Faerie Stereotypes
Do all leprechauns have hidden pots of gold? Let's talk about Faerie Stereotypes.
By Barnaby
Humans have some strange ideas about fae folk. We don't mingle with humans much, so maybe that's why these misconceptions spread. Some of them are based on stereotypes. Meet one rich leprechaun and suddenly we all have pots of gold? That's just silly.
Still, I don't blame humans. We've never set the record straight. So, allow me. Here are some faerie stereotypes that aren't entirely true.
Stereotype #1 Leprechauns all have pots of gold.
Yes, there are many wealthy leprechauns. A lot of us have good minds for business, but we don't keep pots of gold at the end of rainbows. Why would we keep it there so we can never spend it? It makes no sense!
Of course, that didn't keep some humans from spreading stories about kidnapping leprechauns and asking for treasure, good luck, or wishes. That's right, wishes. Now we're genies, too? Fortunately, my fellow leprechauns are pretty smart and have no trouble outwitting a greedy kidnapper.
Bottom line, don't try kidnapping a leprechaun in Moss Hill. It won't get you a pot of gold. It will get you in trouble with the sidhe guard - and good luck if that happens to you!
Stereotype #2: Faerie Godmothers appear out of nowhere.
Bean tighes are the "fairy godmothers" of the fae world. No, they don't just appear out of nowhere with a dress and glass slippers for the next royal ball. They don't grant wishes, either. What is it with humans wanting faeries to grant wishes? What is true is that bean tighes can and do use their magic to look after humans they consider friends. Once a bean tighe takes you under their wing, they'll keep you safe and warm and happy as any human blessed by faeries. But unlike faerie godmothers, they won't make all your wishes come true.
Stereotype #3: Some types of faeries are all male or all female.
This one might be less a stereotype and more a flat out lie. For some reason, humans have the silly notion that some faerie folk are only male or female. This is because they might only see the men. Brownies are a great example of this, since some of the male brownies have ventured away from Moss Hill and other faerie islands to explore the big wide world. But also, it could be because sometimes female faeries aren't called the same things as males. Bean tighes are female leprechauns, for example. You didn't think we were all male, did you?
Stereotype #4: Elves are not little people who work for Santa Claus.
The elves in Moss Hill are taller than humans. In fact, only the sidhe are as tall if not taller then them. The elves don't work for Santa, though most people think Santa is an elf himself. Santa is a bit secretive, living away from everyone in the North Pole. I don't know who he has working for him. Most faeries think he's not at the North Pole at all, but on an island to the north of us called the Island of the Deep Rhys. That would mean the Rhys Dwfen are his helpers and not elves at all. That makes sense since the Rhys Dwfen live on an invisible island and can change sizes from tall to short. Personally, I think Santa has a few leprechauns working for him because who else has the skills to make all those wonderful toys?
I'm sure other Mossies will have more stereotypes to correct about the fae folk, but the main misconception of us is that we don't exist. I and my fellow faeries do, indisputably, exist on the island of Moss Hill. Just make sure you don't tell anyone. We wouldn't want a bunch of visitors coming to the island to catch faeries.
Can you imagine that?