The Legend of Fairy Crosses | Blue Ridge, GA (2024)

See a collection of fairy crosses at Pezrok in downtown Blue Ridge.

Fairy Cross is another name for staurolite crystals, minerals found in old rocks of the Eastern U.S., and they are especially abundant in Fannin County. What makes these natural crosses so appealing? The mystical qualities and the curious makeup of fairy crosses have appealed to the superstitious nature nature of people for centuries.

Many famous people, including Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Edison and Theodore Roosevelt, have kept them as good luck charms. Legend has it that the Cherokee Indians shed tears of sorrow as they traveled the Trail of Tears. Their teardrops fell to the ground and formed tiny crosses of stone.

You can take a look at a collection of fairy crosses at Pezrok located at 524 East Main Street in downtown Blue Ridge. Owner Jim Korzep has a great display. Old time rockhounds say Georgia is the perfect place to begin and end your hunt for fairy crosses; they are even designated as the Georgia State Mineral. But some specimens of the mineral can be of unusually high quality, like those found in Fannin County. According to the Lapidary Journal just above the Georgia line, in Copperhill Tennessee, staurolites are found with garnets.

Staurolite gets its name from two Greek words, stauros meaning cross, and lithos, meaning stone. The name was coined because of the stone's curious tendency to form twins that cross at various angles.

The Legend of Fairy Crosses | Blue Ridge, GA (4)

Jan Hackett

Blue Ridge Georgia Tourism

Related Stories & Events

The Legend of Fairy Crosses | Blue Ridge, GA (2024)

FAQs

The Legend of Fairy Crosses | Blue Ridge, GA? ›

Legend has it that the Cherokee Indians shed tears of sorrow as they traveled the Trail of Tears. Their teardrops fell to the ground and formed tiny crosses of stone. You can take a look at a collection of fairy crosses at Pezrok located at 524 East Main Street in downtown Blue Ridge.

What are the fairy stones in Georgia? ›

Fairy Crosses are probably the most tangible, myth-legend in Fannin County, Georgia. They are referred to as crosses due to their shape. The mineral name for “fairy crosses” is staurolite. The staurolite is considered to be the Georgia state mineral.

What is the story of the fairy stone? ›

Legend of the Fairy Stones*

One day an elfin messenger arrived from a city far away and brought news of the death of Christ. When the fairies heard the story of the crucifixion, they wept and as their tears fell upon the ground, they crystallized to form beautiful crosses.

Where do fairy crosses come from? ›

The Legend of the Fairy Cross derives from the Cherokee Indians and thought to be over 2000 years old! It is said that long, long, ago fairies inhabited a certain quiet and remote region in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The fairies roamed freely, enjoying the beauty and serenity of that enchanted place.

What is a fairy cross stone? ›

Staurolite, also known as Fairy Stone or Fairy Cross, is a nesosilicate mineral that naturally occurs in cross shapes (cruciform). The minerals usually cross at a 60 or 90 degree angle, with some specimens representing a perfect perpendicular cross.

What are the fairy crosses in Blue Ridge GA? ›

Legend has it that the Cherokee Indians shed tears of sorrow as they traveled the Trail of Tears. Their teardrops fell to the ground and formed tiny crosses of stone. You can take a look at a collection of fairy crosses at Pezrok located at 524 East Main Street in downtown Blue Ridge.

Are fairy stones rare? ›

Fairy Stone State Park acquires its unique name from the stone crystals known as Fairy Stones that can be found in the park. In case you are unfamiliar with Fairy Stones, there is a legend, and these unique "stones" are rare and only found in a few places across the globe.

What is the myth of fairy rock? ›

Tradition says that along this old Roman road fairies make their home. With, Cumbria's “faery king” and Celtic god, King Eveling holding his court here. There is Fairy Rock on the coast at Saltom, near Whitehaven. The rock is associated with the tale of a fairy queen who falls in love with a human.

What is the spiritual meaning of the fairy stone? ›

Fairy Stone honours the Goddess and Divine Feminine energy that gives and nurtures all of life. Teaching humility, patience, and compassion, it deepens an appreciation of the sacredness of your body and spiritual presence on Earth.

What are the powers of the fairy stone? ›

The Calcite Fairy Stone is said to be a powerfully protective stone and is often used as a talisman to ward off evil. This crystal is also said to be helpful in promoting feelings of calm and peace, and it is believed to be helpful in grounding the user.

What religion are fairies from? ›

Various folk theories about the origins of fairies include casting them as either demoted angels or demons in a Christian tradition, as deities in Pagan belief systems, as spirits of the dead, as prehistoric precursors to humans, or as spirits of nature.

Where do fairies appear? ›

It can appear as a dwarf creature typically having green clothes and hair, living underground or in stone heaps, and characteristically exercising magic powers to benevolent ends; as a diminutive sprite commonly in the shape of a delicate, beautiful, ageless winged woman dressed in diaphanous white clothing, inhabiting ...

Where can fairy stones be found? ›

Fairy Stone State Park, located in Patrick County, Virginia, is the largest of the original six state parks that opened on June 15, 1936, and is home to the mysterious "fairy stones", or staurolite. The stone, prevalent in the region, may have the St. Andrew's or Roman shape.

Where can I find fairy cross rocks? ›

Cross Rocks are a rarity in the United States. Blanchard Dam is one of the few locations in the United States that Cross Rocks can be found. It is said that President Theodore Roosevelt wore one mounted as a watch-charm. The Royalton Museum hosts a collection of Cross Rocks on display.

What does the fairy cross staurolite mean spiritually? ›

The fairy crosses resonate well with base or root chakras, combining energy from Mother Gaia with personal power. The Third Eye chakra is responsible for your personal intuition. With the Staurolite, you will have an easier time following your instincts and understanding where your natural spirits guide you to.

What causes fairy stones? ›

Understanding How Fairy Stones Are Formed

Geological forces such as metamorphism, crystallization, and weathering contribute to the formation of these enchanting formations, shaping their intricate structures.

What is the fairy stone good for? ›

The stone is said to be helpful in promoting inner child work, creativity, good fortune, and protection. Additionally, the crystal can help to open your intuition and psychic abilities. The Calcite Fairy Stone is a great crystal for those who are looking to connect with their spiritual side.

What is the white stone found in Georgia? ›

Veins of pure white calcite are common in the limestones of northwest Georgia.

What is the meaning of fairy rocks? ›

Fairy Stone Meaning: Motherly Love

Grounded and supported by the beauty of nature, it invites you to gently surrender and reconnect to your soul. Each stone takes on a unique shape that can depict an animal form or human figure.

How do fairy stones form? ›

How are they created? The formation of the fairy stones would be explained by the withdrawal of the glaciers that used to recover the land, as well as erosion, sedimentation, and bacterial activity.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Neely Ledner

Last Updated:

Views: 5967

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Neely Ledner

Birthday: 1998-06-09

Address: 443 Barrows Terrace, New Jodyberg, CO 57462-5329

Phone: +2433516856029

Job: Central Legal Facilitator

Hobby: Backpacking, Jogging, Magic, Driving, Macrame, Embroidery, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Neely Ledner, I am a bright, determined, beautiful, adventurous, adventurous, spotless, calm person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.