Elves

by Morgana
(n.s)

I was wondering if elves are real in the fairy world? And if they are, what do they look like?

Ophelia Fey says - Hello Morgana. I am going to be making a special page about elves, as several people have asked about this. The word Elves is a human word, of course. And it means many different things to different cultures. In the Nordic countries such as Norway, it would mean something quite different than in say, England. And then there is the matter of Santa's elves, and so forth.

It is difficult to answer this because it depends on what your own background is and your ideas about it. There are a variety of beings in the nature world. I think what is most closely related to the idea of elves in your stories and folklore, are types of beings of the earth element that dwell very frequently near, and take care of, forests and waterfalls and springs and such. They are not necessarily short either. Some are quite tall and elegant to behold.

They may be more difficult for mortal eyes to see, but I am not sure about that really, because these beings that may be what you would call elves, would live removed from where a lot of people would go. And so they would not be seen. They would be found mostly where there are forests -- as I believe what you are referring to would probably be a nature spirit of the forest.

It is sometimes difficult to answer people's questions, because most of what you have as a guideline are your tales and stories. Which I am sure you know are quite different all over the world. And again, who knows what it is that your ancestors saw so many hundreds or thousands of years ago.

Ophelia Fey