Fairies And Celtic Folklore

Updated on 10/04/26

Introduction

This is going to be an ongoing piece of work, so I will add to it each week, allowing you to learn with me. Where you see ********* it means I'm researching facts.  I will give references to support my work.

Fairies are far from the tiny little creatures the media has portrayed in the past.  In folklore, fairies are sometimes beautiful and or tail and may even look very much like a human.  Fairies predate Christianity and Rome.

Irish Fairies

Types of fairy 

• Banshee
• King Finvarra
• Queen Aibhell
• Amadan Dubh
• Cailleach 

Stories about fairies

The Tuatha Dé Danann and Irish Fairies

The Irish fairies are said to have descended from the Tuatha Dé Danann, a supernatural race that lived in Ireland physical and non-physical world after arriving in a cloud.  The Tuatha Dé Danann had a war with the *******, a physical legendary race. On realised they couldn't win in the physical world they choose to sidestep into the space between worlds through the openings in the mounds and water.  Some say they were conquered and retreated to this space between worlds. 

Danu, is the Mother of The Tuatha Dé Danann and is often depicted with water or pouring water into the rivers and seas. She is very human looking and beautiful. 

Banshee

Description

She can be either old or young, and lets out a blood-curdling mournful wail to announce the death of someone in the family or household of the people that hear it.  She is also found in Scottish and Welsh folklore.

 

Stories 

King Finvarra

Description 

He is the king of the Daoine Sidhe,******, in Irish folklore.  He is a benevolent, well meaning and kindly, figure that rewords people with riches. King Finvarra is also associated with horses and good crops. In some legends, he is also the ruler of the dead (Briggs, 1976)

 

Stories 

 

Cailleach (old woman or hag) 

Description

Cailleach means old woman or hag.  She is the Celtic Goddess of winter. She is old and has white hair.  

 

Stories

If she is out collecting firewood on at Imbolc, a festival around 1st or 2nd of Feb then the weather is clear.  This means she plans to make winter longer and that is why she needs the wood, so she can keep warm. 

Scottish Fairies

Types of fairy 

• Redcaps (At current it is unclear if they are a Christian attempt to slander the Fair folk. )

Stories about fairies

Redcaps need to keep their caps soaked in fresh blood.  They have iron boots 

 

 

Welsh Fairies 

Types of fairy 

Stories about fairies

 

Wheel Of The Year Deities 

Yuletide (Winter solstice) 

• Is 12 days long
• 
  

Imbolc

Brigid is a Celtic Myth associated with this time of year.  The Catholics attempted to steal her from the pagans.  Tradition is to tie a white piece of cloth on the outer door so she can bless it on her way through. You can then use it in your magick as a charm of good fortune.  

• Fire festival 
•  

Ostara (First day of Spring in the Astrological calendar.)

Ostara is a Goddess of spring and not a fairy.  Information about her is limited, but what we do know is that she is a modern Goddess with roots in Germanic mythology.  

• Marks first day of spring
• Germanic origins 
• Celebrated by Celts  

Beltane  (Thinning of the Veil)

Beltane, otherwise known as May Day, is celebrated by dancing around a pole with ribbons. Unlike Samhain, the thinning of the veil is more about the fae folk interacting with this world from the otherworld rather than relatives visiting from the otherworld as with Samhain.  

• Fire Festival 
• Marks peak spring 
• Date: Always May 1st
• Celebrated by Celts  
• May pole dancing  

Litha

 

• Summer solstice (The longest day)

 

Lughnasassada 

 

Mabon

 

Samhain (Thinning of the Veil)

 

Bibliography  

Witchy Apothecary (Oct 27, 2025)  'Thinning of the Veil' https://www.patreon.com/posts/thinning-of-veil-142072455  (Accessed on 19/03/26)

The National Physical Laboratory (n.d) https://www.npl.co.uk/resources/q-a/when-do-the-four-seasons-begin  (Accessed on 10/04/26)

Reffences 

Briggs, Katharine Mary (1976). An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures. Pantheon Books. pp. 125–127.