Today's journey takes us to Ireland to search out a creature that starts with the letter F.
Name: Fear dearg, also known as far darrig (means "Red Man")
Type: Solitary fairy (a classification of fairies who live alone and tend to be malicious and wicked)
Origin: Irish mythology
Description: The fear dearg lives up to its name in that he wears a red cap and coat. The Fairy and Folk Tales of Irish Peasantry book points out that they tend to be "most sluttish, slouching, jeering, mischievous phantoms." And it goes on to say that the fear dearg "busies himself with practical joking, especially with gruesome joking."
Interesting Fact: This fairy is used in Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series in Divine Misdemeanors as well as in the Callahan's Crosstime Saloon book series's "The Callahan Touch" which has a character who is a mix of fear dearg and pooka.
Have you heard of the fear dearg/far darrig before? If so where?
Bears & Blades, Blades & Bears
4 weeks ago
Hey Sarah. Although I have not seen or really head of these Fear deargs before, I just have to ask... does Bernard have anything to do with them? *grin*
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work :)
LOL! Thanks! I hadn't quite heard of these before, so no, I think Bernard is just a grouchy gnome.
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