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The term "Faerie", or "fey", is used to collectively refer to any magical creature living within the Invisible World. Faerie can also be another name for the Invisible World itself.

About[]

Faeries usually remain invisible or disguised to human eyes, who are generally not aware of their presence. However, a small percentage of humans have the ability to see faeries, commonly called the 'Sight', acquired naturally (for example, by being the seventh son of a seventh son or having red hair) or artificially (by looking through a holed stone or possessing a four-leafed clover). In the series, the Grace children receive the Sight when the hobgoblin Hogsqueal spits in their eyes, and the Vargas kids receive it when they are held under the water that a nixie had been soaking in.

They are portrayed as living many years, so many of the faeries encountered by the main characters also met Arthur Spiderwick and other long-dead humans in the past, without having aged.

The faeries are key players within the world of the Spiderwick Chronicles, being the main subject of Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, a written compendium of their biologies, behaviors, and even weaknesses.

Description[]

The term "faerie" is applied liberally to any inhabitant of the Invisible world, and thus encompasses a wide variety of magical species; all with different appearances and traits. Some (such as Sprites, Elves, or Pixies) are closer to the traditional human notions of a faerie, other more monstrous species (such as Sea serpents or Dragons) are also considered faeries.

Faeries are portrayed as generally living many years. Many of the faeries encountered by the main characters of the Spiderwick Chronicles have also met Arthur Spiderwick himself and other long-dead humans in the past, without having aged.

Invisibility[]

Faeries, as a rule, do not wish to be seen. Though faeries have differing magical abilities, some even unique to their species, all possess the ability to employ glamour, a kind of magic, to conceal themselves from human sight. This can manifest in the form of natural camouflage (Goblins can appear like large toads with dried leaves for ears, Trolls might seem to be mossy boulders, Sprites might look like common insects), or sometimes a faerie can render itself invisible completely.

Weaknesses and other traits[]

No faerie (except dwarves) can handle iron or materials made from iron, such as steel. If a faerie touches iron, the exposed spot will be burned and damaged. Many faeries are violently "allergic" to human household chemicals, and also salt. On the other hand, they like milk (best if it is lukewarm). Those faeries who are intelligent enough to wear clothes often wear green clothing. The color green can draw faeries closer, however, they can be displeased to find a human wearing their color. Red has the opposite effect and causes faeries to shy away just like smoke does to bees, according to the Field Guide. Another protective method against malevolent faeries is a bunch of twigs — one from an oak, one from an ash and one from some kind of thorn three — bound together with red thread.

Trivia[]

  • Even though the term "Fairy" is often identified with small, winged humanoid beings of beauty, the Old British and Irish word "Faerie" encapsulates many different types of magical beings, both small and big, good and bad, and beautiful and ugly.

Faerie Characters[]

Gallery[]


References[]

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