Lost in the Fairies
When most people think about "fairies," they picture beautiful, magical, human-like creatures with butterfly wings who live in mushrooms, collect children’s teeth, and sprinkle fairy dust on orphans and teach them how to fly. But that's the safe, romantic, child-friendly version of a creature that has been feared for thousands of years, to the point where simply saying the word "fairy" can be taboo. This episode is about the dangers of going alone into the wilderness—the realm of the fairies—and what you can do, according to folklore, to protect yourself if you're taken by "the good folk."
Sources
Flynn-Lee, Crissy and Barry Flynn. “The Fairies of Newfoundland.” The Some Weird Podcast, 2020.
Jarvis, Dale. Wonderful Strange: Ghosts, Fairies, and Fabulous Beasties. Flanker Press, St. John’s, NL: 2005.
Kirk, Robert. The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns & Fairies. London: 1893.
Narvåez, Peter. “Newfoundland Berry Pickers ‘In the Fairies.’ Lore & Language. Sheffield Academic Press, Exeter: 1987.
Rieti, Barbara. Newfoundland Fairy Traditions: A Study in Narrative and Belief. Centre for Newfoundland Studies, St. John’s, NL: 1990.
Rieti, Barbara. Strange Terrain. Institute of Social and Economic Research, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL: 1991.
Widdowson, John. If You Don’t Be Good: Verbal Social Control in Newfoundland. Institute of Social and Economic Research, St. John’s, NL: 1977.
Wilson, Lisa, ed. Folk Belief & Legends of Bay Roberts & Area. Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s, NL: 2014.
“Central District Court.” Evening Telegram, St. John’s, Newfoundland: 1 Oct 1880, p 1.
