Fairy Type Creatures
There are many different fairy type creatures in mythology. Here are a few of my favorites.
Anybody who knows me well knows I love fairies. I’ve been known to stare for hours at fairy artwork. I have fairy figures in multiple spots in my house and yard. And there aren’t many fairy stories that I won’t listen to. Simply put, I absolutely love fairies and fairy type creatures such as gnomes, elves, mermaids, unicorns, etc.
There’s something about the legends surrounding these creatures that just brings a smile to my face. Fairy type creatures are so magical, delightful, sometimes mischievous, and just plain cute. They’re so endearing that anyone who loves fairy type legends can’t resist pretending they’re real at least once in a while.
Legends of fairy type creatures are found in all parts of the world, from the elves of Scandinavia, to the thunderbirds of Native American lore. Most fairy type creatures in these legends prefer areas with plants, for dryads this is a must. In many stories they are believed to be creatures devoted to helping the environment and the guardians of animals.
In many mythologies, summer solstice was believed to be one of the days when the gates to fairy world opened and humans could see fairy type creatures. With the summer solstice coming up in a couple weeks, it seemed like an appropriate time to do a post delving into the mythology of a few of my favorite fairy type creatures.
The fairy type creatures actually called “fairies” are probably the most familiar members of such mythology. These fairies are usually described as being quite small, about one to three inches tall, and have wings. They greatly enjoy music and dancing and can often be seen partaking in such activities within a “fairy ring,” or ring of toadstools. Hawthorns, milkweed, and lilacs are said to be common plants for fairies to dwell among.
There are several types of merfolk; these being mermaids and mermen, and mer-fairies. 
Mermaids and mermen appear in fairytales as beautiful creatures having human upper bodies and fishtails. Mer-fairies are generally described as mermaids or mermen with wings and were believed to be higher ranking merpeople, a kind of “archangel” of the merfolk legends. Merfolk are said to be the guardian spirits of all bodies of water, and the creatures who live there.
In dryad legends, Dryads inhabit trees, acting as their guardians. If a tree should die of natural causes, the dryad can simply move and become guardian to another tree; however, should the tree be cut down, the dryad dies along with the tree. Typically, the legends speak of a leading dryad, usually found in a large tree at the center of the grouping. Oaks and willows are especially popular, but they inhabit many others.
When one thinks of a unicorn, it is usually the image of the ethereal white horse with the protruding horn. While they do always have a single horn on their head, hence their name, they are not always white horses in every legend. Some can even be so dark as black; while others may have white bodies, but rusty colored heads. They are graceful, yet also strong and swift. Great power is attributed to the horn, and it is often used to purify such elements as water in unicorn legends.
Then there is the dragon, one of the most impressive legendary creatures. Dragon legends are one of the most widespread fairy type creatures. Almost every country in the world has some sort of dragon legend. Naturally mythology says that dragons are of the element of fire. Depending on the particular legend, they can range in size from small to huge; some having more than one set of batlike wings, some having none. They are revered for their wisdom and they not only fly, but inhabit water as well in some legends.
In most fairy type legends, children are especially receptive to seeing fairy type creatures because they have not yet been “taught” to disbelieve them. Maybe the children in the legends aren’t wrong. As Mr. Spock said in one of my favorite quotes: “Many myths are based on truth.”
In any event, it’s fun to pretend they’re real. So the next time you walk through a forest glade, or near a babbling brook, allow your imagination to soar. If an area looks to be the dwelling place of something out of a fairytale, it may very well be. Especially when it’s on the summer solstice!
Copyright © Amber Reifsteck ~ The Woodland Elf
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