Where Do Santa's Elves Come From?

     The season of the elf is coming to a close until next year.  What is the difference between an elf and a fairy.  To some in literature, there is no distinction.  Others describe fairies as human-like and anywhere in size from insect to human. and capable of doing many magical things.  

    Elves have been depicted as human-size but more often they are described as being quite small.   So small they could live in a home like the one shown below.

    Fairies can be good or bad but in most stories elves are helpful.  They are known for doing housework, making shoes and especially loved for making toys.  I welcome any housework loving elf happily into my home

For more reading on fairies and elves:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy

Sugar Plum Fairies

 

    Winter Solstice is upon us and what better time to think about Sugar Plum Fairies.  Sugar plums always make me think of Christmas, as does the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker (Composed by Tchaikovsky, 1892), and the line "Visions of sugar plums danced in their heads," from Clement C. Moore's poem written in 1823, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."

sug·ar·plum

ˈSHo͝oɡərˌpləm/

noun

noun: sugar-plum

a small round candy of flavored boiled sugar.

    There are no plums in a sugar plum confection.  "Plum" in the name of this candy does not mean plum as in the fruit of the same name, but refers to the small size and round or oval shape. The traditional sugar plums contained no fruit, but were instead hardened sugar balls.  The hardened sugar balls often surrounded a seed, nut, or spice.

    “Sugar plum,” is a word that is almost never used.  In the 1600's, to have a “mouth full of sugar plums” meant that you spoke sweetly, possibly covering deceitful intentions.  In the 1700's, “to sugar plum” was a verb, meaning to fuss over or kiss up to someone.  In the 1800's, “plum,” all on its own, came to mean anything delightful, desirable or wonderful.

What was E.T.A. Hoffmann thinking when he created the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker?  I think he wanted someone to delight Clara, and what better way than a Sugar Plum fairy?  A creature of delight and wonderment.  For more information, please check on the links below.  Happy reading!😘💝

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_plum

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEdNd2mTVWQ

nutcrackerballet.net/html/nutcracker_story.html

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Eu9zSAgglY

http://theplate.nationalgeographic.com/2014/12/23/visions-of-sugarplums/

Snow Monsters or Snow Make-Believe?!

This time of the year many parts of the world are blanketed in snow and the atmosphere is full of anticipation for all of the upcoming holidays.  Crystal snow covers the ground (not here, but where I grew up) and it really is a winter wonderland.   When the snow covers the ground or not like here but there is a chill in the air, we do like to snuggle in with a good book under blankets and a cup of tea or maybe a cup of hot cocoa.  Doesn't that sound good?

More adventurous types are snuggled up for climbing snow-covered mountains in freezing temperatures.  Don't forget your thermal undies! 
I wonder if sherpa mothers have to remind their children to put a jacket on and wear their gloves when they go outside? A sherpa is a member of a Himalayan people living on the borders of Nepal and Tibet, renowned for their skill in   mountain-eering.  Some problems someone might experience from the high altitude include headaches, dizzy spells, nausea, shortness of breath, and a loss of appetite.  You definitely need to be fit before you attempt climbing Mount Everest, or even Base Camp.

If you climb very high up in the Himalayas you might even see the Abominable Snow Man known as the Yeti (yeti ˈyedē/ noun a large hairy creature resembling a human or bear, said to live in the highest part of the Himalayas.) People in the Himalayas also know this snow creature by other names such as meh-teh (man-bear)and migoi (wild-man) and some people just call the creature a snowman (kang-mi.)

Similar creatures are Bigfoot, Skunk Ape, Yeren, Yowie, Mande Barung, Orang Pendek, Almas, Barmanou.

There have been many sightings of the yeti by reputable people.  Early on others tried to convince the people who had sighted the yeti that what they had seen was a polar bear.  Polar bears do not live in the Himalayas.  Perhaps someone sighted a Himalayan Brown Bear covered in snow? Check out the links at the end of this blog.

My favorite snowman.  Sorry, Frosty.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_brown_bear

www.livescience.com/25072-yeti-abominable-snowman.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeti

Sea Creatures and a Squirrel

       

     The Loch Ness Monster, Champ, Muc-sheilch, Morag, Lomond Monster, and Ogopogo are just some of the legendary lake and loch sea creatures. I believe the word "Monster" should be dropped from the name of Loch Ness Monster.  Only the first historical account in 565 AD noted the creature as dangerous. St. Columba's sighting of the creature was put to paper one hundred years after the event. Please google St. Columba for the entire event or visit www.Christianity.  After reading the story of how fiercely the creature of Loch Ness went after a man, I remembered an encounter I had with a squirrel. I was staying in a cabin at Yosemite National Park in California.

    A squirrel was furiously scratching at the window to get inside my cabin. The squirrel had managed to get stuck between the window and the screen. The screen had a rather large hole in it. I thought I would help the squirrel by gently guiding it back through the hole in the screen with a walking stick.  After a few minutes I guided the squirrel to the hole so I walked outside to help the squirrel all the way out.  I thought the squirrel and I were having a moment.

      However, the squirrel did not see it that way. The squirrel lunged at me in a what I thought was a completely unprovoked attack.

     Yes, I quickly understood the squirrel did not appreciate "my help." I believe Nessie felt she(?) was under attack from the men.  I think she may have been given the name monster unfairly.  I think the men were aggressive with the creature and then surprised when she (?) did not remain docile. 

     I came to this conclusion because in none of the other sightings is the Loch Ness creature ever referred to as dangerous. What do you think?

Why Do We Love Monsters?

     Welcome to my first Monsters & Fairies blog.  A blog for all ages and totally kid-friendly.  Monsters will be the theme almost every Monday when the blog comes out and occasionally Fairies will be the topic of discussion.   Why are we fascinated by monsters?  Do stories with monsters as the antagonist give us something powerful to fight against, if only in our minds.  Knowing when the story is over you are safe in your home or library and no such foe actually exists.  Or is it simply because they are fun and get us pumped up?  There are so many different types of monsters and each week one will be featured.  What would you look like if you were a monster?  This is what I think I would look like if I were a monster:

This is how I might look if I were a fairy:

     You might see me differently if you were imagining me in monster terms.  Perhaps you would see me like a fairy if you know me.  Or perhaps more like like this:

     Especially if I am asking you to stop talking or to find your overdue book.  Monsters come in all shapes and sizes but they all have interesting stories.  Every week there will be a featured monster and occasionally a fairy tale.  Do you see yourself as a monster or a fairy?  What type of monster or fairy would you be?  Please share your thoughts with me.  Next week sea creatures will be featured.  Remember to stay in bed at night just in case there is a monster under your bed.  Until next time, 😘💗