CHAPTER VII
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.