Respectful Names for the Fair Folk
A record in The Hawthorn Archive, preserving folklore with its place, type and source context attached.
British regional traditions preserve respectful collective names for fairy beings: the Good Folk, Good People, Fair Folk and People of Peace among them. Scottish Gaelic tradition includes expressions associated with Na daoine sìthe, while Welsh tradition has Tylwyth Teg, the Fair Family.
Such flattering language should not automatically be read as a description of harmless beings. In folklore it can function as courtesy, avoidance or verbal caution around powers whose attention is not necessarily wanted.
Source trail: Historic Environment Scotland material on Gaelic fairy folklore; Museum Wales; The Folklore Society.
Related Journal record: Fair Folk in British Folklore.