Daoine maite
Encyclopedia
Daoine maithe is Gaelic for "the good people", which is a popular term used to refer to the fairies in Irish folklore
. They are generally human like though there are exceptions such as the Puca or Mermaid. The defining features of the Irish fairies are their supernatural abilities and their temperament. If treated with respect and kindness, Irish fairies can be quite benevolent; however, if they are mistreated they will react cruelly.
s or the descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann
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there were angels who refused to take either God's or Lucifer's side. For their lack of action they were banished from heaven. Some of them fell on to Ireland, some fell into the sea and some fell into hell.
. A war was waged between these two groups for control of the island. In the end a truce was reached which gave the Milesians ownership of the land of Ireland and the Tuatha De Danan the ownership of the area below the land of Ireland.
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
. They are generally human like though there are exceptions such as the Puca or Mermaid. The defining features of the Irish fairies are their supernatural abilities and their temperament. If treated with respect and kindness, Irish fairies can be quite benevolent; however, if they are mistreated they will react cruelly.
Origins
Due to the oral nature of Irish folklore the exact origins of the fairies is not well defined. There are stories enough to support two possible origins. The fairies could either be fallen angelFallen angel
Fallen angel is a concept developed in Jewish mythology from interpretation of the Book of Enoch. The actual term fallen angel is not found in either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament. Christians adopted the concept of fallen angels mainly based on their interpretations of the Book of...
s or the descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg....
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Fallen Angels
It is said that the fairies are angels who have fallen from heaven, but whose sins were not great enough to warrant hell. During the War of HeavenWar of Heaven
War in Heaven is a concept in Christian eschatology. The term occurs only once in the New Testament at . Though the term does not occur in the Hebrew Bible, parallels have been drawn from various passages regarding Fallen angels in the Book of Genesis, and the Book of Isaiah. Some also suggest...
there were angels who refused to take either God's or Lucifer's side. For their lack of action they were banished from heaven. Some of them fell on to Ireland, some fell into the sea and some fell into hell.
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann were magical beings who occupied Ireland prior to the current inhabitants, the MilesiansMilesians
Milesia, Milesian, Milesians, or Miletans may refer to:* In Irish mythology, the Milesians were the descendants of Míl Espáine, the final invaders of Ireland who defeated and displaced the semi-divine Tuatha Dé Danann...
. A war was waged between these two groups for control of the island. In the end a truce was reached which gave the Milesians ownership of the land of Ireland and the Tuatha De Danan the ownership of the area below the land of Ireland.
Types of
- BansheeBansheeThe banshee , from the Irish bean sí is a feminine spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld....
- ChangelingChangelingA changeling is a creature found in Western European folklore and folk religion. It is typically described as being the offspring of a fairy, troll, elf or other legendary creature that has been secretly left in the place of a human child. Sometimes the term is also used to refer to the child who...
- ClurichaunClurichaunThe clurichaun , or clobhair in O'Kearney, is an Irish fairy which resembles the leprechaun. Some folklorists describe the clurichaun as a night "form" of the leprechaun, who goes out to drink after finishing his daily chores. Others regard them as regional variations on the same...
- DullahanDullahanThe Irish dullahan is a type of unseelie fairie. It is headless, usually seen riding a black horse and carrying his or her head under one arm. The head's eyes are massive and constantly dart about like flies, while the mouth is constantly in a hideous grin that touches both sides of the head...
- Leprechauns
- Far darrigFar darrigA far darrig or fear dearg is a faerie of Irish mythology. The name far darrig is an Anglophone pronunciation of the Irish words fear dearg, meaning Red Man, as the far darrig is said to wear a red coat and cap...
- MerrowMerrowMerrow or Murrough is the Scottish and Irish Gaelic equivalent of the mermaid and mermen of other cultures. These beings are said to appear as human from the waist up but have the body of a fish from the waist down...
- PucaPucaPuca or PUCA may refer to*Púca, faery creature of Celtic folklore.*Puck , fairy or mischievous nature sprite in English folklore .*Florin Pucă , Romanian graphic artist....