Fairies, also known as faery, faerie, fay, fae, good folk, fair folk, etc., are a type of mythical creature or spirit in European folklore, connected with the metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural. There are many definitions of what a fairy is. "Fairy" can describe either a single being or multiple ones like trolls, banshees and gnomes. There are many myths about fairies.
While it is believed that fairies are sweet and innocent beings, they are in fact, far from it. Fairies of folklore were vicious, vindictive and cruel; embodying forces of nature and often appearing as monstrous figures rather than the winged pixie-like beings we associate the word with today. The fairies came in several distinct types, the most feared and malicious were the Unseelie Court who would often attack and harass mortals without cause or reason and the Seelie Court who were more amoral in regards to mortals; they were still greatly feared and ruled in a manner not unlike that of ancient gods namely with vengeance and fear.
Fairies of folklore were blamed for all manner of mischief and ills, ranging from petty vandalism and theft to outright murder and kidnap and they would frequently be blamed for causing livestock to grow sick or die, they would lead travelers astray at night or lure men to their doom near ponds and rivers and if sufficiently angered they would even kill.
Fairies are generally described as human in appearance and having magical powers. Diminutive fairies of one kind or another have been recorded for centuries, but occur alongside the human-sized beings; these have been depicted as ranging in size from very tiny up to the size of a human child.
Some say they are spirits of the dead, elementals in alchemy, demoted angels of god, demons, pagan gods, a type of human and more.
