Sarah Brown
Fairies are often depicted as wearing hats, and sometimes these hats are peculiar-looking. In the past, it was common for people to wear hats, so it was only natural that fairies did too. In modern times, however, artists and the public have come to expect more elaborate and unusual headwear on fairies. In literature, fairies are often described as wearing green, and hats are a common feature of their attire, with red being a popular colour. In British folklore, fairies are often described as wearing pointed caps, and in some cases, these caps are said to resemble mushrooms. In fact, there is a type of mushroom called Fairies Bonnets that is small, white, and delicate, turning greyish-brown before shrivelling and blackening. These mushrooms are associated with fairies and have inspired creativity in fantasy art, garden decorations, and themed merchandise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Clothing colour | Green, red, white, brown, grey, black, pink, purple, yellow, orange, blue, rainbow |
| Clothing material | Flowers, acorn caps, bat wings, thistledown, leaves, apple rind, cobwebs, silk, snakeskin, ladybug wings, gillyflower, lily, daisy, grass, trout skin, squirrel hide, woven rushes, monkshood flower, spiderwebs, ants' eyes, peacock feathers, flies' wings, glowworms eyes, fish scales, cats' eyes, phosphorescent wood, beeswax, rose leaves |
| Hat type | Sugar loaf hats, high crowned hats, red caps, bonnets, oak leaf hats, helmets, crowns, top hats |
| Mushroom hats | Caps that look like mushroom tops |
| Mushroom habitat | Forests, woodlands, meadows |
| Mushroom symbolism | Enchanting, mysterious, whimsical, fantastical, playful, mischievous, magical, wise |
| Mushroom powers | Making mushrooms grow, healing plants, communicating with forest creatures |
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What You'll Learn
Fairies are often depicted wearing green
In her book "Traditions, Legends, Superstitions, and Sketches of Devonshire on the Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy," Anna Eliza Bray wrote that fairy clothing "never varies, it is always green." Similarly, in "Goblin Tales of Lancashire," Victorian folklorist James Bowker recorded that the local name for the fairies was 'The Greenies' or the Hill Folk.
Other examples of fairies depicted in green include the Devonshire pixies, who were reported to be green, and the 'Greenies' in Bowker's Goblin Tales. In Lincolnshire, the local nature spirits were called the 'Green Coaties,' further emphasising the association between fairies and the colour green.
The colour green may also be linked to the idea of fairies as slender and willowy, as described in Gaelic folklore, where the "slender one of the green coat" is a common fairy depiction.
In addition to their clothing, fairies are often described as having green hair, as in the case of the green-haired fairies in Samuel Bottomley's poetry.
The association with the colour green is so strong that it is considered bad luck for humans to wear green, as they may face fairy reprisals. This belief is reflected in Sir Walter Scott's poem "Alice Brand," where he asks, "who may dare on wold to wear/ The fairies' fatal green?"
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Red hats are also common in fairy fashion
Fairies are often described as wearing hats, and red hats are a common feature of fairy fashion. In fact, hats are so commonly associated with fairies that they are believed to have magical powers. For instance, a blue bonnet was thought to be able to protect a mother and her newborn child from fairy abduction. A blue bonnet was also believed to cure a sick cow when the cow was struck with it.
The association of hats with fairies may stem from the belief that fairies wore headwear, just like everyone else. However, the colours red and green were possibly distinctively fae. Hats were also believed to be a symbol of power and authority in the fairy world.
In Welsh folklore, the "tylwyth teg" or fairies were described as small, like children, and wearing red caps. In another tale, a fairy called Red Cap, a thoroughly unpleasant character, is described as wearing a red hat.
Fairies are also described as wearing green clothing, perhaps because they are associated with vegetation and nature. In addition to red and green, fairies are also associated with other colours, such as white, silver, and gold.
Fairies are often depicted as wearing clothing made from natural materials such as flowers, leaves, and acorn caps. In some cases, they are described as wearing clothing made from unusual materials such as bat wings, thistledown, and cobwebs.
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Fairies wear bonnets, which are blue in colour
Fairies are often depicted wearing hats, caps, or bonnets. While the colour and style of these headwear items vary, they are often described as peculiar-looking and a little old-fashioned.
In terms of colour, blue is a rare choice for fairies, with red and green being more commonly associated with fairy headwear. For example, in Yorkshire, fairies are said to wear pointed caps, which could be red or green. Similarly, Manx fairies have been sighted dressed in green with red caps, and Shetland fairies are often seen in tight green clothes with green tapered caps.
However, there are a few instances where blue bonnets or hats are mentioned in relation to fairies. In one Scottish account from 1576, Bessie Dunlop described the fairies she encountered as wearing blue Highland bonnets. Additionally, a blue bonnet was believed to have protective powers, as it could be used to ward off fairy abductions or cure a sick cow.
It is worth noting that fairies are often associated with nature and the surrounding ecosystem, especially in the case of mushroom fairies. While there is no specific mention of fairies wearing mushroom hats, some believe that mushroom fairies may have attire resembling mushrooms, such as caps that look like mushroom tops or earthy tones in their clothing.
In conclusion, while fairies are commonly depicted wearing hats, bonnets, or caps, blue is not a typical colour choice. However, there are a few instances where blue bonnets or hats are mentioned in relation to fairies, and they are often associated with protective powers.
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Fairies wear caps that look like mushroom tops
Fairies are often described as wearing hats, bonnets, and caps. In fact, it was a common perception in previous centuries that fairies would be seen wearing some sort of headwear, just like everyone else did. While the colours and styles of these hats varied, they were often red or green—distinctively fae. Fairies are also often associated with the colour green, perhaps because it is the colour of vegetation or because it is the colour of death.
In addition to the traditional hats and bonnets, fairies are also sometimes depicted as wearing caps that look like mushroom tops. These mushroom fairies are believed to inhabit forests, woodlands, and meadows, particularly areas abundant with mushrooms. They are often seen as guardians or caretakers of the fungi and the surrounding ecosystem, with magical powers related to nature and fungi. They might be able to make mushrooms grow, heal plants, or communicate with other forest creatures. Mushroom fairies are often depicted as playful and mischievous, enjoying games and tricks, but also possessing a deep wisdom about nature. They are also believed to serve as protectors of the forest, ensuring balance and harmony within their environment.
The association between fairies and mushrooms is further reinforced by the existence of "mushroom rings" or "fairy rings"—naturally occurring circles of mushrooms that have long been associated with fairies. Folklore suggests that these rings are created by dancing fairies, and stepping into one might transport a person into the fairy realm or bring good or bad luck.
While the idea of fairies wearing mushroom caps may be a whimsical invention, it is worth noting that there is a type of mushroom called "Fairy Bonnets" or "Fairy Inkcap" (Coprinellus disseminatus) that grows on decaying wood. These mushrooms are tiny, with the largest caps being no more than 2 centimetres across. They are initially white but darken to a greyish brown before blackening and shrivelling as they release their spores.
Whether inspired by the fairy rings of folklore or the delicate Fairy Inkcap mushrooms of the forest, the image of a fairy wearing a cap that looks like a mushroom top has become a popular feature of fairy fashion in art, literature, and cosplay.
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Fairies wear clothing made from natural materials, such as flowers and leaves
Fairies are often depicted wearing clothing made from natural materials, such as flowers and leaves. In Michael Drayton's poem "A Fairy Wedding," the fairy Tita wears a dress embroidered with pansies, pinks, primroses, and rosemary leaves, as well as silkworm silk. Her hair is decorated with golden seeds and rainbow-coloured wings. In William Browne's poems, Oberon wears a suit of speckled gillyflower with a lily helmet and a daisy neck-ruff.
In addition to flowers and leaves, fairies are also known to wear clothing made from other natural materials such as cobwebs, thistledown, and even bat wings. In "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the elves wear coats made from bat wings and use cobwebs and thistledown as fabric. This theme of natural materials is also seen in Tom Thumb, where the Queen of Fairies dresses Tom in an oak leaf hat, a shirt of cobweb, stockings of apple rind, and shoes of mouse skin.
The colour green is also commonly associated with fairies, perhaps due to their connection with vegetation. In Anna Eliza Bray's "Traditions, Legends, Superstitions, and Sketches of Devonshire," a fairy woman is described as wearing green. Similarly, the famous green children at Woolpit and the green-haired fairies described by poet Samuel Bottomley are further examples of the colour green's recurrence in fairy descriptions.
While hats are often associated with fairies, mushroom hats specifically are not commonly mentioned in the sources provided. However, hats made from other natural materials, such as acorn caps and sugar loaf hats, are mentioned. Additionally, in the context of "fairy rings" or naturally occurring circles of mushrooms, it is believed that stepping into one can transport a person into the fairy realm. This suggests an association between mushrooms and fairies, but it does not provide specific details about mushroom hats.
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Frequently asked questions
Fairies are often depicted wearing hats, but there is no evidence that these hats are made of mushrooms. In fact, fairies are usually shown wearing hats that are similar to those worn by humans, just a little more old-fashioned.
Fairies are often shown wearing red or green hats, with some sources describing them as "high-crowned hats".
Yes, in addition to the more traditional hats, fairies are also depicted wearing hats made of natural materials such as acorn caps, ladybug wings, and monkshood flowers.
Hats seem to be a significant part of fairy fashion, with different hats signifying different things. For example, a blue bonnet is associated with protection and power, while a red cap is associated with an unpleasant fairy.
Yes, in addition to hats, fairies are sometimes depicted wearing crowns, bonnets, and helmets made from natural materials such as flowers, leaves, and silkworm silk.
