Reigning supreme in children’s fantasy stories, they have such a strong reputation that the stories themselves have come to be called “fairytales” whether the story has a fairy character in it or not.

They are popular in almost all cultures around the world as creatures of fantasy but some cultures have a strong belief that they are very much a part of our world even if they are hidden from us. Their origin is as fleeting as themselves. Some think they are nature spirits.

Exactly what that means is a bit confusing to say the least. But the best explanation of that is that they are neither human nor angels, rather something in between.

These creatures include goblins, gnomes, elves and water spirits, and are also known to possess magical powers.

While some of these fantastic beings are considered harmless to humans and according to mythology, even helpful at times, there are others who are described as menacing and vengeful. Their appearance is mostly human and folklore also suggests that they went into hiding after the human race took over the world.

Interestingly, there are suggestions and even beliefs that they live in an underground world in their own hidden kingdoms. Fairies are also considered revengeful or mischievous and it is believed that wearing or keeping cold iron is as protection along with various other stuff like herbs and the ringing of bells keep them at bay. They are known in worst forms to have stolen newborn babies and replaced them with “changelings”, their own deformed babies.

People who are suspicious about their habitats like to avoid going near them as a precaution. Many descriptions, including astral beings and “spirits of the air”, have been attributed to them. According to Celtic beliefs, there was a tiny race of humans, which was driven underground by other humans who invaded them. These creatures or beings made their world in ancient burial mounds and hidden hills or escaped underground to build their world.

In legends of King Arthur, Morgan le Fay, a sort of fairy creature takes King Arthur to Avalon, which is also considered as the Otherworld where such creatures live. According to recent theories, Avalon or The Isle of Apples, might be what is now called Glastonbury, some think it might have been Cornwall and there are some who think this wonderful place was Sicily. In this tale, she is not only a sorceress but also a healer. And it is where Merlin, the magician, left King Arthur for Morgen the fairy to heal with her special powers.

Fairies were also worshipped in ancient times in some western cultures but that stopped with the advent of Christianity. In practical beliefs, fairies are supposed to play pranks like making a traveller lose his way or steal some small item.

But some old beliefs were quite fearful as a person suffering from tuberculosis was thought to have been included in a fairy dance every night, causing him to fade away. But later with the advancement of science, the diagnosis made people reject such beliefs.

But even today, fairies are believed to be very much real and there are several people who claim that they have seen these ethereal creatures. Writer Eddie Lenihan acclaimed worldwide interest in 1999 when he protested against the cutting of a whitethorn bush in County Claire, Ireland. The 20 million dollar project was to build a road but Mr Lehihan insisted that it was a fairy tree. The fairy tree was spared with a small adjustment.

He is an ardent fan of folklore regarding fairies and such and has been a researcher on the subject for 30 years and amongst his many works Meeting The Other Crowd-the Fairy Stories of Hidden Ireland, are recommended for those interested in the subject.

Then there is also the tale of King James of Scotland, who was warned by a banshee of his murder in 1437. It is said that there were several royal families in England and Ireland favoured by banshees who warned them of any death in the family.

Small, or large, dainty or fearsome, fairies have long occupied our imaginations and their mysterious ways will enthral and puzzle us for times to come.