Fairies and Fairy Tales

I did some old fashioned research with my World Book Encyclopedia (1975 Edition), and I found people have a difficult time distinguishing between fantasy and reality. What is reality? Who is the standard bearer of what is normal? These are million dollar questions I have for the rationalists out there. Personally and professionally, I learned that even science and engineering are not objective, black and white modes of thought. I worked as a Patent Examiner with the US Patent and Trademark Office and they often engaged in Socratic sophistry where even science and engineering are subject to lawyer-like mentality.

Here is what I found. The alien or ET idea originates from fairies and fairy tales. This is not to say that fairies and fairy tales have no basis in reality. Remember the milliion dollar question: What is reality?

Yet, I found some interesting information on fairies and fairy tales. The World Book Encyclopedia defines fairies as imaginary little people that interfere with human affairs. They often possessed magical powers. "Belief in fairies was especially strong during the Middle Ages. People believed that fairies were sometimes helpful, sometimes mischievous." (World Book Encyclopedia, 1975, vol. F, p. 12)

Fairies lived in an society where magic happens all the time called Fairyland or Never-Never Land. This is analagous to the modern belief that ET aliens come from other planets in portions of outer space. Yet, while people think that outer space is real, Fairyland is believed to be imaginary. What does this have to do with aliens, ET, or visitors? The World Book Encyclopedia also cites a study from 1966 to 1968 from the US Air Force and scientists from the University of Colorado to investigate UFO reports (probably Project Bluebook). "The scientists could not explain all the UFO reports, but they found NO evidence that UFO's came from other planets." (Emphasis mine).

Another million dollar question is from where does the belief that aliens are ET from other planets? With space travel and interest in space becoming more common these days, the hypothesis that aliens come from outer space forms a convenient explanation for the origin of aliens as extraterrestrials. Indeed, extrasolar planets have been discovered through indirect, non-optical means in the 1990s. I also recall that some astronomers have claimed to have seen extrasolar planets probably through enormous optical telescopes. These purported extrasolar planets provide a convenient place to put aliens, possibly demons in disguise or by another name.

As for the belief in fairies, here are some classifications of fairies:

Noble fairies: These formed the royal court of Fairyland, a type of kingdom. They were generally good fairies that acted much like people but with magical powers.

Elves: These fairies originated from Scandinavian myths.

Goblins: These originated from folk tales in France.

Kobolds: These fairies originated from Geman folk stories.

Leprechauns: Irish fairies that often have a pot of gold.

Nixes: Water fairies of German folklore.

Poltergeists: Noisy ghosts that are responsible for haunted houses. They originate from Germany.

Trolls: These fairies are Scandanavians in origin.

In general, these little people did good deeds, but also loved to play tricks on people. They were responsible for accidents, usually minor. Fairy stories usually evolved from story teller to story teller and were passed on by word of mouth originally. An interesting fairy fact are the fairy rings, dark green impressions on grass found in meadows. Supposedly the noble fairies loved to dance in the moonlight while holding hands in rings. These could be the origin of the modern Crop Circle, another supposedly extraterrestrial phenomenon.