what's with all the fairys

Ultimate Seduction

Every where I go there is these fairy doors. Small doors on the bottom of trees an the likes?? What's going on?

Ubbquittious

They're taking over.

freshpopcorn

It's a novelty item/toy for kids. They get a bit of fun/pleasure out of it. It also encourages them to write/read more.

StupidLikeAFox

We never should have voted yes to that bloody referendum

Irish Guitarist

How else would they get inside?

Ultimate Seduction

freshpopcorn wrote:

It's a novelty item/toy for kids. They get a bit of fun/pleasure out of it. It also encourages them to write/read more.

Knocking on a door at the bottom of a tree encourages them to read and write more??

Are you a fairy?

freshpopcorn

Ultimate Seduction wrote: »

Knocking on a door at the bottom of a tree encourages them to read and write more??

Are you a fairy?

Well, I'm not a fairy but the kids write notes and leaves it for them when they are going to bed and then the parents pretend to be a fairy and write a response!

Are Am Eye

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8jufv4HI0Y

GMSA

I think there's a lot of people in society today that are "away with the fairies"
They laugh at superstition lose their sh1t at the mention of anything with religious conatations but this fairy lark is helping kids read write and talk about their feelings.

the_syco

Ultimate Seduction wrote: »

Knocking on a door at the bottom of a tree encourages them to read and write more??

Are you a fairy?

Could be worse. Some people tell a man in a box all the sh|t they did to absolve themselves of any wrong doings, and to feel better about themselves. I think it's called "confessing to a priest"?

GMSA

GMSA wrote: »

I think there's a lot of people in society today that are "away with the fairies"
They laugh at superstition lose their sh1t at the mention of anything with religious conatations but this fairy lark is helping kids read write and talk about their feelings.

I liked the idea of fairy trails, great for giving kids an interest in a walk in woodlands, fresh air etc. Like really childish orienteering.

But seriously, getting kids to write and talk about their feelings? Didn't know that was an angle. Sounds like some right on advertising shtick by some company that has worked.

Donald Trump

I blame Gerry and the Pacemakers

Fairy, across the Mersey, this land blah blah blah blah

Claude Wilton

Donald Trump wrote: »

I blame Gerry and the Pacemakers

Fairy, across the Mersey, this land blah blah blah blah

Fairy nuff.

neonsofa

These and elf on the shelf- where do parents get the time! Like really, there's a girl I know who every Christmas her Instagram has a new pic every day of the elf and his elaborate shenanigans. In our house they're lucky if tooth fairy remembers to come. I don't know how they have the time and energy and memory to be doing these things every night.

Poor Uncle Tom

We're only just emerging out of the dark ages where adults believe in all kinds of religious hocus pocus under the strict direction from a half hour costumed theatrical performance every Sunday morning.

So it's best to condition children to believe in nonsense from a very young age to get them in line for later life when belief in religions makes a resurgence.

Tefral

https://www.theirishfairydoorcompany.com/

That's the company responsible and fair play to them they grew a fairly decent business out of it.

Plus anything that invites storytelling and imagination in kids has to be a good thing right?

Roger Hassenforder

There's a fairy door in our 7yr old's room.
Best present she ever got from her granny. She leaves little notes and pictures for the fairy, tells her about her day and asks questions. Fairy in fairness replies most nights.
This fairy loves it and has a box of little notes for when she's no longer my little girl.

Roger Hassenforder

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

We're only just emerging out of the dark ages where adults believe in all kinds of religious hocus pocus under the strict direction from a half hour costumed theatrical performance every Sunday morning.

So it's best to condition children to believe in nonsense from a very young age to get them in line for later life when belief in religions makes a resurgence.

indeed
They're the exact same.

Poor Uncle Tom

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

indeed
They're the exact same.

Indeed!

Zubeneschamali

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

So it's best to condition children to believe in nonsense from a very young age

Think of it like a vaccination against believing nonsense, only there's no organomercury compounds in the fairy doors.

I hope.

Tefral

Tefral wrote: »

Plus anything that invites storytelling and imagination in kids has to be a good thing right?

Oh very much so. Very healthy.

On the other hand, the whole "share your worries" stuff? Hmmmmm. Let them enjoy their days of imagination and fantasy and at least leave the "got a complex or any issues?" stuff for a few years.

God knows social media will bombard them about it when they get a phone.

topper75

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

We're only just emerging out of the dark ages where adults believe in all kinds of religious hocus pocus under the strict direction from a half hour costumed theatrical performance every Sunday morning.

So it's best to condition children to believe in nonsense from a very young age to get them in line for later life when belief in religions makes a resurgence.

Thing is though -

A world without religious superstition and control of the masses

and

A world without make believe and kids having fun

are actually separable concepts. The first is good; the second not so much.

Roger Hassenforder

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Oh very much so. Very healthy.

On the other hand, the whole "share your worries" stuff? Hmmmmm. Let them enjoy their days of imagination and fantasy and at least leave the "got a complex or any issues?" stuff for a few years.

God knows social media will bombard them about it when they get a phone.

My 7 yr old's worries include:
Have squirrels enough nuts to eat in winter?
what happens a fairy if a grown up sees them?
Does the fairy get lonely when she is on holidays?
Do fairies have pets?


Not exactly psychoses...

Roger Hassenforder

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

My 7 yr old's worries include:
Have squirrels enough nuts to eat in winter?
what happens a fairy if a grown up sees them?
Does the fairy get lonely when she is on holidays?
Do fairies have pets?


Not exactly psychoses...

Oh again that's fine, perfectly normal.

An earlier poster was referring to opening up their feelings which made my eyes narrow a little. Even for a cynic like me, the thought of a company profiting by selling the whole "it's okay to talk, to not be okay" routine to kids would be very cynical indeed.

kylith

Fckin' hate those fairy doors. Grand in your own house, but there's plenty of parks around where people have gone putting fairy doors on trees and it just looks crap. Marley and Tymon parks now, IIRC, have designated fairy trees or fairy woods in order to try stop people doing it.

diomed

plural fairies
please correct spellings when leaving notes

There is an irish dairy door company !!!

sbsquarepants

kylith wrote: »

Marley and Tymon parks now, IIRC, have designated fairy trees or fairy woods in order to try stop people doing it.

When I lived in Tallaght I used to always bring the kids to Tymon. I don't think it was put there to stop fairies building without planning permission though:D - just to pass a half an hour with the nippers.

They have an excellent carved bull in the playground there too btw, one of those chainsaw sculptures. I love it.

kylith

sbsquarepants wrote: »

When I lived in Tallaght I used to always bring the kids to Tymon. I don't think it was put there to stop fairies building without planning permission though:D - just to pass a half an hour with the nippers.

They have an excellent carved bull in the playground there too btw, one of those chainsaw sculptures. I love it.

The new playground there is whopper looking. MAkes me wish I was/had a kid.

sbsquarepants

It's great alright - last time is was there though some little fúckers had lit fires under all the swings. I just can't stand (or understand) the type of arseholes who would go and destroy a brand new childrens playground just for the sake of it!

JimmyMcGill

sbsquarepants wrote: »

It's great alright - last time is was there though some little fúckers had lit fires under all the swings. I just can't stand (or understand) the type of arseholes who would go and destroy a brand new childrens playground just for the sake of it!

Did you give em a kick up the arse and promise more of the same if they came back?

sbsquarepants

I didn't actually see them do it - just all the burned swings.

JimmyMcGill

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I didn't actually see them do it - just all the burned swings.

Sorry I only picked up on that now. Fair maddening.

Widdershins

I said to a unemployed carpenter friend years ago, try making a few fairy doors and see if they sell. He laughed.

Fairytales are good but maybe not good to encourage children to believe they have actual fairy penpals living in their garden. Then again lots of children have imaginary friends and it seems harmless.

whisky_galore

kylith wrote: »

Fckin' hate those fairy doors. Grand in your own house, but there's plenty of parks around where people have gone putting fairy doors on trees and it just looks crap. Marley and Tymon parks now, IIRC, have designated fairy trees or fairy woods in order to try stop people doing it.

Fcuking one-off fairy housing, my pet hate.

Ultimate Seduction

I'm all for kids using there imagination, but these things are everywhere! And it's not just kids, Auld wans have em all over the garden too.

Widdershins

A bit like garden gnomes. A fad.

riffmongous

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

My 7 yr old's worries include:
Have squirrels enough nuts to eat in winter?
what happens a fairy if a grown up sees them?
Does the fairy get lonely when she is on holidays?
Do fairies have pets?


Not exactly psychoses...

At 7 maybe there won't be anything serious but in the next couple of years there will. Bullying, puberty, school etc., and if kids learn at a younger age that it's good to talk about your worries and troubles then hopefully when they get a bit older and have more serious problems the lesson will have stuck with them. At least that's my thinking

Zubeneschamali

riffmongous wrote: »

if kids learn at a younger age that it's good to talk about your worries and troubles then hopefully when they get a bit older and have more serious problems the lesson will have stuck with them.

Buck up! Boys don't cry, stiff upper lip, none of that touchy-feely girly stuff. Pull yourself together, man up, tough it out!

FunGoose

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Well, I'm not a fairy but the kids write notes and leaves it for them when they are going to bed and then the parents pretend to be a fairy and write a response!

Use the SPOILER tag please!:(

cornflake1

riffmongous wrote: »

At 7 maybe there won't be anything serious but in the next couple of years there will. Bullying, puberty, school etc., and if kids learn at a younger age that it's good to talk about your worries and troubles then hopefully when they get a bit older and have more serious problems the lesson will have stuck with them. At least that's my thinking

My friend found out her daughter was being bullied from a letter to the fairy.

the_syco

Widdershins wrote: »

Fairytales are good but maybe not good to encourage children to believe they have actual fairy penpals living in their garden. Then again lots of children have imaginary friends and it seems harmless.

As opposed to an all-seeing god that watches their every move?

Ultimate Seduction wrote: »

I'm all for kids using there imagination, but these things are everywhere! And it's not just kids, Auld wans have em all over the garden too.

Sounds sort of how people install religious imagery everywhere?

riffmongous wrote: »

At 7 maybe there won't be anything serious but in the next couple of years there will. Bullying, puberty, school etc., and if kids learn at a younger age that it's good to talk about your worries and troubles then hopefully when they get a bit older and have more serious problems the lesson will have stuck with them. At least that's my thinking

This. At the very least, the "fairy" will answer back. As opposed to praying to "god" and never getting a response.

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Buck up! Boys don't cry, stiff upper lip, none of that touchy-feely girly stuff. Pull yourself together, man up, tough it out!

Ah yes, the cause of many male suicides no doubt! Especially the "sole occupant male driver veers off the straight road and hits a tree/wall/etc at high speed" accident.

sbsquarepants

cornflake1 wrote: »

My friend found out her daughter was being bullied from a letter to the fairy.

What age was her daughter - kids can be such little bastards at times!

Widdershins

the_syco wrote: »

As opposed to an all-seeing god that watches their every move?

I don't know, I wasn't brought up by religious people. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

Esel

It lasts much longer than ordinary washing-up liquids.

Ipso

Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen,
We daren’t go a-hunting
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owl’s feather!

Down along the rocky shore
Some make their home,
They live on crispy pancakes
Of yellow tide-foam;
Some in the reeds
Of the black mountain-lake,
With frogs for their watchdogs,
All night awake.

High on the hill-top
The old King sits;
He is now so old and grey
He’s nigh lost his wits.
With a bridge of white mist
Columbkill he crosses,
On his stately journeys
From Slieveleague to Rosses;
Or going up with the music
On cold starry nights,
To sup with the Queen
Of the gay Northern Lights.

They stole little Bridget
For seven years long;
When she came down again
Her friends were all gone.
They took her lightly back,
Between the night and morrow,
They thought that she was fast asleep,
But she was dead with sorrow.
They have kept her ever since
Deep within the lake,
On a bed of fig-leaves,
Watching till she wake.

By the craggy hillside,
Through the mosses bare,
They have planted thorn trees
For my pleasure, here and there.
Is any man so daring
As dig them up in spite,
He shall find their sharpest thorns
In his bed at night.

Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen,
We daren’t go a-hunting
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owl’s feather!

Ultimate Seduction

Who wrote that? It's actually quite good!

Ipso

William Allingham
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allingham

There was a thread about fairies before and someone got in with Yeat's The Stolen Child, so I couldn't use that. They also made the point about how fairies were important in Irish lore and mythology (more so than the bloody leprechaun) and we are now seeing the Victorian era interpretation of fairies. I hope the old versions don't get lost (the Sidhe etc), as much as The Stolen Child is a beautiful poem, there is still an underlying darkness to it that is in danger of getting glossed over.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Ultimate Seduction wrote: »

Who wrote that? It's actually quite good!

William Allingham.

It's as old as the hills. We learned it in primary school in the 50's.

Ultimate Seduction

Greta Hot Gooseberry wrote:

It's as old as the hills. We learned it in primary school in the 50's.

I didn't pay attention in school the odd time I actually went, unfortunately, so didn't learn anything like this.

I've heard the stolen child and to be honest, first thing I thought was it's a bit nasty.

This has to be one of the great fairy stories of all time. Obviously, trying to maintain the wonder, my Dad told me that there were photos that hadn't been quite disproved, so maybe...just maybe...sadly the news broke in the mid 80s...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottingley_Fairies

Donal55

kylith wrote: »

Fckin' hate those fairy doors. Grand in your own house, but there's plenty of parks around where people have gone putting fairy doors on trees and it just looks crap. Marley and Tymon parks now, IIRC, have designated fairy trees or fairy woods in order to try stop people doing it.

They'll be having none of your faerie doors in Roscommon either!!