Hello One and All!
Gifts and fairy godmothers are inexorably linked with each other. A physical exchange, in the form of a gift, is typically present in tales regarding these fairies. Therefore, in this period of intense searching for presents, it is only fitting that we focus on this aspect of one of the most famous figures of folklore. Perhaps we'll even learn the power of altruism.
Gifts from a Fairy Godmother
The fairy godmothers' popularity can be discerned in the way in which they have proliferated across cultures. Goddesses who were maternal helpers of mortals were a feature of many religions, which remained embedded in the folklore of cultures. In Latvian folklore, the Lauma are supernatural figures who are present at births and who are able to foretell the future of a child. Likewise, the Fatit of Albanian folklore can also see a newborn's fate, although they can also determine it. The Three Matres were maternal protectors, originally from the Celtic mythology, who monitored the courses of lives.
In medieval times, godparents played an important part in the education of a child, and so it was natural that this was reflected in stories. In the fairy tale Prince Vivien and the Princess Placida, the fairy godmother shapes the personalities of the young rulers until they become beloved by their subjects. Undoubtedly one of the most well known appearances of a fairy godmother is in Sleeping Beauty. In this tale, fairies bestow gifts on the newborn, but the last visitor is the crone, who curses the baby, although one fairy saves the life of the infant through weakening the deadly spell. This connects with the practice of inviting fairies to important events, such as the births, and to accept all gifts given by these supernatural beings.
The fairy godmother may have been a way of explaining where people's extraordinary abilities came from. A benign fairy plotting out one's life is also a comforting thought, which could be one of the reasons for its extraordinary popularity. Either way, these fairy mentors have been established deep within popular culture because of their generosity and kindness.
Thank you for reading!
Gifts and fairy godmothers are inexorably linked with each other. A physical exchange, in the form of a gift, is typically present in tales regarding these fairies. Therefore, in this period of intense searching for presents, it is only fitting that we focus on this aspect of one of the most famous figures of folklore. Perhaps we'll even learn the power of altruism.
Gifts from a Fairy Godmother
The fairy godmothers' popularity can be discerned in the way in which they have proliferated across cultures. Goddesses who were maternal helpers of mortals were a feature of many religions, which remained embedded in the folklore of cultures. In Latvian folklore, the Lauma are supernatural figures who are present at births and who are able to foretell the future of a child. Likewise, the Fatit of Albanian folklore can also see a newborn's fate, although they can also determine it. The Three Matres were maternal protectors, originally from the Celtic mythology, who monitored the courses of lives.
 |
| Émile Bertrand's poster for Jules Massenet's Cendrillon, depicting the fairy godmother character. |
In medieval times, godparents played an important part in the education of a child, and so it was natural that this was reflected in stories. In the fairy tale Prince Vivien and the Princess Placida, the fairy godmother shapes the personalities of the young rulers until they become beloved by their subjects. Undoubtedly one of the most well known appearances of a fairy godmother is in Sleeping Beauty. In this tale, fairies bestow gifts on the newborn, but the last visitor is the crone, who curses the baby, although one fairy saves the life of the infant through weakening the deadly spell. This connects with the practice of inviting fairies to important events, such as the births, and to accept all gifts given by these supernatural beings.
 |
| Illustration by Ada Leonora Bowley. |
The fairy godmother may have been a way of explaining where people's extraordinary abilities came from. A benign fairy plotting out one's life is also a comforting thought, which could be one of the reasons for its extraordinary popularity. Either way, these fairy mentors have been established deep within popular culture because of their generosity and kindness.
Thank you for reading!
Comments
Post a Comment