Tradition: French Mythology
Alternative Names: Fayettes, Little Fairies
Category: Fairy
The Myth
The Fayettes are tiny fairies said to inhabit the Forez region of France, particularly the forests and caves around the Loire basin and Beaujolais. They are believed to descend from the ancient Greek nymphs, having escaped from the Mediterranean as Christianity spread. Though much smaller than their supposed ancestors, the Fayettes retained their magical powers. They guard caves and forests and can sometimes be seen dancing among the trees of Couroux in the Beaujolais.
The Fayettes are notorious for stealing human children and leaving behind changelings in their place. These fairy children are difficult to satisfy and are said to possess an insatiable appetite. To recover a stolen child, the changeling can be taken to the entrance of a cave and threatened with violence. The Fayettes will then emerge and return the human child, saying, “There, here is yours; give me mine.” The fairies also emerge at night to wash their clothes beneath the moon. Travellers passing through their woodland territory are advised to sing loudly so that the Fayettes do not mistake them for enemies or threats.
At dawn, the Fayettes disappear like mist, sometimes leaving behind magical washboards made of solid gold. During the daytime they take another form, becoming moles that burrow through gardens and delight in destroying cultivated plants. According to the legend, this is why moles have their characteristic small pink hands. The Fayettes therefore move between several hidden worlds: fairies dancing in the forest by night, mysterious creatures guarding caves, and destructive little moles roaming gardens by day.
Sources
“Fayette.” A Book of Creatures. July 24, 2015. A Book of Creatures
https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/07/24/fayette/