THE INFLUENCES OF MYTHICAL BEINGS
The belief in fairies and other supernatural beings is universal,
not only among children but among grown people as well, and many a
quaint and interesting legend has been spun about these fascinating
individuals. Fairy lore comprises the greater part of our books for
young people, and without fairy tales the lives of children would
be barren indeed. So, also, have many superstitions grown up about
fairies, and they are believed in by folks that are intelligent as well
as by those that are ignorant.
Fairies are supposed to be supernatural beings, human in form but very
often diminutive, with superior powers for good or evil. They have the
power of invisibility, but can become visible when they wish. They are
often invoked for aid, but are never worshipped as were the goddesses
of the pagan world. They enter the habitations of mortals and spread
their gifts. Sometimes they do mischief. It is well to keep in the good
graces of fairies.
The Hindoos believe in a kind of fairy that they call “Acvins.” These
assist in bringing lovers together, give succor in trouble and bring
wealth to the deserving.
Persians believe in Peris, delicate ethereal females, who while not
immortal, live very long. To assist or otherwise get into the good
graces of a Peri means good luck, but to offend one, brings bad luck.
The Arabian “Jinns” are fairies of a more austere kind. They are males
who can do great damage if offended and whom it is therefore well to
placate. They are supposed to have lived before Adam and were once a
mighty race, but war and accident have slain many. Every time a star
shoots across the sky it means the death of a jinn. They have the power
to make themselves visible or invisible.
The Jews believed in Shedim, a species of fairy that was the offspring
of Adam. These beings have wings, are similar to angels, eat, drink,
make merry, and help any mortal who is kind to them.
The Greeks and Romans had their own conceptions of fairies. They called
them dryads, naiads, fauns, satyrs, etc. They mingled with mortals
and often intermarried with them. They brought luck or the reverse as
they were favorably inclined. They rewarded any kindness and punished
transgressions.
Fata Morgana is the Italian conception of a fairy, the personification
of Fortune. Happy the person who wins her favor.
In France, fairies have different names and characteristics. There
are “_follets_” who are always invisible but whose voices are often
heard. They are mischievous and pelt the peasants with stones. They
often enter a house and throw about the utensils and create disorder
from a sense of humor that is often hard to understand. Where a man is
in their good graces, however, they do good and reward virtues. It is
considered lucky to come across their tracks or circles in the grass.
The French also believe in _fees_, _lutins_ and goblins. These dance in
circles, or fairy rings by night, haunt solitary springs and grottoes,
ride horses and tie up the horses’ manes to form stirrups. They preside
at births, bring luck to babies in whom they take an interest, give
presents, help along the lovelorn, and do other stunts. They often take
a child out of its cradle and leave one of their own brood in its
place. This is called a “changeling,” and while such child is apt to be
beautiful, its propensities are for evil.
Scandinavians believe in elves, playful, malicious beings that are up
to all sorts of mischief. They delight in perplexing people, tie the
hair of sleeping children into knots, steal away articles, and cause
no end of trouble. It is well to propitiate them by kindness, and
by leaving something for them to eat in the grottoes where they are
supposed to dwell.
Teutonic races have their fairies, trolls, gnomes, dwarfs, who do all
manner of mischief. Many are the strange tales told about them, and
many are the rites and ceremonies resorted to by the peasantry to get
into their good graces.
The Irish are great believers in fairies, and their literature is
filled with tales of their deeds. Their superstitions concerning them
would fill a good-sized book. They dress in green, are very pretty and
benevolent, help the peasants, bring lovers together, avoid law suits,
do good by stealth, etc.
Brownies and kelpies are the Scotch brand of fairies. They often
appear in the form of cattle or horses, and when people ride on them,
they throw them off and play other tricks. They are as mischievous as
children, but do nothing particularly praiseworthy.
English have their fairies, hobgoblins, Robin Goodfellow, Puck, and
other well-known characters. Shakespeare assembled them in one large
clan, with Oberon as their king and Titania as their queen. They are a
well-behaved crew, full of mischief but with good traits as well.
Some of the more prominent superstitions concerning fairies are the
following:
A mole or defect on a person is supposed to be caused by a fairy
nipping him before birth.
A matted lock near the neck of a sleeping child is called an elflock
and is the deed of a mischievous fairy.
To throw away a peach stone out of a window is dangerous as it might
strike a fairy and kill it. This would bring bad luck for seven years.
Four-leaved clover usually marks the spot where fairies congregate and
bring good luck.
Round circles often found in the grass indicate the place where fairies
dance. To sit in such a circle with one of the opposite sex, is sure to
bring about a marriage.
When a child is lucky it is a sure proof that a fairy godmother stood
at its cradle at its birth.
Fossil Echini turned up by the plow, are called fairy loaves. If you
keep a fairy loaf in the house, you will never want for bread.
If one comes across a “fairy ring,” it is luckier to walk around it
than across it.
If you run around a “fairy ring” nine times, you can hear the sounds of
merriment caused by the fairies dancing under ground.
Fairies reward servants for cleanliness by putting a coin in their
shoes.
A fairy entering a dairy spoils the cream.
In many sections of England a prayerbook is put under a child’s pillow
to keep away fairies and pixies.
Lumbago, epilepsy and fits are supposed to be caused by a shot from a
malignant fairy.
A knot hole in a deal door is bad as it will let fairies in. It must be
plugged up at once.
WITCHES
The belief in witches is very old. At times in the history of mankind
it has become epidemic and done untold damage. In the seventeenth
century thousands of old women were burned at the stake for their
supposed intercourse with the devil. Doctors and judges as well as
ignorant people believed in this nonsense. The witch was supposed to be
a woman who had sold her soul to the devil, and frequented the Devil’s
Sabbath, riding thither on a broomstick. In rural districts the belief
still prevails to some extent.
When horses break out in a sweat in the stable, it is believed that a
witch has been riding them.
When a horse’s mane is tangled, a witch is supposed to have tied the
knot to use as a stirrup.
Shoulder bones of sheep are called “hag-bones” because witches are
believed to ride on them.
Eggshells must be broken and not left to lie about the house, or they
may be used by witches as boats.
When sick people go into a decline, they are said to be “overlooked” or
bewitched, and there is little hope for their recovery.
A white witch is one who has the power to remove the spell of a bad
witch. There are various incantations by which this is done.
To prevent a witch from injuring a person, he must make an image of
wax of the witch and stick it full of pins. This will cause the witch
to become impotent and die.
Wearing the left stocking inside out, horseshoes, spittle, hagstones,
etc., are good antidotes to a witch’s power. The sign of the cross also
prevents their evil.