On one night, in particular, the barrier to the Otherworld was weakened. This night became the festival of Samhain and has now transformed into modern-day Halloween. Why not read our article about Halloween traditions throughout the years to find out more? Fairy was used to represent: an illusion or enchantment; the land of the Faes; collectively the inhabitants thereof; an individual such as a fairy knight. [3] Faie became Modern English fay, while faierie became fairy, but this spelling almost exclusively refers to one individual (the same meaning as fay). In the sense of 'land where fairies dwell', archaic spellings faery and faerie are still in use. The evergreen yew with dark green, poisonous, needle-like leaves and red berries has commonly symbolized death in classical antiquity. [10] It is still commonly planted in Christian churchyards and cemeteries. Fairy trails, often referred to as “fairy paths” or “fairy walks,” are enchanting and whimsical pathways that wind through natural landscapes, forests, and parklands in Ireland and Northern Ireland. These trails are believed to be the routes taken by fairies as they move through the mystical and hidden realms of the countryside.

One for the man and one for the baby. I ask nothing to restore your sister in honor of your ties to us, but mark me well, Marianne, I could demand what you feel for her, too, and call it fair.” There are some exceptions, however. Golfers at the Ormeau golf course in Belfast are encouraged to nod at the fairy tree that stands there and apologize to it if they hit it with their golf balls. No one touches the tree, however, not even the club’s gardeners! What Types of Trees are Considered Fairy Trees in Ireland? The oak tree features prominently in many Celtic cultures. The ancient geographer Strabo (1st century AD) reported that the important sacred grove and meeting-place of the Galatian Celts of Asia Minor, Drunemeton, was filled with oaks. In an often-cited passage from Historia Naturalis (1st century AD), Pliny the Elder describes a festival on the sixth day of the moon where the druids climbed an oak tree, cut a bough of mistletoe, and sacrificed two white bulls as part of a fertility rite. Britons under Roman occupation worshipped a goddess of the oak tree, Daron, whose name is commemorated in a rivulet in Gwynedd. According to the pseudo-history Lebor Gabála 'Book of Invasions', the sacred oak of early Ireland was that of Mugna, probably located at or near Dunmanogoe, south Co. Kildare. Sacred associations of oaks survived Christianization, so that St Brigit's monastic foundation was at Cill Dara, 'church of (the) oak', i.e. Kildare, and St Colum Cille favoured Doire Calgaich 'Calgach's oak grove', i.e. Derry; see also Durrow, darú, from dair magh, 'oak plain'. In Welsh tradition Gwydion and Math use the flower of oak with broom to fashion the beautiful Blodeuwedd. When Lleu Llaw Gyffes is about to be killed by Gronw Pebyr, his wife's lover, he escapes in eagle form onto a magic oak tree. In British fairy lore, the oak is one of three primary magical woods, along with ash and thorn. Fortunately, many fairy trees have escaped this tradition and stand untouched, just as the fairies would want. Fairy Tree in County Clare These days, of course, the berries and flowers are best known. The dark purple berries are an abundant source of vitamin C. Folk medicine uses elderberries to fight flu, coughs, and colds, and as a blood tonic to relieve gout, rheumatism and nerve pains. Modern research has found that a compound in elderberries surrounds the flu virus and stops it invading our cells, corroborating their use as a flu remedy. Elderflowers have even more uses — far too many to list here.I think, that’s the last of it, now it’s all done. Sister’ll take care of me and we’ll be a family like before she left. She sweeps me up in her arms before I can blink. “Thank God you’re okay,” she’s crying messy, “I was so afraid for you.” Says, “I’m sorry” and “forgive me, please.” After many generations, the Celtic Gods and Goddesses of ancient Ireland were now known as the ‘Sidhe’, ‘People of the Sidhe’ or ‘Aos sí’ and became the fairly folk we know today. Ireland’s Most Prominent Gods: Tuatha de Danann, Ancestors of the fairies. Types of Fairies Aos Sí

There are also many stories around Ireland of road works being delayed because Fairy trees would be in the path, workers would refuse to touch the tree. On most occasions, roads have been re-routed to by-pass the tree. The “Rostrevor Fairy Glen”in County Down is another enchanting location where visitors can follow a winding path through a moss-covered forest. Along the path, visitors encounter fairy doors, sculptures, and charming picnic spots.In the 1980s, the car manufacturer DeLorean decided to build a new luxury car plant in Dunmurry, near Belfast.

Another important tree in Irish folklore is the Celtic Tree of Life. When the Celts used to clear vast fields for settlement purposes, they would always leave one tree standing alone in the centre. They respected the role trees played in nature, providing food and shelter to animals and humans alike. The small oak-like leaves of the hawthorn are edible, and the blossoms and berries are made into wines and jellies, and decoctions of the flowers and leaves were used to stabilise blood pressure. The strong, close-grained wood was used for carving, and for making tool handles and other small household items. You can find fairy trees dotted around every village in Ireland. Almost every farmer has at least one, but some are more famous than others. The Hill of Tara Wishing Tree The best way to deal with fairy trees is to avoid them, as you would any place where faeries might congregate.There are some excellent online resources that explore the history of fairy trees and explain what the Celts believed about the other world, its inhabitants and its many entrances. Oh,” I say, like I been shushed in church by the pastor himself. “The first price weren’t too high like I thought.” These three trees are very different characters in our folklore. Time and time again in the old stories, they are the interface between human-world and fairy-world. But they are not just some fancy notion or ancient wisdom now lost. These trees are real and alive and flowering somewhere near you this springtime. You don’t need to be on Dartmoor or in other wild and wonderful places, they are also common trees in towns and cities.

The leprechaun and its lesser-known but more mischievous counterparts, the Fearr Dearg and Cluricaune, are up next. They are tiny creatures usually depicted as bearded men. Sometimes I look at Sister now and the holes in my heart feel sharp as Momma’s boning knife, and hate settles over me like a blanket, like silence. I think of Mamaw those times, seeing me every day at the end of her life and just knowing I weren’t Marianne, and it was her fault, but she couldn’t tell nobody. I’m just fine,” I say, and I wait for the faeries, but they don’t come and I wonder if he’s not close enough. So I tell him, like I might be a tiny bit sorry, “I will take a blanket if you bring it here.” People also like to preserve the history of the trees in their area. Many Irish people grew up listening to their parents and grandparents telling stories and reminiscing about the magical trees. If nothing else, they are nostalgic and remind us of simpler times.As previously mentioned, the Aos sí are descendants of the Tuatha de Danann. They are human-sized, beautiful, intelligent, creative and in tune with nature. They value the arts, especially music and reading. The fable surrounding the Doon Hill suggests that Robert Kirk’s spirit is imprisoned within the tree having missed his opportunity to move to an afterlife. Maybe this is true and maybe it is only a story however, as with all of the countryside it is best to be respectful and embrace the landscape for its beauty and environment. According to some historians, such as Barthélemy d'Herbelot, fairies were adopted from and influenced by the peris of Persian mythology. [9] Peris were angelic beings that were mentioned in antiquity in pre-Islamic Persia as early as the Achaemenid Empire. Peris were later described in various Persian works in great detail such as the Shahnameh by Ferdowsi. A peri was illustrated to be fair, beautiful, and extravagant nature spirits that were supported by wings. This may have influenced migratory Germanic and Eurasian settlers into Europe, or been transmitted during early exchanges. [10] The similarities could also be attributed to a shared Proto-Indo-European mythology. [11]