Читать книгу Great Book of Fairy Patterns - Lora S. Irish - Страница 16

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G

REAT

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OOK

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AIRY

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ATTERNS

The oldest lore, circa 1100–1800

The best place to start any endeavor usually is

at the beginning, so let’s take a look at the earliest

recorded Fairy stories. Some of the oldest tales

directly referring to a race or species of small

human-like beings called Fairies date back to the

1100s in the British Isles. Often these tales were

passed down by word of mouth through the gen-

erations as families gathered in the evenings by

the fire. A grandfather or aged uncle could mes-

merize even the littlest in the house with stories of

magical people who brought rewards to the wor-

thy, meted out punishment to those that erred

into sinful ways, and caused unexplainable occur-

rences in the daily lives of man. Over the centu-

ries these tales were used as a way to record

notable events in the community as well as to

entertain.

The descriptions these tales give for Fairies are

wide and change often depending on the story,

the land in which the story first appeared and the

time period. But general guidelines can be found.

Fairies have light hair the color of golden,

dried wheat or strawberry red locks with tight

ringlets surrounding their faces. Bright, laughing

blue eyes often accent their rosy, red cheeks.

However, Fairies also can be dark and sultry, full of

mischief and revenge, with black, straight hair sur-

rounding a craggy face with deep-set, dark eyes.

The stories are clear in regards to Fairies’

statures. They do not stand very tall, usually

smaller than a toddler of two years down to the

size of a man’s thumb. Yet even with their diminu-

tive size, Fairy maidens were sought after as wives

for young men because of their alluring beauty

and sweet voice. The small size seems to change

when, on the night of a Fairy child’s birth, the

Fairy father rides up to the house of the local

human midwife on a full-sized horse, large enough

to carry both of them back to the palace to help

deliver the baby. Usually this same Fairy father

would be seen riding greyhounds that were spe-

cially bred for this purpose, not horses.

Colors abound when we read the old legends.

A Fairy might be dressed in rags or in a queenly

gown. Men were said to wear jackets of red and

green. The ladies seem to have a fondness for

brightly colored petticoats. Vibrantly colored

clothing seems to be one constant in Fairy tales,

except when it is time for a Fairy princess to give

birth. At that moment the tales clearly state that

she is dressed in a shade of white so pure it shim-

mers with opulence and that all who attend her

are dressed in the same manner.

The singing voice of a Fairy is magical and can

lure an unsuspecting man deep into the Fairy

rings of dance where he is destined to dance for

years and years. Lulled by the captivating tunes,

the mortal man feels his troubles and fears seem-

ingly disappear, which eases him through the day’s

toils or compels him to follow the beautiful voice

into unexpected adventures.

Fairies seem to be shy and elusive, yet when

they are seen they can change the life of any

human. A poor and starving farmer who grants just

a tiny favor to a Fairy can find he now is gifted a

magical cow that gives so much milk it fills every

pail offered. A man who bears the weight of the

world on his shoulders and responsibilities far

beyond his means because of a lazy and demanding

wife can find himself rescued to a Fairy palace of

wealth and luxury. For the courtesy of a pan of

warm water for bathing, a small pile of straw by the

hearth for sleeping and a bit of bread crumbs for

eating, a Fairy will leave an old woman’s home spar-

kling clean with a small silver coin on her table.

Fairies, however, are not above mischief and

revenge. A Fairy will cast a spell upon the coin

that she leaves on the hearth, so if the old woman

ever tells of the Fairy’s visit, the coin will turn to

black dust. If you anger a Fairy, you could find that

your favored daughter is lured into a Fairy palace,

destined to be held as a captive until her wedding

day is years past. One little vixen was especially

known for letting the cattle out of their stalls just

so she could hear the animals’ wondrous

cowbells ring when they walked.