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[[Category:Mythical creatures]]
'''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 [[pisky|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.
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==Mythic origins==
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[[Image:Brown Willy Bodmin Moor.jpg|thumb|250 px|right|The Brown Will Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England.]]
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'''Pixies''' (singular '''Pixie''' or '''Pixy''') are [[mythical creature]]s of [[England|English]] [[folklore]]. First described by Anna Eliza Bray in the early nineteenth century, pixies are considered to be particularly concentrated in the areas the [[downs and moors]] of [[Devon]] and [[Cornwall]]. Like [[sprite]]s and other different types of [[Faerie|English faeries]], pixies are often considered mischievous, but not overtly malevolent creatures of nature. Their most commonly depicted image is a wingless and pointy-eared fairy-esque creature dressed in green. Pixies continue to appear in stories and movies, often described as mischievous beings. Reported sightings have become less common, however, as the majority of people no longer believe in such creatures.
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While many of these depictions are considered purely fictional, creatures such as pixies, somewhat like [[human being]]s but with abilities that transcend the physical realm, find correlation in the [[angel]]s of many [[religion]]s. When a belief in the realm of [[spirit]]s is accepted, as was the case with [[Celt]]ic and pre-Celtic inhabitants of the areas where pixies were to be found, the existence of beings that have such "supernatural" abilities becomes possible. Thus, it may be that the origin of such creatures lies in fleeting experiences of creatures from the spiritual realm who take on the appearance of pixies for the purpose of relating to humans.
  
One [[mythology|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 [[Druidry|Druid]]s who resisted [[Christianity]] and were subsequently sentenced by [[God]] to grow smaller and smaller until they accepted Christianity.
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==Etymology==
  
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' apparently 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.
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The exact origin of the word '''pixie''' (also spelled '''pixy''') is obscure, but most likely stems from the [[Old English]] ''pisgy,'' which was the local name given to [[fairy]]-like creatures, although not specifically pixies.<ref>''The Oxford English Dictionary,'' (Oxford Press, 1971.) ISBN 019861117X </ref> This idea is supported by the fact that in regional [[dialect]], these mischievous little folk are sometimes referred to as "piskies"/"piskeys" or "the little people." Due to the pranks they were renowned for playing on humans, the terms "pixie-led" and "pixilated" developed, meaning a person who cannot see clearly due to confusion.
  
==Characteristics==
+
==Description==
  
Pixies are said to enjoy playing [[trick]]s on people, for example by stealing their belongings or throwing things at them. At night, they steal [[horse]]s 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.
+
Pixies are usually depicted as being wingless, having pointed ears, and often wearing a green outfit and pointed hat. Sometimes their eyes are described as being pointed upwards at the temple ends. They are said to enjoy playing [[trick]]s on people; for example, stealing their belongings or throwing things at them. At night, they steal [[horse]]s 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 move.
  
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.  
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Pixies can be repelled by objects made from [[iron]] or iron [[ore]], as contact with the [[metal]] is said to harm them. This is another trait they share in common with other [[fairy|fairies]] of the [[British Isles]].
  
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 felt 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]].
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==Origin==
  
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.
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The first to write extensively about pixies was [[Anna Eliza Bray]] in the early nineteenth century.<ref> Bray, Anna Eliza, ''On The Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy,'' (1936). </ref> Before then, pixies were part of the long-standing oral tradition found in Great Britain that also included the similar [[Faerie|faeries]]. Thus, it is difficult to determine how exactly the idea of the pixie was first conceptualized and when.
  
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.
+
One [[mythology|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 [[Druid]]s who resisted [[Christianity]] and were subsequently sentenced by [[God]] to grow smaller and smaller until they accepted Christianity.<ref>Lindemans, Micha F., [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/p/pixie.html Pixie.] Retrieved August 8, 2007.</ref>
  
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.
+
Belief in pixies has been attributed to [[Celt]]ic or pre-Celtic belief in spirits, in this case, little spirits both good and bad that can help or hinder human beings.<ref> Evans-Wentz, W. Y., ''The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries.'' (New Page Books, 2004.) ISBN 1564147088 </ref> Many have taken them to be creatures of the spiritual realm, never having had physical form yet able to appear, at least to some on occasion, and to interact with physical creatures and objects in this world. Reflecting their supernatural state, pixies are said to appear most often at night.
  
==Modern medicine==
+
It has been speculated by some [[medicine|medical]] professionals that the legends of pixies and [[elf|elves]] were inspired by a [[genetic disorder]] known as [[Williams syndrome]]. Some of these afflicted have pointed ears, sloe eyes, and elongated faces that make them look like "real" pixies; the syndrome is often called "Pixieism."<ref> Courtland Logistics, [http://www.argosy.ca/view.php?aid=39367 Williams Syndrome.] Retrieved August 8, 2007. </ref>
  
It has been speculated by some medical professionals that the legends of pixies and [[elf|elves]], was inspired by a [[genetic disorder]] known as [[Williams syndrome]]. Some of these afflicted have pointed ears and sloe eyes and elongated faces that make them look like "real" pixies and the syndrome is often called "Pixieism."
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==Folklore==
  
==Recent folklore==
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Most of the folklore tradition pertaining to pixies centers on their trickery of humans. Most of the time this trickery was harmless, such as rapping on windows and walls at night, blowing out candles, and even throwing small stones at walls. However, sometimes their mischief appeared serious; they were known to lure travelers walking alone astray, confusing them to the point that they could become lost for hours. Those who deliberately followed pixies often vanished 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 “Jan Coo.” He was never seen again.<ref> Sacred Texts.com, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/tdp/tdp08.htm Jan Coo] Retrieved August 8, 2007.</ref>
  
In some regions, belief in pixies has endured into contemporary times. During the construction of [[Hinkley Point]] [[nuclear power station]], anything that went wrong was blamed on "the Pixy," with the station being built near [[Wick's Barrow]], an [[Iron Age]] [[burial mound]] called "Pixies Mound" by the locals.  
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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.<ref> Sacred Texts.com, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/tfm/tfm117.htm Pixy-Vengence.] Retrieved August 8, 2007.</ref> When shown this respect and attention, pixies would sometimes help the family by tidying up the house during the night.
  
After construction was completed, the contractors presented the station manager with a [[garden gnome]], representing the Pixy. On the one occasion the ornament was removed from the station's trophy cabinet, the station was closed down by a freak flood.
+
In some regions, belief in pixies has endured into contemporary times. During the construction of [[Hinkley Point]] [[nuclear power station]], anything that went wrong was blamed on "the Pixy," since the station being built near [[Wick's Barrow]], an [[Iron Age]] [[burial mound]] called "Pixies Mound" by the locals.<ref> Quantoc Online, [http://www.quantockonline.co.uk/quantocks/villages/stogursey/stogursey.html Stogursey.] Retrieved August 8, 2007.</ref>
  
There were reports in 2001 of pixie sightings in the UK in the Woodham area of County Durham. All of these sightings were from residents of houses in a small street near a meadow called "Carwadine Close."
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==In Modern Popular Culture==
  
==In modern popular culture==
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Like other British spirits, pixies commonly appear in popular culture, particularly within the [[fantasy]] sub-culture. Such books as [[Holly Black]]'s ''[[Spiderwick]] Chronicles,'' [[J. K. Rowling]]'s ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series, ''[[Peter Pan]],'' and [[Eoin Colfer]]'s ''[[Artemis Fowl]]'' series feature pixies. Many role-playing and video games that incorporate European medieval mythology, such as [[dragon]]s and [[knight]]s, often include pixies and other British faeries into the same category.
{{Cleanup-section|June 2006}}
 
(And some of them should moved to [[Pixie|disambiguation page for Pixie]])
 
  
Pixies commonly appear in popular culture. [[Fantasy]] books and movies such as ''[[The Black Cauldron]]'' feature the creatures. In film, their first appearance was in the 1912 film ''[[As Others See Us]]''.
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==Notes==
 
 
;[[Holly Black]]'s ''[[Spiderwick]] Chronicles'': Pixies are small and mischievous creatures that can usually be found in one's backyard.
 
 
 
;''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'':[[Hogwarts subjects#Defence Against the Dark Arts|Defence Against the Dark Arts]] professor [[Gilderoy Lockhart]] brings a cage of [[Cornish Pixie]]s to class as part of a lesson.  The pixies are small, blue, anthropoid creatures which fly without the aid of wings and create havoc when released.
 
 
 
;''[[Peter Pan]]'':The loveable Peter Pan character Tinker Bell is a pixie.  She is fiesty and very beautiful, and she makes a tinkling, bell-like sound when she flies (hence, her name).  When people don't believe in her, her glow dims and she becomes weary and ill.  But when people say they believe, she brightens and gains energy.
 
 
 
;[[Eoin Colfer]]'s ''[[Artemis Fowl]]'' series: Pixies are one of a number of magical species that have been driven underground by humans and the pollution they have caused on earth. Pixies fly using mechanical wings. [[Opal Koboi]] is the megalomaniac, genius pixie of [[Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception]].
 
 
 
;[[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' novels:''[[The Wee Free Men]]'' and ''[[A Hat Full of Sky]]'' feature a race of [[fairy|fairies]] named "Pictsies," which are truly [[Picts|Pictish]] pixies.
 
 
 
;''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'':The Pixies are dull, wear grey suits, speak in monotone voices, wear pointy caps as opposed to the fairy crown-things and, unlike the fairies, treat magic like a business. Instead of wands, they carry cellphones which make the traditional Fairly Odd Parents 'Ping!' when a fairy uses magic, except the ping is pixelated. The female pixies are not seen. The Head Pixie (H.P. for short), Mr. Sanderson, and the other male pixies are voiced by [[Ben Stein]].
 
 
 
;The ''[[Monster Rancher]]'' video games and anime series:Features anthropoid pixies that resemble [[angels]] and [[fairies]].
 
 
 
;Engineer folklore:During the construction of [[Hinkley Point]] [[nuclear power station]], anything that went wrong was blamed on "the Pixy," the station being built near [[Wick's Barrow]], an [[Iron Age]] [[burial mound]] called "Pixies Mound" by the locals.
 
 
 
:After construction was completed, the contractors presented the station manager with a [[garden gnome]], representing the Pixy. On the one occasion the ornament was removed from the station's trophy cabinet, the station was closed down by a freak flood.
 
 
 
;Pixie Restaurant:The Pixie Restaurant opened in 1948 and was the first drive-in restaurant in Mt. Pleasant. At that time, the operation consisted of curb service with a complete menu. "Car Hops" would wait on customers in their cars and bring their food to them on trays which attached to the window. Today, the Pixie Restaurant has the 50's/60's neon look and a dining room with a 50's juke box, memorabilia and the same great food and service the Pixie has made famous for over 50 years.
 
 
 
There was reports in 2001 that there was pixie sightings in the UK in the Woodham area of County Durham. All of these sightings were from residents of houses in a small street near a meadow calld "carwadine close"
 
 
 
;The [[candy]] ''[[Pixy Stix]]'':Named after the species.
 
 
;The influential [[alternative rock]] band ''[[Pixies]]'':Directly named for the creatures.
 
 
 
;''[[American Dragon: Jake Long]]'':
 
 
 
;''[http://www.pdxhistory.com/html/pixieland.html The Pixie Kitchen]'': A restaurant and coastal attraction in Lincoln City, Oregon, from the 1930's through the 1980's, that was well-known to frequent visitors to the Oregon coast. Pixieland, a theme park, was built nearby in 1969, but went out of business after four years.
 
  
==Notes==
 
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
  
==External links==
+
* Bray, Anna Eliza. ''Legends, Superstitions And Sketches Of Devonshire V1: On The Borders Of The Tamar And The Tavy.'' Kessinger Publishing. (1836) 2007. ISBN 1430489731
*[http://www.connexions.co.uk/culture/html/folklore.htm Cornish Piskies, Faeries, Knockers and the Small People]
+
* Bray, Anna Eliza. [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/ppx/ppx00.htm Peep at the Pixies; or, Legends of the West.] Retrieved August 8, 2007.
*[http://www.cornwalls.co.uk/myths-legends/piskies.htm  Cornish Piskies]
+
* Eason, Cassandra. ''A Complete Guide to Faeries & Magical Beings: Explore the Mystical Realm of the Little People.'' Red Wheel/Weiser. 2002. ISBN 1578632676
*[http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk Dartmoor Legends]
+
* Evans-Wentz, W.Y. ''The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries.'' New Page Books. 2004. ISBN 1564147088
 +
* Keightley, Thomas. ''The World Guide to Gnomes, Fairies, Elves & Other Little People.'' Gramercy. 2000. ISBN 0517263130
 +
* Manning-Sanders, Ruth. ''Peter and the Piskies: Cornish Folk and Fairy Tales.'' Roy Publishers. 1958.
  
 +
==External Links==
 +
All links retrieved November 24, 2022.
  
 +
* Cornwall Guide. [http://www.cornwalls.co.uk/myths-legends/piskies.htm Cornish Piskies.]
 +
* Legendary Dartmoor. [http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk Legendary Dartmoor.]
  
 
{{Credit1|Pixie|90483874|}}
 
{{Credit1|Pixie|90483874|}}

Latest revision as of 06:21, 24 November 2022


The Brown Will Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England.

Pixies (singular Pixie or Pixy) are mythical creatures of English folklore. First described by Anna Eliza Bray in the early nineteenth century, pixies are considered to be particularly concentrated in the areas the downs and moors of Devon and Cornwall. Like sprites and other different types of English faeries, pixies are often considered mischievous, but not overtly malevolent creatures of nature. Their most commonly depicted image is a wingless and pointy-eared fairy-esque creature dressed in green. Pixies continue to appear in stories and movies, often described as mischievous beings. Reported sightings have become less common, however, as the majority of people no longer believe in such creatures.

While many of these depictions are considered purely fictional, creatures such as pixies, somewhat like human beings but with abilities that transcend the physical realm, find correlation in the angels of many religions. When a belief in the realm of spirits is accepted, as was the case with Celtic and pre-Celtic inhabitants of the areas where pixies were to be found, the existence of beings that have such "supernatural" abilities becomes possible. Thus, it may be that the origin of such creatures lies in fleeting experiences of creatures from the spiritual realm who take on the appearance of pixies for the purpose of relating to humans.

Etymology

The exact origin of the word pixie (also spelled pixy) is obscure, but most likely stems from the Old English pisgy, which was the local name given to fairy-like creatures, although not specifically pixies.[1] This idea is supported by the fact that in regional dialect, these mischievous little folk are sometimes referred to as "piskies"/"piskeys" or "the little people." Due to the pranks they were renowned for playing on humans, the terms "pixie-led" and "pixilated" developed, meaning a person who cannot see clearly due to confusion.

Description

Pixies are usually depicted as being wingless, having pointed ears, and often wearing a green outfit and pointed hat. Sometimes their eyes are described as being pointed upwards at the temple ends. They are said to enjoy playing tricks on people; for example, 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 move.

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

Origin

The first to write extensively about pixies was Anna Eliza Bray in the early nineteenth century.[2] Before then, pixies were part of the long-standing oral tradition found in Great Britain that also included the similar faeries. Thus, it is difficult to determine how exactly the idea of the pixie was first conceptualized and when.

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.[3]

Belief in pixies has been attributed to Celtic or pre-Celtic belief in spirits, in this case, little spirits both good and bad that can help or hinder human beings.[4] Many have taken them to be creatures of the spiritual realm, never having had physical form yet able to appear, at least to some on occasion, and to interact with physical creatures and objects in this world. Reflecting their supernatural state, pixies are said to appear most often at night.

It has been speculated by some medical professionals that the legends of pixies and elves were inspired by a genetic disorder known as Williams syndrome. Some of these afflicted have pointed ears, sloe eyes, and elongated faces that make them look like "real" pixies; the syndrome is often called "Pixieism."[5]

Folklore

Most of the folklore tradition pertaining to pixies centers on their trickery of humans. Most of the time this trickery was harmless, such as rapping on windows and walls at night, blowing out candles, and even throwing small stones at walls. However, sometimes their mischief appeared serious; they were known to lure travelers walking alone astray, confusing them to the point that they could become lost for hours. Those who deliberately followed pixies often vanished 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 “Jan Coo.” He was never seen again.[6]

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.[7] When shown this respect and attention, pixies would sometimes help the family by tidying up the house during the night.

In some regions, belief in pixies has endured into contemporary times. During the construction of Hinkley Point nuclear power station, anything that went wrong was blamed on "the Pixy," since the station being built near Wick's Barrow, an Iron Age burial mound called "Pixies Mound" by the locals.[8]

In Modern Popular Culture

Like other British spirits, pixies commonly appear in popular culture, particularly within the fantasy sub-culture. Such books as Holly Black's Spiderwick Chronicles, J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, Peter Pan, and Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series feature pixies. Many role-playing and video games that incorporate European medieval mythology, such as dragons and knights, often include pixies and other British faeries into the same category.

Notes

  1. The Oxford English Dictionary, (Oxford Press, 1971.) ISBN 019861117X
  2. Bray, Anna Eliza, On The Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy, (1936).
  3. Lindemans, Micha F., Pixie. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
  4. Evans-Wentz, W. Y., The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries. (New Page Books, 2004.) ISBN 1564147088
  5. Courtland Logistics, Williams Syndrome. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
  6. Sacred Texts.com, Jan Coo Retrieved August 8, 2007.
  7. Sacred Texts.com, Pixy-Vengence. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
  8. Quantoc Online, Stogursey. Retrieved August 8, 2007.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Bray, Anna Eliza. Legends, Superstitions And Sketches Of Devonshire V1: On The Borders Of The Tamar And The Tavy. Kessinger Publishing. (1836) 2007. ISBN 1430489731
  • Bray, Anna Eliza. Peep at the Pixies; or, Legends of the West. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
  • Eason, Cassandra. A Complete Guide to Faeries & Magical Beings: Explore the Mystical Realm of the Little People. Red Wheel/Weiser. 2002. ISBN 1578632676
  • Evans-Wentz, W.Y. The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries. New Page Books. 2004. ISBN 1564147088
  • Keightley, Thomas. The World Guide to Gnomes, Fairies, Elves & Other Little People. Gramercy. 2000. ISBN 0517263130
  • Manning-Sanders, Ruth. Peter and the Piskies: Cornish Folk and Fairy Tales. Roy Publishers. 1958.

External Links

All links retrieved November 24, 2022.

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