The "Fairy Door" Phenomenon In Ann Arbor, Michigan

The inside of a coffee shop; under a toy shop window; even inside Wright's own home - they are all locations of "urban fairy" dwellings. Wright says he first discovered one of the six-inch doors under his staircase in 1993. His daughter uncovered another, which opened onto a room with its own miniature fireplace. Their fame is spreading far and wide - even the Washington Post has covered their arrival. But whose handiwork is behind them? There are no eyewitness reports of anyone - man, woman or fairy - erecting the doors.

Wright, though, claims to have the answer. He says that urbanisation caused the displacement of woodland, forest and flower fairies. While house hunting, the winged ones came across Ann Arbor, an eccentric locality that celebrates the liberation of cannabis at its annual Hash Dash. These bohemian urban dwellers have welcomed the teeny fairy community, Wright says, with many locals enquiring how they can get a fairy door of their own (indeed, this is the most frequently asked question according to Wright's website - www.urban-fairies.com

A few Ann Arbor establishments, such as Sweetwaters cafe, have introduced guest books for the public to ask questions and write messages to the elusive fairies. It is uncertain whether the fairies reply to all enquiries, although Wright claims they have managed to secure an email address (fairies@urban-fairies.com). One child wrote, "Dear fairies, I am so happy that you came to Ann Arbor. I hope you come live at my dad's office."

Sceptics may dismiss him as being "away with the fairies," but Wright asserts that he does not wish to impose his beliefs - he is merely sharing them. He laments "those who do not believe in imagination.

"There are people and companies that make and sell 'fairy doors'," he says. "I could do the same. But that takes the fun out of finding them."

I have spoken with a few people who are passionate about the "Fae". My wife and I, both have had long interest in the topic. Kathleen much longer, as she was raised by an Irish mother. When Kathleen went to Ireland, at age 5, she spent most of her time looking for wee folk.

I think it is wise to post some terms, facts and opinions here. There are also some wonderful links and books to check out. We have a fair (pun intended) library of our own.

First... the spelling:

Many people use an old-world spelling: faery or faerie or even faeree. This spelling is perhaps more "authentic" as it comes from the French around the Tudor period .

I live in the "new-world" so I have adopted a new-world spelling: fairy....besides I like the dangley "y" and dotting the "i".

Some other traditional spellings are: fayerye, fairye, fayre.

I have also noted MANY more variations...especially from the younger contributors to the journals/guestbooks. Keep in mind that this group has the highest percentage of fairy sightings, so I would not discount their interpretations out of age bias.
The list includes:

Fary, Faries, Fairys, Fairieys, Farie, Faires, Fiairys, Fare, Fareys, Farys, Fairey, Fariey, Fairs, Fire, Firye, Faireas, Faeires, Farries, Fers, Fiary(s), Farees, Fariys, Fearies, kabouter (Dutch).

Other than the Dutch contribution...the unifying elements are an "F" followed by an "R" and one or more vowel; a, e, i and/or y....with an "S" for pluralization.

Fary & Faries are the second most common spelling(s) in the journal/guestbooks
after the "common" spelling: Fairy or Fairies.

Second... definitions, catagories:

Now don't go and get anything all bunched if my definition doesn't match yours
or if someone/something is omitted.

The Fae or the Fey; The WORLD of the Faerie
and the inhabitants which include, but not limited to:

Fairies (regardless of spelling): At one time a "fairy" was a woman with magical powers. Later "fairy" also meant "elves". Early on "fairies were much larger (4-5 feet tall...some MUCH larger) than our popular conception. Some say that the notion of little winged Fairies is a literary embellishment from the Victorian period. Regardless, as with most things of the magical-imagined world...they change. Folk tales/songs change with telling...they grow and shrink and become richer with time.

ALL of the following beings exist in the Fairy Rhelm. Their attributes and characteristics can be debated ....(elsewhere).

Elves, Pixies, Brownies, Gnomes, Sprites, Leprechauns, Goblins, Trolls, Dwarves, Ogres.....etc

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