Whats th edifference between a fairy and a pixie?

Answer 1

FAIRY

A fairy, or faerie, is a spirit or supernatural being that is found in the legends, folklore, and mythology of many different cultures. They are generally human like in their appearance and have supernatural abilities such as the ability to fly, cast spells and to influence or foresee the future. Although in modern culture they are often depicted as young, sometimes winged, females of small stature, they originally were of a much different image: tall, angelic beings and short, wizened trolls being some of the commonly mentioned fay. The small, gauzy-winged fairies that are commonly depicted today did not appear until the 1800s.

Etymology

The words fae and faerie came to English from Old French which originated in the Latin word "Fata" which referred to the three mythological personifications of destiny, the Greek Moirae (Roman Parcae, "sparing ones", or Fatae) who were supposed to appear three nights after a child's birth to determine the course of its life. They were usually described as cold, remorseless old crones or hags (in contrast to the modern physical depiction). The latin word gave modern Italian's fata, Catalan and Portuguese fada and Spanish hada, all of which mean fairy. The Old French fée, had the meaning "enchanter." Thus féerie meant a "state of fée" or "enchantment." Fairies are often depicted enchanting humans, casting illusions to alter their emotions and perceptions so as to make themselves at times alluring, frightening, or invisible. Modern English inherited the two terms "fae" and "fairy," along with all the associations attached to them.

A similar word, "fey," has historically meant "doomed to die," mostly in Scotland, which tied in the with the original meaning of fate. It has now gained the meaning "touched by otherworldly or magical quality; clairvoyant, supernatural." In modern English, the word seems to be conjoining into "fae" as variant spelling. If "fey" derives from "fata," then the word history of the two words is the same.

Strictly, there should be a distinction between the usage of the two words "fae" and "faerie." "Fae" is a noun that refers to the specific group of otherworldly beings with mystical abilities (either the elves (or equivalent) in mythology or their insect-winged, floral descendants in English folklore), while "faerie" is an adjective meaning "of, like, or associated with fays, their otherworldly home, their activities, and their produced goods and effects." Thus, a leprechaun and a ring of mushrooms are both faerie things (a fairy leprechaun and a fairy ring.), although in modern usage fairy has come to be used as a noun.


PIXIES

Pixies are mythical creatures of English folklore, considered to be particularly concentrated in the areas around Devon and Cornwall, suggesting some Celtic origin for the belief and name. In regional dialect, these mischievous little folk are sometimes referred to as piskies/piskeys or the little people. They are usually depicted as wingless, with pointed ears, and often wearing a green outfit and pointed hat. Sometimes their eyes are described as being pointed upwards at the temple ends.

Mythic origins

One myth states that pixies were a race of people who were not good enough for Heaven or bad enough for Hell and were therefore forced to remain on Earth forever. Another legend claims that they were Druids who resisted Christianity and were subsequently sentenced by God to grow smaller and smaller until they accepted Christianity.

More recently a theory has developed that they are named after the nation of Picts that inhabited Scotland during the post-Roman period, whom some believe are descended from an indigenous group of people predating the arrival of the Celts in Britain during the Iron Age, the word 'pixie' apparantley being formed from a mixture of the words 'Pict' and Sídhe (see also Banshee). However, this is not proven, as many scholars believe the Picts to have been largely a Celtic people, as evidenced by the fact that they were called Priteni (Irish Cruithni) by the Welsh, an archaic Celtic name for "Briton". Additionally, the name Pict is derived from Latin picti, "painted people", making the Pictish origin of pixies unlikely as the word would not have been used by the Celts to describe their neighbours.

Characteristics

Pixies are said to enjoy playing tricks on people, for example by stealing their belongings or throwing things at them. At night, they steal horses and bring them back before dawn, leaving only tangled manes as evidence of the prank. Some pixies are said to exude pixie dust, which is left in their footprints or floating behind them as they fly.

Just a small note: Fairy folk are also known to steal horses and return them with tangled manes, as in the book, "An Earthly Knight" written by Janet McNaughton. Though fairies and pixies have a lot in common, they are not, as commonly mistaken, the same thing.

On Dartmoor, in Devon, travellers who became lost on the moor were sometimes said to have been "pixie led," in other words, deliberately led astray by the little people. It is said that if travellers feel the onset of the pixie spell, they can turn their coats inside out to confuse them and escape, a technique normally used for all fairies.

Pixies can also be repelled by objects made from iron or iron ore as contact with the metal is said to harm them, another trait they share in common with other fairies of the British Isles.

Those who deliberately follow pixies often vanish without a trace. For example, a farmhand at Rowbrook, situated on the steep, wooded flanks of the River Dart valley, is said to have been lured down towards the river by mysterious voices, calling his name: ‘Jan Coo.’ He was never seen again.

Even within living memory, some rural families left small gifts, such as bowls of food or saucers of milk, for the pixies in order to placate them. When shown this respect and attention, pixies would sometimes even help the family by tidying up the household during the night.

Answer 2

Fairies wear boots according to the band Black Sabbath, but I think they are more of a fictional character(The fairies that is, Black Sabbath was a real band.). Pixie folk walk amongst us to this day. They have slightly upturned noses, their ears come to a point; and they have almond shaped eyes. I feel it is best to treat them with respect if your path should cross them because they seem to be deliberate in where they appear and could cause mischief if offended. If you believe in such things it is wise to wear some silver. I hope this helps, and I thank you for your question.

Answer 3

Fairy is a word usually descrbing a whole group of creatures, from giants to sprites to whatever, that either did exist, or may exist only in stories and dreams. Pixies, or as the word used to be spelled, "Pictsies", were a small people (3 to 4 feet tall!) from ancient times who had black or brown hair, (sometimes red hair too), lived in clan communities in underground dwellings called souterrains, or in little, fort-like lake or marsh dwellings built on man-made islets. They frequently painted themselves all over with a blue dye called Wode, as well as permanent tattoos, were matriarchal, and never used iron tools, probably because they were a Stone age or Bronze age people. They spoke a very old form of a language called Goidellic, and also Gaelic, and lived mostly in the British Isles, mostly in southern Scotland, Cornwall, W'ales and the Cotswolds. They were known all over as very fierce warriors, champion cattle thieves, and were renowned especially for the skills of their warrior-poets, called Gonnigals. Some people credit them with the invention of whiskey.

Answer 4

In so far as I have ready, the word and the particular phenomenon of a 'pixie' is associated with Scotland. The Fairies seem to be more of a genus.

Answer 5

Fairy refers to quite a number of different creatures. A pixie is one specific type of fairy.

Answer 6

A pixie is a fairylike or elfin creature, especially one that is mischievous; a playful sprite.

A fairy is a tiny imaginary being in human form, depicted as clever, mischievous, and possessing magical powers.

Answer 7

It is just like comparing a dog and a cat. Pixies are said to be mischieveous and sometimes mean, while faeries are shy and helpful.But there are many other differences too.