FAIRIES
Pixie dust, glittering wands, multi-colored wings: fairies are very special creatures. And there are so many of them that even Grandma didn’t manage to meet them all!
Many live in the forest in tiny bark houses hidden by moss, leaves, and flowers. Others dwell along rivers, and yet others live in hollowed-out trees. In short, these fluttering little creatures are everywhere. So, open your eyes wide when you go for a walk in the woods and remember to take a good magnifying glass with you. We know it’s hard to believe, but they’re smaller than a tiny flower!
Despite their size (and pretty, delicate appearance), fairies are known for their temper. They’re tiny, but they command respect!
Never say “thank you” to a fairy. It may sound strange, but these words really get under their skin. Maybe they don’t sound “pretty” enough to them.
Even though they have their own little houses, in the fall, these creatures love to sleep on mushrooms. Maybe because they’re so soft and very, very comfortable!
Some fairies have a magic wand, while others perform their magic by sprinkling pixie dust here and there. They’re practically covered in it — that’s why they’re so sparkly!
Every time someone says they don’t believe in fairies, one of them feels bad. That’s right, because fairies really exist — and how! And they work hard to keep nature beautiful and lush.
LEPRECHAUNS
What a name! Who might these woodland creatures be? Don’t worry, recognizing them is easy! Leprechauns are those little men dressed in green who are so popular in Ireland. They have pointed ears and bright orange beards and hair.
Lots of legends revolve around them. The most famous one concerns the pot of gold that leprechauns love to hide at the end of the rainbow (and that everyone would like to find!). These creatures are always on the move and they’re also a little mischievous (actually, a lot!). They’re even very funny. No one knows what their houses look like, but they’re sure to be full of pots and pans and fantastic treasures.
Leprechauns also have one very important job: they are the skilled shoemakers to the fairies. They love to fix shoes, boots, and sandals of all kinds!
It’s incredible, but true: some leprechauns hate wearing green! They wear red instead. It certainly doesn’t bring out their beard and hair!
They keep their abundant treasure in stout black pots. Mostly gold coins polished to perfection.
OGRES
Ogres have pink or dark green skin. And their arms are super long. That’s why they’re so clumsy and awkward! Who’s afraid of ogres? Maybe everyone. But perhaps we should get to know them better instead of being so quick to judge! After all, these mountain-sized creatures may make the earth shake when they walk, but they are actually pretty nice deep down.
Ogres usually live in the woods, in big, smelly hidden caves. Only a few of them build their own houses in places that are very hard to find (they’re very secretive and don’t like crowds!).
They love to take mud baths and are always hungry. Their favorite dish is a strange kind of soup that no one knows the recipe to (maybe it’s better that way!).
Come on, now that you know more about these creatures, you’re at least a little less scared, right? Great! Now you can read Grandma’s notes about them!
They don’t like to wash with water. Along with their footsteps, you know they’re coming by their smell: a blend of moss and really rotten mushrooms.
Ogres’ teeth aren’t small and pretty at all: they’re more like long, sharp fangs. A lot of times they have cavities, too (they certainly don’t ever brush their teeth!).
TROLLS
After all that talk of ogres, we can’t help but introduce you to the trolls. They can be a bit pesky to deal with, too, come to think of it. Despite being so noisy (have you ever heard them digesting their food?!), these strange creatures actually love the peace and quiet of nature. So, they’re careful to take care of every little flower, mushroom, and root they come across. And they do it very carefully and precisely (incredible, but true: their big, lumpy hands are super delicate!). Unfortunately, however, humans disturb their peace and quiet, which is why they can’t stand us! While they can be a bit mean and rough around the edges, trolls appreciate those who treat them with respect and kindness. So, keep that in mind if you ever meet one. Maybe you can even become friends!
Trolls are often very funnylooking. They have long tusk-like teeth in the strangest shapes; large, strong hands and arms; tiny (but smelly) feet; and small pointed ears.
Some trolls prefer to grow their hair long and combine it with an even longer beard. No, they never brush them. Don’t be silly. But they do decorate them with moss, blades of grass, and even wild mushrooms.
Sometimes these creatures have really unique horns, similar to twisted branches. Unfortunately, they aren’t very practical, since they get caught in the trees all the time.
THE LEGEND OF LAKE CAREZZA
Italy
What follows is a story of love that could never be. Water nymphs often have many suitors, but they prefer to be alone and live surrounded by the beauty of nature, just like the protagonist you’re about to meet.
Many years ago, on Lake Carezza, there lived a nymph who, besides being beautiful, had such a lovely voice that her songs enchanted every traveler who hiked the Costalunga Pass (in the mountains of northern Italy). One day, the sorcerer of the town of Masarè passed by and
heard the nymph’s sweet voice. He fell in love with her at first sight (or rather, at first listen!).
From that day on, he did everything he could to win her heart: he brought her expensive gifts, he serenaded her, he sent her a love letter, and so on.
Yet she never changed her mind.
So, the sorcerer decided to ask for help from the witch of Lagwerda, who gave him some rather unusual advice. She told him to dress up as a jewelry merchant, create a very long rainbow, and then go to the lake. He was to speak to the nymph, and promising to give her all his gemstones, he was to carry her away with him.
THE LEGEND OF BABA YAGA AND VASILISA THE BEAUTIFUL
Russia
Many stories have been told about Baba Yaga, so we’ve chosen the one we like best. In it, the old witch seems evil, but in the end she decides to help someone. Who? How? You’re about to find out!
Vasilisa lived with her father, stepmother, and two stepsisters, who treated her like a servant. One day, the fire in their hearth went out, so they sent Vasilisa to fetch some from the evil Baba Yaga. The girl left, taking with her a little doll given to her by her mother, who had passed away some time ago.
After walking for a long time, she reached a cottage built atop two huge chicken feet (what can we say, witches have weird taste). It was Baba Yaga’s home! The witch told the girl that she
would only give her fire if she did some very tiring jobs for her. Vasilisa agreed. Luckily she finished them in no time at all thanks to her precious doll, which had mysterious magical powers.
But Baba Yaga was pleasantly surprised, so she gave Vasilisa a bit of fire and sent her on her way. Once she got home, the girl discovered that her stepmother and stepsisters were nowhere to be found. They had left suddenly! Who knows if Baba Yaga had secretly helped her out. It’s still a mystery today! Anyway, from then on, no one mistreated her and she lived peacefully with her father and her beloved little doll.
THE LEGEND OF PAN
Greece
Have you ever seen panpipes? If the answer is yes, great! We’ll explain how they came to be by telling you a beautiful story. If the answer is no, don’t worry. You’ll find out what they look like in this story.
One day, while walking through the woods, a satyr named Pan noticed the beautiful Syrinx, a water nymph who was also the daughter of the river god Ladon. Pan immediately fell in love with her and began to walk towards her. However, as soon as she saw his long horns and unkempt beard, Syrinx became frightened and ran to her father Ladon for protection.
Poor thing! She was terrified and didn’t want to run the risk of seeing that scary satyr ever again! She asked her father to turn her into a plant so that Pan wouldn’t recognize her. Ladon was puzzled, but agreed and turned her into a reed. Soon Pan learned what had happened and spent days searching for Syrinx among the rushes that grew along the banks of the river.
THE LEGEND OF JUNE 24 TH
Romania
This is not a real story, but we really like it because it explains the origins of the Sânziene festival, a very important festival that takes place in Romania every year.
Sânziene bring good luck. And they make flowers special because of their magical powers. They also protect fields of crops and woods from storms and bad weather (except when they’re angry, brrr!).
Each year, on the night of June 24 th , the Sânziene gather to dance in a circle and sing. People join in on the dancing, too, to thank the fairies for what they do for nature. Local farmers even light lots of bonfires in their honor. In some
villages, people set up lit torches all around their houses.
But on this date, something even more magical happens: the sun stands still in the sky, watching local boys and girls (the latter dressed as Sânziene, with white dresses and fine crowns of flowers) dance joyfully. That’s why, on this wonderful holiday, the day is longer than the night.
ELVES
And here we are. We’ve come to the last (but certainly not least!) woodland creatures in our journal. Some people confuse elves with gnomes and leprechauns, but really they’re quite different. And watch out! They can get quite upset when people can’t tell them apart. These tiny, graceful creatures have many talents: they can turn invisible, levitate in mid-air, and leap very far. They are very small and very agile, and they get excited and angry quite easily. The ancient name for elves is “alfr,” which in Norse mythology indicates the elements: earth, wind, air, and fire. Maybe that’s why they’re stubborn and a tad bit temperamental. What do you think?
Elves wear scarlet or green outfits and a cute hat made from the corolla of a flower, decorated with tiny jingling bells.
In addition to the woodland elves, who inhabit the world’s oldest forests, there are elves of darkness and elves of light.
These creatures speak a very difficult language called Elvish. Learning it is practically impossible: there are a thousand different versions!