The Faery Lineage and Irish Mythology — The Elizabethan Fairy

The birth of the Elizabethan era saw the death of the romantic warriors of the Daoine Sidhe. Even the gentle kindness of the Diminutive Fairy had begun to disappear. The fair became mischievous, pesky, and even bothersome, at least among the general populace. Appearing in the 16th century, this new fairy eventually came to be known as the Elizabethan Fairy.

The Nature of the Elizabethan Fairy

The physical appearance of the standard modern fairy has its roots in Elizabethan times. Elizabethan Fairies were tiny little things, often no bigger than a thumbnail, though sometimes as large as a clutched first. They occasionally had gossamer wings, and were usually described as being female. Often lovelier than any human woman, these fairies tended to wear little in the way of clothing.

The Elizabethan Fairy were not seen as evil. However, they were considered pests and most regular citizens went to great lengths to avoid contact with these beings of myth and legend. It was said that these fairies would torment humans for simple entertainment, though they did not typically seek to harm. Harm would instead happen by accident.

The Elizabethan Fairy in Literature

The fairy ladies of eras past were no longer in style by the 16th century. Nymphs, brownies, hobgoblins, and the classic fairy with gossamer wings become popular in tales and stories. Common literature of the time was suddenly flooded with references to these mythological creatures.

The writers of the age supplied the very first look into the social structure of the tiny fairy. Individual writers chose different traits to emphasize, but on the whole, they managed to give a literary version of the fairy and its social life. The Elizabethan Faeries were seen as living in a monarchy, almost a parody of the monarchies present throughout the British Isles and various other areas of Western Europe.

By this point in time, Ireland was not at all isolated from the rest of Europe. English influences had become a part of Irish life. This was true of literature as well. The social structure of the fairies of the 16th century was immortalized by William Shakespeare in his A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This had a major impact on how the populace of Europe as a whole viewed the fairy, including the Irish, who had traditionally worshipped the Tuatha De Danann.

Shakespeare crafted a story where the interactions of various fairies and their leaders, King Oberon and Queen Titania, shows them to be somewhat organized, passionate, and rather bothersome to the humans they encounter. This version of what fairies could and might be persisted for many years, and is still a part of modern folk tales. When these types of tales were immortalized in literature, the very fabric of belief, myth, and legend in Ireland was altered forever.

Following the Elizabethan era, a time of repression hit most of Europe. The fairy evolved with the changing morals and values of the people. England grew more puritan, as did much of Western Europe, and the fairy came to be regarded as a more evil being. The Jacobean Fairy was born as the Faery Lineage continued to develop.

The Faery Lineage and Irish Mythology — The Diminutive Fairy

Today, when picturing a fairy, most people see a little being with gossamer wings, flitting about from flower to flower. However, this being did not really exist in Irish mythology until the ancient Faery Lineage of Ireland began to diminish. By the late 14th century, the Heroic Faery and the Medieval Fairy had merged and dwindled, becoming the Diminutive Fairy.

The Nature of the Diminutive Fairy

The people of Ireland, Britain, and Scotland viewed the Diminutive Fairy with some admiration, but they were also wary of them. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the fairies were spoke on kindly, just in case the might be listening. The fairies were called the Gentry, the week folk, the Good Neighbors, and many other flattering names.

This wasn’t done because fairies were feared. However, it was generally known that the fairies would seek justice if a wrong was done to them. Their idea of justice was usually swifter and more severe than what a human might consider acceptable. For this reason, care was taken to avoid offending the fey.

The Diminutive Fairy was generally quite benign, but they were prone to some mischief. They mischief was usually confined to simple pranks and jokes, and it was considered rare indeed for a human to be harmed by a fairy.

The Diminutive Fairy and the Soul

By the 16th century, the vision of the Diminutive Fairy had grown to encompass a relatively new idea. Some began to believe that the soul inside every human was really a tiny being that emerged from a sleeping person to wander aimlessly about. It was said that the adventures of this creature were the sleeper’s dreams. This belief didn’t last long, but it did serve to cement the Diminutive Fairy into the minds of the general populace.

By the end of the 15th century, the Diminutive Fairy had changed again, not necessarily in appearance, but in nature. This new breed of fairy was pesky and bothersome, and rarely helpful of kind to humans. This new fairy eventually came to be known as the Elizabethan Fairy.

The Faery Lineage and Irish Mythology — The Medieval Fairy

The Faery Lineage did not stay confined to the shores of Ireland. When the Fenian Heroes found themselves cast adrift from the fiana, they went in search of a new king to serve. Some tales suggest that they made their way to England and found the legendary King Arthur. Seeing him as a man of honor and integrity, they may have chosen to follow him as they once had the High Kings of Ireland. In was here, in Britain, that the Fenian Heroes gave birth to the Medieval Fairy.

The Medieval Fairy and Arthurian Legend

As followers of King Arthur, the Medieval Fairy spawned a great many tales, most of them woven with sorcery and enchantment, wizards and witches, and characters such as Morgan La Fay and Lancelot. Even Arthur himself came to be considered to be one of the fairy people by the 11th and 12th centuries. As history became myth, King Arthur and his followers, once clearly one of the Fenian Heroes, came to be regarded as the chief Medieval Fairy of the era.

Characteristics of the Medieval Fairy

In the time of the Medieval Fairy, the size and appearance of the fairy became quite variable. They could be tiny and beautiful or huge and monstrous. Most commonly, however, the Medieval Fairy was depicted as a fair-skinned maiden with flowing red hair.

The Medieval era was full of stories of strange happenings and supernatural occurrences. Most of these were attributed to the fairies. It is through these tales that we can catch a glimpse of the powers of the Medieval Fairy.

They were masters of enchantment and magick, much like the Tuatha De Danann, and usually very beautiful. Though they would assist humans when asked, they could also exact terrible vengeance on those who wronged them. Despite their sometime mischievous nature, the Medieval Faeries were enamored with humans, and often mated with them. The children who were a natural result of these unions were often gifted with many of the powers of the fay.

Many common fairies of the Medieval era can be recognized as half-remembered gods and goddess. The Medieval Fairy can be considered the last true appearance of the Daoine Sidhe, and so the Tuatha De Danann, before the Medieval Fairy merges with the Heroic Faery. Out of this merging, the Diminutive Fairy was born.

The Wheel of the Year — Beltane and Its Lore

Also known as Bealtien, La Baal Tinne, or May Day, Beltane falls on May 1st. It is considered one of the most important days in the Wiccan calendar, second only to Samhain. Like Samhain, it is a day when the veil between the worlds is thin, but it is not a day of the dead. Instead, this thin veil allows trickery and confusion to rule the day. Because of this, divination readings may have unexpected results.

As part of the Wheel of the Year, Beltane is the time when the Goddess sheds her robes as Maiden and becomes the Mother. The God, grown now, comes to Her side as Consort instead of son. The Goddess and the God celebrate Their union, mating in the spring warmth and conceiving a child.

The Themes and Practices of Beltane

The main themes of Beltane are the great fires of Bel and the associated fertility rites. The sexual union of the Goddess and the God is traditionally celebrated by performing the Great Rite. Symbolically, the Great Rite is represented using a chalice and athame. The chalice, representing the womb of the Goddess, is filled with liquid (usually wine, but juice works for the non-alcoholic crowd) and placed upon the altar. The athame, representing the phallic nature of the God, is lowered into the chalice. Usually, this is part of a greater ritual and is not done on its own.

The Great Rite can also be performed literally, as a part of Pagan sex magick. This is only done by a consenting adult couple.

Since this Sabbat represents the marriage of the Goddess and the God, many Wiccans and other Pagans celebrate with a wedding, handfasting, or simple renewal of vows. In times of old, the fertility of livestock and people was important, so marriages would take place and animals would be driven between two large bonfires to encourage fertility. People would then jump the bonfires to help ensure their own fertility in the years to come.

Some of the symbols associated with Beltane include:

• Daisies
• Fairies
• Flower garlands
• Balefires (bonfires)
• Passion and sensuality

The Feast of Beltane
 
Since Beltane is the celebration of the marriage between the Goddess and the God, it is time for a major feast. Consider it a wedding supper. If you live in a climate conducive to outdoor meals, consider making this the first picnic of the year. This would also allow you to plan games and activities that can be held outdoors, which is traditional for Beltane.
 
Some popular dishes for Beltane include:

• Roast pork
• Apple sauce
• Lightly cooked or raw spring vegetables and herbs
• Cucumber soup
• Deep fried elderflower heads
• Roast chicken
• Salads
• Egg recipes

Beverages for Beltane
 
Drinks appropriate for Beltane are similar to those consumed at the Spring Equinox. Make your own Honey Mead or look for other sweet wines and liqueurs. Elderflower wine or cordial made with a sparkling mineral water is also an excellent selection. Cool fruit teas or light fruit drinks are an excellent alternative for the non-alcoholic crowd.
 
In ancient times, mineral water would have been considered festive because spring is the time when ice has just melted. To spruce up your mineral water, add a squeeze of fresh fruit juice. Try to choose fruits that are in season in the area where you live.
 
Celebrating Beltane
 
There are many ways to celebrate Beltane. One of the most traditional is the selecting of a May Queen/King to preside over the Beltane festivities. The Queen or King directs the celebration and organizes any rituals or ceremonies to be performed. She or he also organizes the dance around the May Pole. If you’re worried about anyone feeling left out, let the selection of May Queen/King be random by drawing lots. Allow the selected person to choose their partner. To make the celebration more elaborate, have special cloaks and thrones prepared for the royal couple.
 
Make chains of daisies or other seasonal flowers for everyone in your group. These can be worn around the head or around the neck. Children especially love to make these, so put the children in your family to work weaving chains of flowers.
 
Set up a May Pole for your merrymakers to dance around. While a large pole with multiple ribbons might be traditional, you can make a smaller pole with a broomstick or umbrella pole. Even a flagpole will work. Bury the pole into the ground so that it is secure. Make sure a random child or animal can’t knock it over. Tie a number of ribbons or streamers to the top of the pole. You should have as many ribbons as you will have dancers, and you should always have an even number of dancers. Have your dancers assemble and instruct half your dancers to dance clockwise, the other counterclockwise. Your clockwise and counterclockwise dancers should alternate and weave in and out of each other. This may take a little practice, so have your dancers do a test run if necessary.
 
To make the May Pole dance more traditional, place a flower garland at the top of the pole before the dance begins. As the ribbons weave around each other and around the pole, the garland should descent gracefully. If you don’t think you can manage to set up a May Pole dance, look around your area for events that might have one. They are becoming more and more popular as time goes by.
 
Most Wiccans also mark Beltane with a ritual. As Sabbats are celebratory in nature, magick is generally not performed. However, if there is a true emergency, such as healing, an exception may be made.
 
Dressing for Beltane
 
Like most holidays, fancy dress is an excellent way to get into the spirit of things. You might wish to wear ritual robes or choose simpler clothing. While there is no firm rule, try to make it special for the occasion. Traditional colors for Beltane include green and the bright colors of the rainbow. Colors associated with the Maiden and Her Lover include bright red or silver for the Goddess and green and gold for the God. Alternatively, consider blue and gold for the Goddess and red and gold for the God. You can use the colors for your clothing or simply to decorate the ritual space.
 
Beltane is regarded as a sacred time for Wiccans around the world. It is a time to celebrate the natural cycles of the earth and look forward to the coming heat of summer.