“A list of the shared characteristics that faeries of European nations almost always possess:
2) Associated with megaliths
3) Beautiful, with hair flowing freely
4) Combing the hair with golden comb
7) Being taken away by mortals, sometimes by the theft of a skin or feathered garment
8) The circle dance-often with fairy ring, sometimes mushrooms. This feature is less discernible in the English-speaking material available from the Basque province where they are instead associated with "faerie holes" that are doorways in hedges. Though a closer analysis by a Basque speaker may yield different results.
9) Wearing white or green. If not in these colours they may be naked
10) Associated with forests, bodies of water, hollow hills or mountains
11) Shapeshifting, particularly into birds or possessing bird feet or wings. If not this then some oddity like a hollow back, or other abnormality will be found somewhere on their body
12) The liking for milk and clean houses
13) Usually nocturnal or associated with threshold times like twilight and dawn, in-between states
14) Closely associated with Fate and the ability to control the fortune of worthy humans
15) Honesty is valued, they may like True Thomas possess the "tongue that cannot lie"
16) Time is skewed and back to front once you enter Faerie
17) If you eat or speak there you must stay forever
20) Ambivalent moral character.
21) Sleeping near one of their trees, mounds or rivers is potentially dangerous
22) More females than males, female-appearing creatures often in charge
Here are some shared narrative features that come up frequently but are not quite so prevalent:
1) Importance of the faerie's true name
2) Small or changeable stature
3) Inverse emotional behaviour laughing/crying
4) A need of mortals for certain services involving birth, sex and death, especially in the Celtic and Basque regions
5) Things other than emotions held in reverse, such as gifts of gold are ashes, ashes can be gold.
6) Bells and processions of light such as carrying candles
7) Having an ointment that can make mortals see them but may blind those to whom they haven't given permission
9) Respond badly to being mimicked, mocked or watched without their knowledge
10) May own fairy cattle which are never dry of milk
11) May tell you not to look back when you leave their presence
12) May cause elf locks in horse's manes
13) May be associated with crossroads
14) A faerie garment may give you control over them”
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