Mythology/Folklore

European, Scottish, Germanic, Irish

Associated Holidays

Samhain, Halloween

Location

Germany, Britain, Scotland, Ireland, United States

Key Points / Halloween Connection

- Often portrayed as friendly in modern myths

- In European folklore they are often portrayed as powerful beings who are disinterested in human affairs at best and spiteful and malicious at their worst

Brief Bio

The history of fairies is a complex evolution of concepts rooted in ancient myths, including Persian peris and Greek nymphs, which developed into various forms across Europe. Initially elemental nature spirits and primordial beings, such as the Celtic "shei" or "she", fairies became intertwined with folklore and religion, later interpreted by Christianity as fallen angels and by the 17th century, sometimes viewed as demons. Over time, fairy lore diversified in different regions, leading to associations with the underworld, specific virtues like wealth or mischief, and even explanations for natural phenomena like marsh gas.