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GERMANIC FAERIES
German lands have originated and adopted many mysterious
legends and myths for centuries. The myriad of fairy tales and
true stories undeniably left their influences on German culture
and enriched history by portraying European streets,
cities, castles and palaces as enchanted and mysterious buildings
and places.
The greatest contribution to fairy lore by the Germanic
nations including Germany, Austria and
Switzerland was indeed their art and literature. Among the
most important contributions were the Grimm Fairy Tales. A rise in the spirit of German unity,
partially triggered by a prominent French influence during the
reign of Napoleon inspired linguists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
to assemble a collection of
Märchen - most often translated as 'Fairy Tales',
but also meaning 'Fables' or 'Legends', from across the German
countryside, publishing them between 1812 and 1815.
These stories quickly spread worldwide although it has been
widely known that the Grimm brothers actually wrote many of
his tales based on stories or legends from other nations,
nevertheless, they have delighted both children and adults for
almost two centuries.
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German
elves have influenced much on European folklore and German
literature. For example, Goethe was inspired by the German
legend about Der Erlkonig and described this 'King of Elves'
in his poem with the same name.
Here is the partial list of Germanic faeries (fairies):
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ALVENS: Light, nearly
invisible faeries with no wings. The river Elbe is sacred
to them. They cherish night-blooming plants.
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ATTORCROPPE: Small serpent
with arms and legs that walks upright. These malevolent
creatures came into faerie lore through Saxony.
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DWARFS (DWARVES): Bearded and aged in appearance by the
time they are 7-years-old. They are kind, but
self-conscious and shy because of their deformed
appearance. They can be found in the mountainous areas of
Germany and Scandinavia mining for precious metals.
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ERLKONIG: The German Elf King.
Similar to the Irish bean sidhe and the fylgiar
of Iceland in that it warns of approaching death.
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ELVES (ELFEN / ALBEN):
This quite pretty creature is originated from German folklore and is associated with wide and
beautiful nature with thick forests and clear rivers.
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GOBLIN:
Mischievous malicious fairies that live in small caves and
underground caverns.
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GABRIEL'S HOUNDS: Faerie
dogs that can be seen crossing the wastelands at
night. They are known in Scotland as cu sith, in Wales as
cwn annwn (white dogs) and in England as Black
Angus.
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KOBOLD: A
small, goblin-like spirit who can be both helpful and
mischievous.
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LORELI: In German legend a fairy similar to the Greek
sirens who lived on the rock high on the bank of the Rhine
River and by her singing lured the sailors to their death.
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MERFOLK: Mermaids and mermen. |
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MOSS PEOPLE: They have butterfly wings and like to hide in
moss and dark wood foliage.
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POLTERGEISTS: Noisy, argumentative creatures. |
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RHINE MAIDENS: Water fairies who protect children. |
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WEISSE FRAU: Water Woman;
known in Ireland as the bean-fionn and in England
as Jenny Greentooth.
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WICHTLEINS: Similar to kobolds but their purpose is to
knock three times to alert miners of an impending death. |
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ZWERGE: |
The finest of the fairy-mistress stories originate in the
Germanic nations. Such stories of the union of a mortal and
a fairy are part of the general story pattern of the love of
a mortal and a super-natural being. The Knight of
Staufenburg, the lais of Launfal and of
Graelent, the story of Oisin and the and the
queen of fairyland, Melusina, Sir Orfeo are a
few of the mortal and super-natural being type stories.
"The
rustle of the wind reminds us a fairy is near."
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