Pixies and Fairies
Night of the Fairy Goddesses
Wilson's Almanac Website
Pixies and Fairies play a large part in Celtic stories. Below are the descriptions of
both pixies and fairies and some of the similarities and differences between the two.
Pixies
In
folklore, pixies (or piskies) are little people with wings who are
slightly smaller than fairies. They are approximately four inches
tall and are live in gardens. Pixies desire their own
plot of land, preferably a garden away from people. They
like to work as gardeners, but they will not garden for anyone but
themselves. Pixies are in constant conflict for territory with
fairies. Fairies are slightly larger and very aggressive.
According to one myth, pixies were originally Druids who resisted Christianity. The myth states that the more they resisted the religion, the smaller they grew.
Pixies generally eat a diet of nectar and pollen and live for approximately fifteen to twenty years. However, there are some myths that state that pixies are immortal. However, pixies are allergic to silver. It burns their skin and can kill them if it gets into their blood.
Pixies are very quick and sneaky. Even though they are small and are often depicted as being very pretty and peaceful, they will not hesitate to kill a fairy in defense of themselves or someone they love. They will also fight to defend their territory.
Fairies
A fairy is a tiny immortal being with wings that looks like a person. Fairies are slightly larger than pixies. They are approximately six inches tall. Fairies are said to have magical powers, such as the ability to bestow magical gifts of beauty, wealth, intelligence, and kindness upon newborn children. They are also said to have the ability to change different aspects of nature, such as the weather.
Fairies
live on hills, or underwater. Some think they are spiritual
beings that live in a world of their own, an Otherworld. Fairies
generally eat fruit as well as some cheeses.
Fairies share Pixies' allergic reaction to silver. They
can also move very
quickly and can become invisible when in the woods.
Fairies like to produce things like shoes and
bows. They enjoy music and dancing.
Like Pixies, fairies also keep to themselves
and avoid humans, but they occasionally steal household items.
Fairies
tend to stay away from cities because like pixies, they prefer wooded
areas.
I included this story in my Storybook collection because I think it was important for me to learn about the differences between fairies and pixies. I have always wondered if there was a difference and needed to know exactly what pixies and fairies were before beginning the stories about fairies in my Storybook.
While this isn't the most exciting story, I think it will be interesting for readers because it is an unusual topic. I personally have never heard anything about a pixie or a fairy except what is mentioned in the story Peter Pan.
When I was doing my research, I was a little bit surprised to have not come across one of my favorite parts of Peter Pan. I did not find anything about the birth of a fairy. In Peter Pan, a fairy is born when a baby laughs for the first time and that laugh breaks into a thousand pieces. Then, I guess it becomes a fairy. I also did not find anything about how when a person says "I hate fairies," a fairy drops down dead. But, the fairy can be revived by clapping. I guess that the author added these into Peter Pan for creative purposes (The author of Peter Pan, James Barrie took a myth and expanded on it - very creatively!).
Overall, I am pretty happy with my new knowledge of fairies and pixies. I think it was pretty cool to learn that they are not the same thing. While they do share some of the same qualities, at the same time they are very different creatures.
Variant(s): or pix*il*lat*ed
Function: adjective
Etymology: irregular from pixie
1 : somewhat unbalanced mentally; also : bemused
2 : whimsical
Fairy
By Micha F. Lindemans
Encyclopedia Mythica
The Fairy Faith
Pixie
By Micha F. Lindemans
Encyclopedia Mythica
Pixies and Fairies
By Rachel Morgan
Kim Harrison
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