the usage of the two words "fae" and "faerie." "Fae" is a noun that refers to the specific group of otherworldly beings with mystical abilities (either the elves (or equivalent) in mythology or their insect-winged, floral descendants in English folklore), while "faerie" is an adjective meaning "of, like, or associated with fays, their otherworldly home, their activities, and their produced goods and effects." Thus, a leprechaun and a ring of mushrooms are both faerie things (a fairy leprechaun and a fairy ring.), although in modern usage fairy has come to be used as a noun.

Practical beliefs and protection
When considered as beings that a person might actually encounter, fairies were noted for their mischief and malice. For instance, "elf-locks" are tangles that are put in the hair of sleepers. As a consequence, practical considerations of fairies have normally been advice on averting them. In terms or protective charms, Cold iron is the most familiar, but other things are regarded as detrimental to the fairies: wearing clothing inside out, running water, bells (especially church bells), St. John's wort, and four-leaf clovers, among others. In Newfoundland folklore, the most popular type of fairy protection is bread, varying from stale bread to hard tack or a slice of fresh home-made bread. The belief that bread has some sort of special power is an ancient one. Bread is associated with the home and the hearth, as well as with industry and the taming of nature, and as such, seems to be disliked by some types of fairies.

“The prototype of food, and therefore a symbol of life, bread was one of the commonest protections against fairies. Before going out into a fairy-haunted place, it was customary to put a piece of dry bread in one’s pocket.” [1]

In County Wexford, Ireland, in 1882, it was reported that “if an infant is carried out after dark a piece of bread is wrapped in its bib or dress, and this protects it from any witchcraft or evil.” [2]

While many fairies will confuse travelers on the path, the will o' the wisp can be avoided by not following it. Certain locations, known to be haunts of fairies, are to be avoided; C. S. Lewis reported hearing of a cottage more feared for its reported fairies than its reported ghost. In particular, digging in fairy hills was unwise. Paths that the fairies travel are also wise to avoid. Home-owners have knocked corners from houses because the corner blocked the fairy path, and cottages have been built with the front and back doors in line, so that the owners could, in need, leave them both open and let the fairies troop through all night. Good house-keeping could keep brownies from spiteful actions, and such water hags as Peg Powler and Jenny Greenteeth, prone to drowning people, could be avoided with the body of water they inhabit. It was believed that fairies could be made visible by bending a grass leaf into a circle and 'by looking through nature one could see into the world of nature'.

A considerable amount of lore about fairies revolves about changelings and preventing a baby from being thus abducted.

In many legends, the fairies are prone to kidnapping humans, either as babies, leaving changelings in their place, or as young men and women. This can be for a time or forever, and may be more or less dangerous to the kidnapped.

A common feature of the fairies is the use of magic to disguise appearance. Fairy gold is notoriously unreliable, appearing as gold when paid, but soon thereafter revealing itself to be leaves, or gingerbread cakes, or a variety of other useless things.

1. ^ Katharine Mary Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies (Pantheon Books, 1976) p. 41.
2. ^ quoted in Iona Opie and Moira Tatem, eds, A Dictionary of Superstitions (Oxford University Press, 1989) p. 38.

Ok, it is also important to note that most Fae live in the other realm-Arcadia. It is believed by many that the Fae actually lived on earth once, but as humans overpopulated the earth, they lost interest and because of many wars between themselves and the humans, they decided to go elsewhere, so all the higher power Fae got together and opened a portal to the Faerie realm-Arcadia.
There are many openings to Arcadia-commonly called Cayorns-and sometimes a unlucky human will pass through the portal and suddenly find themselves very lost and very confused. The Fae find this amusing and seem to keep such Cayorns open just on the off chance that a human will drop by. The Fae folk come between the worlds quite often and don't have a problem with the travel, but the Cayorns are very unstable and I don't recommend trying to go through one (even if you DID figure out where one was.)
Many humans, left unaided eventually find their way back to earth, but as I have stated, the Cayorns are unstable and oftentimes are not linked to a time period, just the place its self. This can cause quite a dilemma for a person that accidentally falls into the past... and even more so the future, for some reason the body seems to age all at once when it is thrust into the future, and there have been accounts of people bursting to dust as their bodies are instantly aged thousands of years. (which of course the Fae find amusing)

Another point of interest is that the Druids from old Irish-English exc. Cultures are supposed to have crossed with the Fae into Arcadia to avoid prosecution from the church. In many tales and folklore (and according to a few Fae I’ve asked… although who knows with their tendency to ‘play’ with the truth) the Druids-because one doesn’t age the same (at all?) in Arcadia still live there and practice their magics today.

XD Very good book, as far as I know it's fiction... although I suppose it could be true... I'm not sure what happends to imaganary friends when you abandon them.. O.o But it does get the Fae pretty accuratly... one little problem is that it blurs the difference between a spirit and a Fae and an imaganary friend pretty badly... But, yes, in general it is a good book, the perosn that wrote that had at least done their reserch, or had some experence with they Fae themselves.

Well, that explains why my earrings go misssing whenever i take them off outside. (just to lay out in the sun i sometimes take off moy earrings and place them on the stoop and then they're gone.)

lol good question ^^ but i'll try the earring thing next time I lay out for a while... although it's freezing right now...

Thoes can be interesting things...

I've always believed in the fae, but i suppose the reason i've never seen any is because it wasn't until resently that i began this path and became aware of them and different energies...