elfingoad - Profile (original) (raw)

Arawn - He is the fey king of the otherworld realm of Annwn, appearing prominently in the first branch of the Mabinogi, and alluded to in the fourth. In later tradition, the role of king of Annwn was largely attributed to the Welsh psycho pomp, Gwyn ap Nudd. However, Arawn's memory is retained in a traditional saying found in an old Cardigan folktale-

"Hir yw'r dydd a hir yw'r nos, a hir yw aros Arawn".

Ankou - the faerie version of the grim reaper. Sometimes he's portrayed as a benevolent, comforting figure.

Anthropophagi - a cannibal faerie. He has no head, but his eyes sit atop his shoulders and a mouth may be found in his torso. His lack of a nose allows him to eat human flesh without gagging.

Arkan Sonney - The fairy pigs of the Isle of Man, also known as "Lucky Piggy." Fairy pigs are supposed to bring good luck if one is to capture it.

Asparas - Usually female, also known as sky-dancers. They bless humans at important stages in their lives, and are often seen at weddings. They live in fig trees and sometimes appear to scholars or scientists, seduce and exhaust them, making sure they don't venture into areas that the spirit world deems unfit.

Asrai - are small and delicate female faeries that melt away into a pool of water when captured or exposed to sunlight.

Aughisky - (agh-iski) They are the Irish version of the Each-Uisge.

Bean Nighe - (ben-neeya) Similar to that of the Banshee. The Washing women is the type of Banshee who haunts the lonely streams of Scotland and Ireland. Washing the blood-stained garments of those about to die. It is said that these spirits are the ghosts of women who died in childbirth and that they are fated to perform their task until the day when they would have normally died.

Bean Sidhe - (ban-shee) Ireland. "Woman Faerie ", a spirit attached to certain families. When a member's death approaches, the family hears the bean sidhe crying. Not always terrifying.

Barguest - A kind of Bogie. It has horns, dangerous teeth and claws, and fiery eyes. It can take many forms, but usually is a shaggy black dog. Upon the death of a prominent figure, it rounds up all the dogs in the community and leads them on a procession through the streets, howling.

Bauchan - also Bogan. A type of Hobgoblin. Like most faeries, they are fond of tricks, sometimes are dangerous, and sometimes are helpful.

Bendith y Mamau - (ben-dith uh momay) Mother's Blessing, which was the name of the fairies of the Carmarthenshire country in Wales; this saying became a prayer spoken to ward-off harm.

Black Annis - A Hag that flies through the night.

Blue Men of the Minch - They dwell in the strait between Long Island and the Shiant Islands. They are responsible for sudden thunderstorms and shipwrecks, but their ship-sinking attempts may be thwarted if you are adept at rhyme.

Bodach - Also known as Bugbear or Bug-A-Boo. They slide down chimneys to kidnap naughty children.

Boggart - Brownies that have turned evil.

Bogie - This is the generic name for some different types of Goblins. Their temperaments range the spectrum from benign to malevolent.

Boggles - Generally evil-natured Goblins although they are more disposed to do harm to liars and murderers.

Brown Man of the Moors - Protector of wild beasts.

Brownie - (Bwca or Bwbachbod in Wales; Bodach (budagh) in the Scottish Highland, Fenodoree in Man, Pixie or Pisgies in the West Country of England, Bockle in Scotland.) They are approximately three feet high and dress in brown clothes. They have brown faces and shaggy hair. Brownies make themselves responsible for the house where they live by coming out at night to complete unfinished work. Any offer of reward will drive them away, but they expect an occasional bowl of milk and a piece of cake to be left out. Tradition says they do not like teetotallers and ministers. If offended, brownies will create malicious mischief. His territory extends over the Lowlands of Scotland and up into the Highlands and Islands all over the north and east of England and into the Midlands. With a natural linguistic variation, he becomes the Border brownies are most characteristic. They are small men, about three feet in height, very raggedly dressed in brown clothes, with brown faces and shaggy heads, who come out at night to do the work that has been left undone by the servants. They make themselves responsible for the farm or house in which they live, reap, mow, herd the sheep, prevent the hens from flying away, run errands, and give good counsel at need. A brownie can become personally attached to one member of the family.

Bugul Noz - He's a forest dweller, a shepherd. He's very unattractive and he knows it, but he yearns for human companionship.

Bwca - The Welsh name for the Brownie. They have slightly nastier tempers and are prone to tantrums if their work is criticized. They also despise tattletales and people with long noses.

Cannered Noz - The Breton version of the Bean-Sidhe.

Cailleach Bheur - Scotland. The Blue Hag, a cross between the Underworld goddess and a faerie spirit. She has fangs and sometimes three faces, making her a triple being or deity.

Caoineag - (konyack) Scotland. "Weeper"; a bean sidhe.

Cluricaun - (kloor-a-kawn) Ireland. A solitary faerie who lives in cellars and likes to drink wine and other spirits. A cross between a leprechaun and a hobgoblin. After his day's labours the Leprechaun enjoys a night's revelry and then he raids wine cellars and is known to take wild drunken rides through the moonlight on the backs of sheep or shepherds dogs.

Coblynau - (koblernigh) Wales. Mine spirits, similar to knockers. About 18 inches high, they dress like miners. Although they are ugly, they are good-humoured and will knock where rich ores are to be found. These creatures using mining tools, are seen working industriously at the seam faces. The knocking of their picks and hammers is lucky, a sign of heavy ore content.

Corrigan - Malignant nature spirits found in Brittany, often associated with phantoms of the dead.

Cu Sith - Scotland. A supernatural green dog.

Cwn Annwn - (coon anoon) "Hounds of the Hill" Arawn's Hounds- Wales and many other Celtic area. The phantom hunting dogs of Arawn, the Lord of the Underworld. Very large, white with red ears.

Cyhyraeth - (kerherrighth) Wales. A form of bean sidhe. It usually cries or groans before multiple deaths by epidemic or accident.

Daoine Maithe - "The Good People"; Similar to the Gentry, they were said to be next to heaven at the Fall, but did not fall; Some think they are a people expecting salvation.

Dryads - Al Celtic countries. Spirits who dwell in trees, oaks in particular. They were contacted by Druids and Shamans for inspiration.

Duergar - These are a malicious form of Dwarf from Northern England. They revel in tricking people into dying.

Each Uisge - (ech-ooshkya) They are similar to the Kelpie, but far more dangerous. They inhabit lochs and seas and will eat their victims after tearing them into pieces, except for the liver, which they leave. If they are ridden inland, they are safe to ride, but if they catch the slightest whiff of the sea air...

Ellyyllon - (ethlerthlon) Wales. Faeries whose queen is Mab. Their food is toadstools and faerie butter, fungus found on the roots of old trees.

Elves - Another name for the Trooping Faeries of Britain. In Scotland they are divided into Seelie and Unseelie Courts. The name is also applied to small faerie boys. Elf-shot describes an illness or disability supposedly caused by their arrows. Elves, like many kinds of faeries, can appear in sizes from quite small to human-size. In Scandinavian mythology the fairy people were elves and were divided into two classes, the light elves and the dark elves, like the Seelie and Unseelie Court. In Scotland the fairy people of human size were often called elves and The Realm of the Fey was Elfame; in England it was the smaller Trooping Fay who were called elves, and the name was particularly applied to small fairy boys.

Faeries, Fairies - The earlier name was Fays. The term "faerie" now covers Anglo-Saxon elves, the Daoine Sidhe of the Highlands, the Tuatha De Danan of Ireland, the Tylwyth Teg of Wales, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, the Wee Folk, Good Neighbors and many more.

Far Darrig, Fear Dearg, Fear Dearc - Ireland. "Red Man", a solitary faerie who wears a red cap and coat and likes to indulge in gruesome practical jokes. However, farmers consider him lucky to have around.

Fear-Gorta - "Man of Hunger", a solitary fairy who roams the land during famine, he brings good luck to those who give him money or food.

Feeorin - A small fairy that is indicated as being, green-coated, generally red-capped, and with the usual fairy traits of love of dancing and music.

Fees - The Ferrier’s of Upper Brittany.

Fenoderee, Phynnodderee - (fin-ord-er-ree) Isle of Man. Brownies who are large, ugly and hairy.

Ferrishyn - (ferrishin) Isle of Man. Name for the faerie tribe.

Fetes - The Fates of Upper Brittany.

Fin Bheara (fin-vara), Fionnbharr (fyunn-varr), Findabair (finnavar) - Ireland. The FaerieKing of Ulster, sometimes called king of the dead. Although he was married to a faerie lady, he still courted beautiful mortal women. Not the same person as the daughter of Aillil and Maeve.

Fir Darrig - (Fear dearg) delights in practical joking of a rather gruesome nature and therefore it is probably safer to humour him.

Gean-canach - Ireland. "Love talker", a solitary faerie who personifies love and idleness. He appears with dudeen (pipe) in his mouth. It is very unlucky to meet him.

Gentry - The most noble tribe of all the fairies in Ireland. A big race who came from the planets and usually appear in white. The Irish used to bless the Gentry for fear of harm otherwise.

Ghillie Dhu - A Scottish solitary faerie who inhabits certain birch hickets. His clothing is made of leaves and moss.

Glaistig - is a water faerie and is part seductive woman, part goat. The goat-like attributes she tries to hide under a long flowing green dress. The Glaistig lures men to dance with her before she feeds, vampire-like, on their blood. Her nature is typically faerie-perverse for she can also be benign and gently tend children or old people. She will also sometimes herd cattle for farmers.

Gnomes - Earth Elementals. They live underground and guard the treasures of the earth. Gnomes are wonderful metal workers, especially of swords and armour.

Goblins, Hobgoblins - Originally a general name for small, grotesque but friendly brownie-type creatures. They sometimes appear in the shape of animals which appropriately reflects their bestial nature

Good Folk, Good Neighbours, Good People - A general name for faeries.

Green Lady of Caerphilly - Takes on the appearance of Ivy when she is not walking through the ruined castles she haunts.

Green Coats - The name for the fairies that dwell in Lincolnshire Fen country.

Greenies - The euphemistic name used for the fairies in Lancashire, associated with the Jacobean Fairies.

Grey Neighbours - One of the euphemistic names for the fairies given by the Shetlanders to the Trows, the small gray-clad goblins whom the Shetlanders used to propitiate and fear, using against them many of the means used all over the islands as protection against fairies.

Guillyn Veggey - The Little Boys is a Manx term for the fairies who dwell on the Isle of Man.

Gwragedd Annwn - are Welsh water faeries, beautiful Lake Maidens who occasionally take mortals to be their husbands. One well-known legend tells of a young man who used to graze his cattle by a small lake near the Black Mountains. One day he saw a most enchanting creature rowing gently to and fro in a golden boat on the surface of the lake. He fell deeply in love with her and offered her some of the bread he had brought from home for his midday meal. She answered that the bread was too hard and disappeared into the depths. The young man's mother gave him some unbaked dough to take with him the next day and he offered this to the faerie but she answered that it was too soft and again disappeared. On the third day he took some lightly baked bread, which passed. Three figures rose from the lake, and old man with a beautiful daughter on either side of him. The girls were identical and the father told the young farmer that he was willing to offer him the daughter with whom he was in love if he could point her out. The farmer would have given up in despair but one slightly moved her foot and he, recognizing her slipper, won her hand. The young farmer was warned that he would lose his wife if he ever should strike her three times causelessly. The Gwragedd Annwn had some curious faerie ways; would weep at weddings and laugh at funerals, which led her husband to strike her, and she was forced to leave him. Though her sons she had left behind with all of their faerie teachings they became great physicians.

Gwartheg Y Llyn - (gwarthey er thlin) Wales. Faeriecattle.

Gwragedd Annwn - (gwarageth anoon) Wales. Lake faeries, harmless Water Spirits.

Gwyllion - (gwithleeon) The evil mountain fairies of Wales. They are hideous female spirits who waylay and mislead travellers by night on the mountain roads. They were friends and patrons of the goats, and might indeed take goat form.

Hags - inhabiting the British Isles, who seem to personify winter, are probably survivals of the oldest goddesses. Some turn, like winter into Spring, from hideously ugly old wommen into beautiful young maidens, and others like Black Annis are cannibalistic.

Henkies - One of the names given to the Trows of Orkney and Shetland.

Hobgoblin - Used in later times for wicked goblin spirits, but its more correct use is for the friendly spirits of the Brownie type. Hobgoblin was considered an ill omened word. "Hob" and "Lob" are words meaning the same kind of creature as the Hobgoblin. They are on the whole good-humoured and ready to be helpful, but fond of practical joking.

Host - The Unseelie Court.

Howlaa - A faerie-sprite who wails along the sea shore before storms.

Hyster Sprites - Lincolnshire and East Anglican fairies/small and sandy-coloured, with green eyes.

Jack In Irons - A Yorkshire giant who haunts lonely roads.

Jenny Greenteeth - Yorkshire River Hag who drowns children.

Jimmy Squarefoot - Frightening appearance but relatively harmless.

Kelpie - A supernatural Water Elemental which takes the form of a horse; malevolent. A Scottish water faerie. Although sometimes appearing in the guise of a hairy man, this is more often seen in the form of a young horse. The Kelpie haunts rivers and streams and, after letting unsuspecting humans mount him, will dash into the water and give them a dunking. Each-Uisge (ech-ooshkya) or Aughisky (agh-iski) as he is known in Ireland, inhabits seas and lochs and is far more dangerous.

Knockers, Knackers - Cornwall. Mine spirits who are friendly to miners. They knock where rich ore can be found. Also called Buccas.

Leanhaun Shee - Ireland. "FaerieMistress", in return for inspiration she feeds off the life force of the individual until she/he wastes away and dies. Gaelic poets tend to die young if they strike a bargain with this faerie.

Leprechaun - (lep-ra-kawn) Ireland. A solitary faerie who guards a pot of gold. The name comes from the Irish leith brog, the name in Irish is leith brogan. They tend to be practical jokers. Generally described as a fairy shoemaker, this creature is a red-capped fellow who stays around pure springs and is known to haunt cellars. He spends his time drinking and smoking. One branch of the Leprechaun is known as the Fir Darrig, who is a practical joker; both are of the Solitary Fairies. Leprechauns have also been associated with the Earth-elemental Gnome, and when so done, is described as being a merry little fellow dressed all in green, instead of wearing a red cap, a leather apron, drab clothes and buckled shoes, and the boy, who has fairy blood in him, succeeds in winning a wealth of treasure from an underground cave, keeps his gain secret, and is the founder of a prosperous family.

Lunantishess - The tribes that guard the blackthorn trees or sloes in Ireland; they let you cut no stick on the eleventh of November (the original November Day), or on the eleventh of May (the original May Day).

Ly Erg - This faerie yearns to be a soldier. He dresses like one and cannot be distinguished from human soldiers except by his red-stained hands, red from the blood he has shed.

Mer People, Mermaids - water dwellers who are human from the waist up but with tails of fishes. They are irresistible singers who sometimes entice human lovers with their songs of enchantment and lure fishermen to their deaths .They cause ship-wrecking storms and are most frequently seen combing their long hair whilst admiring themselves in mirrors. The Irish equivalent of the mermaid of the Murrughach, Murdhuacha (muroo-cha), or Merrows. It is possible for them to take the form of a human with tiny scales and move about on land. They wear a cohullen druith, which is a red cap covered with feathers.

Mooinjer Veggey - (moo-in-jer vegar) The Little People is a familiar Manxman term for the faeries who dwell on the Isle of Man; see Sleigh Beggey.

Mother Holle - A crone who lives at the bottom of old wells. She dispenses justice and might aid you with guidance and divination if she likes you.

Muryans - Muryan is the Cornish word for ant. The Cornish belief about the fairies was that they were the souls of ancient heathen people, too good for Hell and too bad for Heaven, who had gradually declined from their natural size, and were dwindling down until they became the size of ants, after which they vanished from this state and no one knew what became of them.

Nuckelavee - is surely the most awful of the Scottish sea fairies. A monstrous horse with legs that are part flipper, a huge mouth and one fiery eye and, rising from its back joined to it at the waist, a hideous torso with arms that nearly reach the ground, topped by a massive head that rolls from side to side as though its neck was too weak to hold it upright. Worse than this tho is the horrible appearance of the creatures flesh, for it has no skin. Black blood coursing through yellow veins, white sinews and powerful red muscles are exposed. The Nuckelavee has an aversion to fresh running water and the pursued have only to cross it to escape.

Nuggie - Scotland. A water sprite.

Oakmen - Britain. Wood sprites who live in oak trees and oak groves. They are hostile to humans but benevolent to wildlife.

Old People - Cornish name for faeries.

Pechs, Pehts - The Scottish Lowland names for fairies and are confused in tradition with the Picts, the mysterious people of Scotland who built the Pictish boughs and possibly also the round stone towers. The Pechs were considered tremendous castle builders and were credited with the construction of many of the ancient castles. They could not bear the light of day and so only worked at night, when they took refuge in their brughs or "sitheans" at sunrise.

Peg Powler - One of the many Green Hags with sharp teeth who drag their victims down to watery graves.

People of Peace - Ireland, Scotland. Another name for the Daoine Sidhe.

People of the Hills - Britain. Faeries who live under green mounds, sub-terrain faeries.

Phouka, Phooka - (pooka) Ireland. It can take various animal forms and is considered dangerous.

Pixies, Piskies, Pisgies - The name for faeries in Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. These are the West Country fairies belonging to Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. There are varying traditions about the size, appearance and origin of the Pixies, but all accounts agree about their being dressed in green and about their habit of misleading travellers.

The Plant Annwn - (plant anoon) Wales. Gwragen Annwn is the Welsh name for their women. Faeries of the Underworld. The entrance to their kingdom is through lakes. Their kind is called Gwyn ap Nudd. Their speckled Cattle are Gwartheg Y Llyn and their white hounds are the Cwn Annwn (see Hounds of the Hill).

Plant Rhys Dwfen - (plant hree thoovn) The family name of a tribe of fairy people who inhabited a small land which was invisible because of certain herb that grew on it. They were handsome people, rather below the average in height, and it was their custom to attend the market in Cardigan and pay such high prices for the goods there that the ordinary buyer could not compete with them. They were honest and resolute in their dealings, and grateful to people who treated them kindly.

Portunes - Small agricultural fairies. It was their habit to labour on farms, and at night when the doors were shut they would blow up the fire, and, taking frogs from their bosoms, they would roast them on the coals and eat them. They were like very old men with wrinkled faces and wore patched coats.

Pwca - (pooka) Wales. A version of Puck, not like the Irish Phouka. They are helpful if milk is left out, but can also be mischievous.

Redcap - is one of the most evil of the old Border Goblins. He lives in old ruined towers and castles, particularly those with a history of wickedness. He re-dyes his cap in human blood.

Roane - Scottish Highlands. Water Elementals or mermen who take the form of seals. Irish name for the Selkie.

Seelie Court (Blessed Court) - Scotland. These trooping faeries are benevolent towards humans.

Selkies - The seas around Orkney and Shetland harbor the Selkies or Seal-Faeries (known as Roane in Ireland). A female Selkie is able to discard her seal-skin and come ashore as a beautiful maiden. If a human can capture this skin, the Selkie can be forced to become a fine, if wistful, wife. However, should she ever find her skin she immediately returns to the sea, leaving the husband to pine and die. The males raise storms and upturn boats to avenge the indiscriminate slaughter of seals.

Shelly Coat - A Scottish bogie who haunts fresh water streams and is festooned with shells which clatter when he moves. He takes pleasure in tricking and bewildering travellers and leading them astray.

Sidhe - (shee) Ireland, Scottish Highlands. Name for faeries and their subterranean dwellings. A barrow or hillock which has a door to a beautiful underground realm of the Tuatha or faeries.

Sithein - (sheean) Ireland, Scotland. Name for the outside of a faerie hill or knoll. The inside is called the borough.

Sluagh - (slooa) The Host- Scotland. The host of the Unforgiven Dead or Pagan ancestors. The most formidable of the Highland faeries.

Solitary Fairies - The fairies who are chiefly malignant or ominous creatures, comprise this group, although there may be a few nature spirits or dwindled gods among them. An exception is the Brownie and its variants - though there are few family groups among the Brownies - some think that they were unacceptable in The Realm of the Fey because of their ragged, unkept appearance, and that they went off to the Seelie Court when they were properly dressed. However, this is only one school of thought on the subject. Other creatures, such as the Lepracaun, Pooka, and Bean Si, also comprise this group.

Spriggans - Grotesque and ugly in shape. Although quite small, they have the ability to inflate themselves into monstrous forms which has led humans to believe them to be the ghosts of old giants. Apart from their useful function as guardians of hill treasure, Spriggans are an infamous band of villains, skilled thieves, thoroughly destructive and often dangerous. They are capable of robbing human houses, kidnapping children (and leaving a repulsive baby Spriggan in exchange) causing whirlwinds to destroy fields of corn, blighting crops and all manner of other unpleasant mischief.

Sprites - A general name for fairies and other spirits such as Sylphs and nerieds.

Stray Sod - Some faeries appear as though they are merely a part of the grass. If you unwittingly step on them, you will be unable to continue on your way, no matter how well you know the place. This may be what happens when you step funny on lumpy terrain and twist your ankle up.

Subterranean Faeries - Scotland. Faeries who live in bochs or hills. They travel from place to place at Imbolc, Beltane, Ludhnassadh, and Samhain in order to change their residences.

Trooping Faeries - They can be large or small, friendly or sinister. They tend to wear green jackets and love hunting and riding. The smaller ones make faerie rings with their circular dances. The Faerie have been divided into two main classes- trooping and Solitary. It is a distinction that hold good throughout the British Isles, and is indeed valid wherever fairy beliefs are held. The trooping fay can be large or small, friendly or sinister. They tend to wear green jackets, while the Solitary Faerie wear red jackets. They can range from the Heroic Faerie to the dangerous and malevolent Sluagh, or to see Diminutive Fairies who include the tiny nature spirits that make the fairy rings with their dancing and speed the growth of flowers.

Tylwyth Teg - (terlooeth teig) The Fair Family- Wales. The most usual name for the Welsh faeries. If one wants to court their friendship, they are called Bendith Y Mamau (the Mother's Blessing). The Fair Family. The most unusual name for Welsh fairies, though they are sometimes called Bendith Y Mammau, in an attempt to avert their kidnapping activities by invoking a euphemistic name. The danger of visiting them in their own country lies in the miraculous passage of time in The Realm of the Fey. They give riches to their favourites, but these gifts vanish if they are spoken of.

Unseelie Court - Scotland. Faeries who are never favourable to humans. They are either solitary evil faeries or bands of faeries called the Sluagh who use elf-shot against humans and cattle. They are never under any circumstances favourable to mankind. They comprise the Sluagh, or The Host, that is, the band of the unsanctified dead. The Unseelie Court are the malignant Faerie of the negative polarity, made up of Solitary Faerie.

Urisk - A Water Elemental who appears as half-human, half-goat, associated with waterfalls. He is a Scottish solitary faerie who haunts lonely pools. He will often seek out human company but his peculiar appearance terrifies those he approaches.

Verry Volk - Wales. In some parts of Wales Tylwyth Teg is never used to describe fairies; Verry Volk is used instead. Verry Volk were always little people who dressed in scarlet and green; and they generally showed themselves dancing on moonlit nights. By nature they are benevolent.

The Wee Folk - Scotland, Ireland. A name for faeries.

Water Leaper - Preys on Welsh Fishermen.

White Ladies - The use of White Ladies for both ghosts and fairies is an indication of the close connection between fairies and the dead. The White Ladies were direct descendants of the Tuatha De Danann.

The Wild Hunt - The night hunt by the Sluagh with their terrible hounds. They are said to kidnap humans they encounter during their rides.

Will o' the Wisp - A faerie who appears at night in lonely places carrying a lantern. It uses this light to cause travellers to lose their way. No one is quite sure what these distant floating balls of light are, but they are generally associated with and are sometimes thought of as faeries and they are sometimes thought to be the souls of children who have died and like to cause mischief.

Yann An Od - Kindly old shepherd who tends sheep. He might have once been a faerie king. He's rather shy of humans.