Each of my blogs on the
Valentine Wishes Tour is about fairies and fairy lore. I am giving away a copy
of one of my books to one commentator on each blog. Today’s prize is a copy of
my historical story A Gentleman’s Folly. Comment for a chance to win.
Many thanks to Venus for
hosting me.
A little today on the
history of fairies and others of the fairy folk, a subject I find fascinating
as it goes so far back in time and legend. The earliest references to fairies
speak not of little winged people, but full sized people. Their fair faces,
their gleaming skin and shimmering hair could identify those fairies. Some who
study the legends insist this group were a separate race, one marginalised by
the expanding population of Britain in the very distant past.
These early fairies had
little to do with the new people arriving in all areas of Britain. They were
elusive and did not always wish humans well. Much later, the introduction of
the Sidhe, pronounced, ‘Shee’ to the fair folk added further to the beliefs in those
with magical powers. The members of the Sidhe find their origins in Celtic
religion rather than legend, some once held the role of gods in pre-Christian
times. The tales about them and belief in them remained a powerful element in
Celtic society for many years. They are still a revered part of folklore today.
As time passed, a
catalogue of other supernatural beings joined these beautiful shimmering and
powerful creatures and the notion of the ‘fairy folk’ as a generic developed.
This included, Elves and Brownies, Leprechauns, Gnomes and Goblins, the People
of the Mound, the Little People, the Good People, and of course other creatures
such as Trolls, Pooka, Banshea and Korrigan. Each of these creatures has its
own appearance, behaviours and powers. Finally, the Selkies, Mermaids and Mermen
from the seas are part of the group included in the world of ‘fairy tales’.
Legends and stories of
these and other magical creatures such as Dragons and Unicorns, are central to
the oral history passed down throughout the British Isles and Ireland. Brittany
in France has its share of legends of the Shining Ones and fairy tales too.
Later still into the
Middle Ages and Tudor period fairies appear in written literature, though the
references to them owe much to the earlier beliefs as can be seen by the fairy
court of Oberon and Titania.
Into the time of the
Enlightenment and Romanticism and the fairy folk continued to appear in all the
arts, as they still do today. I couldn’t resist this little bit from Keats ballad
La Belle Dame sans Merci, to illustrate what I see as the influence of the fairy
world, and I happen to like Keats poetry very much.
I met a
lady in the meads,
Full beautiful—a faery’s child,
Her
hair was long, her foot was light,
And her eyes were wild.
I made
a garland for her head,
And bracelets too, and fragrant zone;
She
looked at me as she did love,
And made sweet moan.
I set
her on my pacing steed,
And nothing else saw all day long,
For
sidelong would she bend, and sing
A faery’s song.
She
found me roots of relish sweet,
And honey wild, and manna-dew,
And
sure in language strange she said—
‘I love thee true’.
She
took me to her Elfin grot,
And there she wept and sighed full sore,
And
there I shut her wild wild eyes
With kisses four.
There are other famous
creations linked to the world of the fae, such as the Grimm Brothers’ fairy
tales, Mallory’s La Mort d’Arthur with its links to the ancient chivalric
tales, myths and legends, all the way down to Disney’s Blue Fairy and of
course, the unforgettable Tinkerbelle.
There is a timeless
appeal in all fairy stories and the dealings between mortals and elementals,
the never ending battle between good and evil, the tricks and cleverness of
heroes out to find a pot of gold, the loss of self in love for an immortal, as
well as tales about those creatures who wish to bring us good.
My story Valentine
Wishes, is an adult fairy tale full of love and follows the tradition of fairy
benefactors, those who work for good and happiness in the world. I have to say
too, it is rather spicy. I’ve included a
little snippet from it below.
Excerpt from Valentine Wishes.
Poppy sat in thought. I don’t want to lose my mortals but I do
want to see them happy. I know I can help them find the mates they want. Better
slow down a bit here. She bit her lip. I’ve
not actually ever made a real big wish happen before, not ever. Somehow, I
don’t think a big wish will be so easy as a stay- clean wish to the windows, or
a stay-dust-free wish to the shelves. Maybe I ought to think about it a good
bit before the party and see if I can remember what they said about big wishes
at the court. But, hey, everyone has to have a first! She crept out into
the kitchen with tingles of anticipation making her wings itch. The room
smelled fresh and clean. Tonight she had no fear she’d slip on a grease spot as
she hovered up and landed on the window ledge. Before she made her way out of
the window, she sent a little tiny wish to the surface of the stove to keep it
spotless. I’ve done all I can tonight,
tomorrow will be the big test. She ducked under the window net and flew out
into the fresh air. While she hovered, enjoying the starlit garden, she tried
to remember everything she could about big wishes. The power has to swell through me and I must wait until it’s at its
strongest before I send the wish to where it’s needed. Can I do it? Not once,
but three times tomorrow night? Can I grant a real big wish for each of them
and still have the strength to breathe?
Valentine Wishes is due out on the 10th
of February.
7 comments:
What a lovely post, Daisy. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy reading poetry. Thanks for sharing Keats with us. Now, could you send Poppy round to my house to wish it clean?
Daisy thank you so much for joining me. I'm looking forward to reading all about Poppy's adventure.
I want a fairy with a stay clean wish! Lovely excerpt Daisy. Looking forward to Valentine Wishes. Such a beautiful cover.
I wonder when fairies first appeared in their current form? Who was the first person to describe them with wings? Interesting post, Daisy :-)
Wonderful post, Daisy. Poppy has certainly intrigued me. :-)
Thanks so much Gemma. I'll ask Poppy what she can do. :-).
I loved the post, Daisy. Shakespeare is so romantic... okay maybe not the tragedies.
I'm looking forward to your release!
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