Stuff You Should Know

Spend Some Time with Fairies

10 snips
Oct 24, 2024
Explore the enchanting world of fairies, from their sinister origins to their modern, whimsical portrayals. Dive into their dual nature as both benevolent and malevolent beings, and uncover the influence of 19th-century folklore. Discover surprising connections between fairies and iconic figures like Puck, while contemplating themes of abduction and changelings. Hear about the historical transformations through literature and art, and reflect on the cultural impact of fairy tales in our lives today.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Modern Fairies

  • Today's fairies are a relatively new idea.
  • Older lore had fairy-like beings, but they weren't categorized together until recently.
INSIGHT

The Word "Fairy"

  • The word "fairy" emerged in the late medieval period.
  • Before that, similar beings existed in folklore but weren't called "fairies."
INSIGHT

Early Elves

  • Early elves weren't always nice, they were associated with illnesses and misfortunes.
  • If your cows died suddenly, it could have been blamed on elves.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app