Fairy Dictionary -C

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Cailleac Bhuer, Callicantzaroi, Chi Spirits, Chin-Chin Kobakama,

Churn Milk Peg and Melch Dick, Clurichauns Coblynau,

Cailleac Bhuer

Land of Origin: Scotland.
Other Origins: Similar faeries are in other Celtic countries.
Other Names: The Blue Hag, Black Annis, the Stone Woman.
Element: Water.
Appearance and Temperament:
The Cailleac Bhuer (Call-y'ac v'fhoor) is one of a kind. She is an old woman who walks by night carrying her walking stick, her carrion crow on her left shoulder. However, her reputation as dangers and ill-tempered may be a mistaken one. It is possible that this fear of her was created by the early Scottish churchmen seeking to eradicate the vestiges of the Old Religion by demonizing its Crone mythology.
Time Most Active: At night.
Lore:
The word Cailleac literally means "old woman," and the Irish spelling Caillech is used when referring to the Crone Goddess. This is from the same root as the more well-known Gaelic word for a young girl, Caillin (Colleen).

There is only one Cailleac Bhuer, and she is probably a vestige of the old Crone Goddess of the Celts. She is depicted as wearing either black or blue-white tattered garments and is intimately associated with the winter season. She is said to dwell in a land which is always in winter - another likeness to the Crone Goddess. Her power is greatest from Samhain to Ostara, at which time it wanes considerably. She carries a staff made of holly topped with the head of a carrion crow, another symbol of the Crone. If one is touched by it, it kills instantly. Scottish legends says that the staff is buried under a tree for summer and retrieved again after Samhain night. If one can find that staff they will have power over the destiny of all human life.

In modern Scotland, Cailleac Bhuer is more commonly called by her English name, the Blue Hag. She still walks alone through the Highlands at night where she is greatly feard.

Where to Find Her:
In the Scottish Highlands, or near the western sea in Faeryland. The best time to look for her is during the waning moon.
How to Contact:
Do not fear her, but do use caution. Try making an evocation to her with the same respect and reverance you would give to the Goddess in her guise as Crone. She is a Goddess - merely one in a devalued state.
Magickal and ritual Help:
Undetermined, but if she is a part of the Goddess - even one who has been vevalued over the years - this faery could aid in any type of magick and ritual with powerful results.

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Callicantzaroi

Land of Origin: Greece, Albania, and Italy.
Other Origins: None known.
Other Names: None known.
Element: Earth.
Appearance and Temperament:
The Callicantzaroi are small, skinny, and always nude, They are trooping fearies who, instead of riding horses, ride chickens. They wear elaborate headgear on their Rades and have the feet of various animals.
Time Most Active: Yule.
Lore:
The Callicantzaroi are either partially or totally blind, though no lore tells us how they came to be this way. They spend all time trooping together, especially at Yule, when they heartily celebrate the rebirth of the pagan Sun Gods.

They are often accompanied on their Rades by a host of other crippled faeries who are frightening to look at, though this has nothing to do with their infirmities, but with their grotesque appearance in general.

Italian faery lore tells us that when these customs were transferred to Christmas, it was noticed that the Callicantzaroi vanished after the Twelfth Night and do not return again until the next Midwinter Eve.

They like to foul fresh water, but a touch of hyssop is reputed to counteract this. However, if you would rather not have these faeries around, Nancy Arrowsmith, author of A Field Guide to the Little People says that burning an old show will drive them away.

Where to Find Them: Look for them at Yule and in the winter of Faeryland.
How to Contact: Call to them and identify yourself as a friend. Offer them some pork, as this is their favorite food.
Magickal and Ritual Help: Undetermined.

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Chi Spirits

Land of Origin: China.
Other Origins: None known.
Other Names: None known.
Element: Air.
Appearance and Temperament: No one has ever seen a Chi Spirit, as they are pure energy and have no physical confines.
Time Most Active: All year.
Lore:
The word Chi in Chinese means "energy," and these spirits are part of a vast pantheon of Chinese house spirits whose benevolent energies are thought necessary to the smooth running of a household. Like Scottish Brownies, the Chi Spirits adopt a human home in which to live.

The Chinese go to great lengths to see that the beneficial energies Chi Spirits emit are not impeded in any way. Furniture is often rearranged to facilitate the free movement of their energy, and mirrors, which act as portals allowing energy to pass through, are placed over any immovable impediments such as a wall which is not in a good place.

If Chi is blocked, no harm will befall anyone, but certain benefits will be diminished. In some rare cases extreme blockage of Chi energy can cause minor disturbances, hauntings, and illness.

Where to Find Them:
Unknown. While the Chinese think of this energy as a faery, Chi Spirits may be no more than the psychic vibrations which always surround us and are part of everything.
How to Contact: Invite them into your home in a ritual you design just to bring them in.
Magickal and Ritual Help:
Undetermined, but their presence may increase physical health and stamina, and offer general protection to your home.

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Chin-Chin Kobakama

Land of Origin: Japan.
Other Origins: Possibly China.
Other Names: None known.
Element: Earth.
Appearance and Temperament:
Elven-like in appearance, the Chin-Chin Kobakama is either male or female, and appears to be elderly but amazingly spry. They are generally friendly towards humans, but can be a nuisance.
Time Most Active: All year during daylight hours.
Lore:
The Chin-Chin Kobakama is similar to the house Brownie known to westerners, but these faeries are said to be specifically floor and rug faeries. They move into human homes and will bless and protect them as long as they are kept clean. they have been known to tease sloppy children and chase after sloppy housekeepers.

Where to Find Them: Unknown.
How to Contact:
Keep your home clean and set out food for them. Invoke them with a simple ritual, but make sure you really want them in your homes. If not, visit them on the inner planes.
Magickal and Ritual Help: Possibly home blessings, protection.

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Churn Milk Peg and Melch Dick

Land of Origin: England.
Other Origins: None known.
Other Names: Acorn Lady and Melsh Dick.
Element: Earth.
Appearance and Temperament:
These are small dwarf faeries - Peg is a woman and Dick is a man. They wear the peasant clothing of fifteenth century England and their nature is very capricious.
Time Most Active: Spring through Autumn.
Lore:
These faeries, two of a kind, love nuts of all sorts and will guard them by giving cramps and bloat those who take the fruit from the tree or plant they are watching over at any particular time. fortunately for us, they move around quite a bit and are never in one place for very long. If you go to pick a nut or nut fruit and feel a decided pinch, take it as a warning that these plants are being watched over. They also guard orchards and can terrify fruit thieves.

Though Peg and Dick are both quite lazy themselves, they despise laziness in humans and are known to give a quick pinch to startle people out of their daydreams, or chase them to get their sluggish blood moving. But since both Peg and Dick are somewhat arthritic, humans can easily outdistance them.

One explanation of the origin of these two faeries ties in with the folklore which says that nuts and certain fruits enhance human fertility. So prized were they that these two faeries were sent to protect them. In this guise they may actually be devalued fertility deities associated with Bealtaine. The fact that milk, fruit, and nuts (foods associated with the fertility Sabbat of Beltaine) are the only foods in their diet further establishes this link.

Where to Find Them: In the English countryside.
How to Contact: Make an invitation to your circle. Offer nuts and milk as an inducement if you really want them around.
Magickal and Ritual Help: Undetermined.

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Clurichauns

Land or Origin: Ireland.
Other Origins: A similar faery known as a Monciello is native to Italy.
Other Names: His Nibs.
Element: Earth.
Appearance and Temperament:
The Clurichaun (Kloo-ree-kahn) is a solitary faery who resembles his cousin the Leprechaun, and no sightings of females have ever been recorded. He is the self-appointed guardian of a wine cellar, one which he chooses in his own time, and then moves in and makes himself at home. The Clurichaun is almost always drunk, but is impeccably well-groomed and well-dressed.

Generally he has a cheerful disposition, but is rather aloof even while intoxicated. Like many faeries, the Clurichaun wears a red hat which may be made of plants.

Time Most Active: All Year.
Lore:
A Clurichaun in your cellar will prevent casks from leaking and wines from going bad, and he will chase away all those who come to take a drink uninvited by the master of the house. Occasionally he can be heard singing Irish folk songs in the wine cellars. If you ignore or mistreat him he will wreak havoc on your cellars and on your home, and he will most definitely spoil your wine stock.

Once you have chased away your Clurichaun by insensitivity or lack of hospitality no other will ever come to take his place.

Where to Find Them:
If you wish to attract a Clurichaun to your cellars, leave a bit of wine out for him or design a ritual to invite him in. You don't have to have an elaborate wine stock, but you must have a collection in your basement in order for him to be interested in staying and "adopting" your home as his. If you already have a Clurichaun, know that he is there to stay.
How to Contact: See above.
Magickal and Ritual Help: Aids in home protection against thieves and vandals, guards the wine cellar.

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Coblynau

See Knockers.

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Corrigans

Land of Origin: Brittany.
Other Origins: Cornwall.
Other Names: Korrigans.
Element: Water.
Appearance and Temperament:
This changeable faery came to Cornwall from Breton France, where she is still well known. Corrigans appear as blonde females by night and repulsive hags by day.
Time Most Active: All year.
Lore:
The Corrigan may be a devalued version of the Celtic Triple goddess known as the Morrigan, who is three Crone Goddesses in one. Or she may be a myth which underscores the devaluation of women, especially elderly women.

Men who see her by night are never able to forget her, and some pine away for want of her. Stories exist concerning men who marry a Corrigan only to discover in the morning the true nature of their wives. Other legends state that if a man genuinely loves her in her night form and is open-minded enough to continue loving her in the morning, that she will become human and remain beautiful both night and day.

Where to Find Them: Probably in woodlands near running water.
How to Contact: Unknown.
Magickal and Ritual Help: Undetermined.

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Cucui

Land of Origin: Norhtern Mexico.
Other Origins: The Cucui is well-known in the Hispanic communities of southwestern North America.
Other Names: None known.
Element: Earth.
Appearance and temperament: Cucui (Coo-coo-ee) has almost become a generic term for "monster" among Mexicans and American Hispanics. If the Cucui had a characteristic look, it has long been lost to us. He is not friendly, nor is he considered safe to be around.
Time Most Active: All Year.
Lore:
Whoever or whatever the Cucui originally was, over time he has taken on a popular image similar to that of a staring zombie or ghoul. He apparently cannot think in any sense that we understand the term, and he seems to be motivated only by some primal instinct. He is described as a large, drooling monster who is out to get and hurt anyone he can get his hands on. Fortunately he is rarely seen.

Where to Find Them: Unknown.
How to Contact: Contact not advised!
Magickal and Ritual Help: None.

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Cu Sith

See Black Angus.

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