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The motif Pixie is a part of: Gods, spirits and demons

See also Fairies, elves

Keywords:

Popular belief, goblin

Description of this motif:

Pixies are housegods and guardian spirits from Scandinavian folklore, rooted in the Roman lares.

Commonly pixies are represented at the size of a little child, approx. two feet high, wearing grey rural (pixies have mostly been related to farm houses) clothes and a red hat.

Pixies are little creatures, who are similar with elfs and gnomes. A pixie plays an important role in the fairy tale "The Goblin and the Grocer".

Example 1:

The tale has not been translated (by Hersholt) and is therefore quoted in Danish. Further information and links.

Det var en deilig Morgen, den duggede Kornmark straalte som et Hav af Guld i Morgensolen; langsomt steeg Taagerne fra Engen, og alle Blomsterne nikkede i den friske Morgenvind, som de vilde ønske Johannes Velkommen i den frie Natur. Endnu engang dreiede han sig om paa Høien for at see den gamle, bekjendte Kirke, hvor han var døbt, og hvor han hver Søndag med sin gamle Fader havde bedet til Christus og alle de Hellige; da saae han høit oppe i et af Hullerne i Taarnet, Kirke-Nissen staae med sin lille røde, spidse Hue, han skyggede for sit Ansigt med den bøiede Arm, da ellers Morgensolen skar ham i Øinene; Johannes nikkede ham sit Levvel, og den lille Nisse svingede sin røde Hue, lagde Haanden paa Hjertet og kyssede mange Gange paa Fingerne for at vise ham sine varme Ønsker om at Reisen maatte blive lykkelig.

Comment on this quote: This strange mix of christian and superstitious motifs - a pixie in the churchtower - is quite original. A similarly odd mix of superstition and christianity is found in "The Marsh King's Daughter".

Example 2:

The tale has not been translated (by Hersholt) and is therefore quoted in Danish. Further information and links.

Med samme Brag igjen lukkede Bjerget sig, og utallige smaae Nisser, der tjente den mægtige Trold som her boede, bare den deilige Prindsesse ind i den store Thronsal.