They can enchant children and beautiful maidens into joining one of their dances, or they can muddle travelers and cause them to wander for miles in the wrong direction. The little people have a special talent for casting charms that affect human behavior. They often use their powers to bring a smile to the face of a human friend as one popular poem describes, “All human ills they can subdue / Or with a wand or amulet / Can win a maiden’s heart for you / And many a blessing know to stew.” In these stories, pixies are described as similar in build to people, just very, very small.Pixies may be small, but they are rich in magical power. However, the original understanding of pixies does come from English and Celtic folklore. There is an argument to be made that pixies have wings because that is how we portray them and understand them today, and as fictional creatures, this determines what they are. It is hard to blame people who think that pixies have always had wings, or need them to be pixies. Whether this is good or not is a completely separate argument. It just means they have strayed off the exact definition of what a pixie is in the original folklore. This does not make the newer depictions of pixies incorrect, bad, or wrong. That is why it is technically correct to say that pixies do not have wings. The “correct” way would be to go with the original folklore, as this is when the definition of what a pixie is was set. If you go with the traditional portrayal of the myth, you would think that pixies do not have wings. If you go with the modern representations you see, it is easy to understand why one would default to believing pixies have wings. The answer is pixies! However, the varied representation of this creature can lend to making this a confusing and impossible debate. It is interesting and perhaps important to note that within the confines of an argument about whether or not a mythical, fictional creature has wings, it is important to understand what creature we are arguing about. In fact, in some legends, pixies and fairies do not get along, and have even done battle with each other!įairies are closer to what you are probably familiar with, and they do have wings! This confusion often leads to people conflating the two myths, causing them to think that pixies have wings as well, or not even considering that pixies and fairies are different. Pixies are often confused with fairies but are distinct creatures. This has to led to a lot of misunderstanding as to what pixies originally were compared to what they’ve become as their image has further meshed with fairies. Depictions of pixies are not only often inaccurate, but extremely inconsistent and varied as well.Ī ton of different movies, books, television shows, games, and more have depicted pixies in all sorts of different ways. This example isn’t on its own in popular media either. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, one of the professors brings a cage full of Cornish Pixies into the classroom to unleash upon the students.Īlthough they are mischievous and quick, just like in the folk tales of old, they are a deep blue and have very quick, small, almost hummingbird-like wings attached to their backs. Since these are mainly what people think of when they hear the word “pixie,” it makes sense that they would associate pixies with wings.Īn example of an extremely popular “incorrect” depiction of pixies comes from Harry Potter. The common misconception that pixies have wings comes mostly from modern fantasy media, fairy tales, movies, and other inaccurate depictions of pixies. This kind of pixie is a more modern rendition of the myth and is not in line with the original pixies found in English folklore. These pixies are often green or blue in skin hue and have wings similar to that of a butterfly. There are indeed some depictions of pixies that do have wings. They roam near the banks of rivers and streams, dancing and wrestling each other and committing their mischief on unwitting humans! They often wear green and brown and have reddish or brownish hair, pointed ears, and stand between six and twelve inches. Pixies are small, mischievous mythical creatures from English Folklore that make their homes in barrow downs, burials, and other ancient sites. What Are Pixies & What Do They Look Like? ![]() ![]() ![]() What Are Pixies & What Do They Look Like?.
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