Fairy Rings, also known as fairy circles, elf circles or pixie rings, occur in both grass and woodland when certain species of fungi grow underground and send up their fruiting bodies - toadstools or mushrooms - above the ground; as the fungi spread out from a central point, the toadstools form on the outer edge in a circle. Even when there are no toadstools above ground the ring is marked by a circle of dead grass where the underground fungus (mycelium) has taken all the nutrients while the grass around the outer edge of the ring is frequently a darker green because the spreading mycelium secretes enzymes to break down organic matter in the soil to release the nutrients, which also benefits the grass there.
in European folklore, Fairy rings are the places where elves and fairies gather and dance and also the location of gateways into elfin kingdoms.
A fairy tale is a story that may feature fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, gnomes, and talking animals, princesses and princes with usually a bit of magic thrown in for good measure! Fairy tales often traditionally start with "Once upon a time" and end with "and they all lived happily ever after," thus the expression "fairy tale ending" meany a happy ending, although not ALL fairy tales end happily! There are many great collections of Fairy Tales, including Hans Andersen, the Brothers Grimm, and very few people don't know Fairy Tales such as Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Sleeping Beauty.
Arthur Rackham (1867- 1939) illustrated many fairy stories : here is his Cinderella
Fairy Cakes are small cupcakes, very light and ideal for children's parties.
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Ingredients
4 free-range eggs
225g/8oz sugar
225g/8oz self-raising flour
225g/8oz butter, softened
Vanilla extract to taste (optional)
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Method
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and place bun cases in the holes of two 12-hole bun tins.
Whisk together the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy.
Gradually add the flour and the butter, folding the mixture together gently.
Spoon the mixture carefully into the fairy cake cases.
Bake the cakes for 10-15 minutes, until the top is golden and a cold skewer inserted into one of the cakes comes out clean.
Allow to cool for ten minutes on a wire rack.
Ice or decorate to your own taste, or they are equally delicious plain.
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Fairy Bread is white sliced bread spread with butter and sprinkled with "hundreds-and-thousands" then cut into small triangles or other shapes and often served at children's parties. It is also a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson (of Treasure Island fame) in his Child's Garden of Verses :
Come up here, O dusty feet!
Here is fairy bread to eat.
Here in my retiring room,
Children, you may dine
On the golden smell of broom
And the shade of pine;
And when you have eaten well,
Fairy stories hear and tell.
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Fairy lights are strings of small coloured lights used for decoration, especially at Christmas on Christmas trees.
| The Fairy Tern (Sterna nereis) is a small and very pretty all-white seabird which occurs in the southwestern Pacific. |
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