What's the difference between an angel and a fairy? (2024)

What's the difference between an angel and a fairy?

The nature of both creatures has been debated over the centuries and it is still not clear what they actually are. Angels began (in the Old Testament) as anonymous messengers of God but evolved, via St Dionysius, Aquinas and Islamic scholarship, into immortal denizens of the heavenly realm and, in effect, a limited manifestation of the mind of God. Their appearance, though guessed at by medieval artists, is never really described, although there are some early Israelite representations of sphinx-like cherubim.

Fairies, on the other hand, tend to be associated with pagan myth or religion and most cultures contain within their folklore creatures that approximate to fairies. They are generally thought of as supernatural beings who live alongside humans, possibly within a slightly different dimension to ours. Fairies are either immortal, or extremely long-lived, and come in a variety of usually humanoid shapes and sizes.

Some writers have seen similarities between fairy activities, eg the kidnapping of humans and their offspring, and the modern alien abduction phenomenon, which features small, grey, pixie-like extraterrestrials. This is possibly because they are, respectively, ancient and modern versions of, essentially, the same folkloric tradition.

Geoff Clifton, Solihull, West Midlands

Four-year-old Arthur explained the difference to me at Christmas: an angel is white and a fairy is pink.

Jean Davidson Kirk, Sturton le Steeple, Nottinghamshire

See Also
Fairy Wings

One lives in heaven, the other inthe garden.

Anna Walker, Southampton

It's simple. An angel is a servant of God and a fairy is what you get to cross the Mersey.

Lushattic

Angels are asexual, surely; and they don't have wings. Fairies, on the other hand, have two sexes and wings. Angels also are immortal. Fairies die if middle- and upper-class children don't clap hands in pantos.

iftheseshadows

Fairies don't dance on the head of a pin.

mabrow

"I don't believe in fairies, even if they exist" – Brendan Behan.

thehandofGord

If the UK banks had not been bailed out by taxpayers, what would life in Britain be like now?

If we hadn't bailed out the banks, life would be better in Britain – but only provided we had bailed out the depositors rather than the shareholders. In protecting the right people the way we did, we ended up bailing out the wrong 'uns too. A failed bank or two would have done wonders in bringing the rest into line, would have cost the country much, much less and would have ensured that those responsible for the mess bore a burden of their own creation. Sadly, however, the conmen who convinced their clients to risk their money proved equally adept at conning the Treasury into helping them avoid the consequences of their own irresponsibility.

KTBFFH

Better. And richer. But more boring – what would Guardian readers moan about?

Maria Petersen, London N6

Many classic novels were first published in serial form in magazines. Does this ever happen now, and ifnot,why?

Tom Wolfe's 1987 novel The Bonfire of the Vanities was first serialised in the American magazine Rolling Stone in 1984-85, as a deliberate homage to his Victorian predecessors. I enjoyed reading the Rolling Stone version, but Wolfe later told an interviewer: "In this day and age there isn't much point to it. People do not read that way. If people want stories serially they'll go to television."

Warren Kovach, Isle of Anglesey

Can it really be true that no one wrote in to nominate the wonderful Posy Simmonds for Gemma Bovery and Tamara Drewe? Now, where was it that these splendid illustrated novels first appeared in serial form?

Peter King, London W5

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What's the difference between an angel and a fairy? (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between an angel and a fairy? ›

Fairies are small and angels are usually our size. Cherubs are usually shown as human babies or young children. – Fairies are of the earth and angels are from the heavens. – Angels are religious and fairies, not so much, although some do regard them as spiritual beings.

What do fairies represent in the Bible? ›

In the Bible, fairies are referenced in different forms. In the book of Psalms, they are mentioned as "angels of God," highlighting their connection to the spiritual realm. Fairies are also associated with nature in the Bible, as they are depicted as messengers or protectors of the environment.

What is the spiritual meaning of a fairy? ›

Fairy symbolizes games, growth, and illusions. Fairies are not straightforward. They are complicated beings on their own path of growth. They slip in between realms with their alluring charm to test others and themselves. They enjoy games, testing boundaries, and concealing their motives (even from themselves).

Do fairies always have wings? ›

Some depictions of fairies show them with footwear, others as barefoot. Wings, while common in Victorian and later artworks, are rare in folklore; fairies flew by means of magic, sometimes perched on ragwort stems or the backs of birds. Modern illustrations often include dragonfly or butterfly wings.

Can fairies have feathered wings? ›

Fairy wing types vary greatly, seemingly random, even among related fairies. Some reflect those of existing creatures, such as butterflies, bats, or dragonflies. Others have feathers or scales but may not look like bird or dragon wings.

What is the difference between fairies and angels? ›

Fairies are small and angels are usually our size. Cherubs are usually shown as human babies or young children. – Fairies are of the earth and angels are from the heavens. – Angels are religious and fairies, not so much, although some do regard them as spiritual beings.

Are fairies in Christianity? ›

Belief in elves and other fairy-like beings originates from before the Christianisation of Europe, and such creatures only came to be described as 'Pagan' from the Middle Ages. Only once these beliefs had segued into later Christian culture did they become associated with the angels and demons of Christian cosmology.

Is a fairy like an angel? ›

'Fairies are real spiritual beings, just as angels are real spiritual beings but they exist at different levels of vibration, have different roles, and varying levels of consciousness.

What makes someone a fairy? ›

fairy, a mythical being of folklore and romance usually having magic powers and dwelling on earth in close relationship with humans.

What is the role of a fairy? ›

Fairies often symbolize magic, enchantment, and the mystical realm. They can be portrayed as benevolent or mischievous beings, and their inclusion in a fantasy narrative can add elements of wonder, whimsy, and supernatural intrigue.

Do fairies exist yes or no? ›

In modern day, fairies have been associated with children's books, resulting in the moniker, “fairy tales,” according to Live Science. Though the belief in fairies still exists to present day, there is no concrete proof for or against the existence of fairies.

What power do fairies have? ›

In literature, fairies have a lot of magical powers. These powers include teleportation, telekinesis, object manipulation, enchantments, nature manipulation, and many more.

What is a male fairy called? ›

“Fairy” is a non-gendered word, unless an individual fantasy author makes it different for their story. “Nymph,” on the other hand, is feminine. The original meaning of the word was “bride.” And “satyr” is male, though late in antiquity artists made up “satyresses.”

What are wingless fairies called? ›

Surprisingly, a fairy with a condition causing them to be born without wings is known as an elf. So that's where the term “elf” comes from!

What is a fairy with no wings called? ›

Rani is one of the lesser known fairies, but in Pixie Hollow she is one of the most important. Rani cut off her own wings to save Mother Dove who is responsible for all pixie dust. Without Mother Dove and pixie dust, everyone in Never Land would grow old.

What are fairies a symbol of? ›

Fairies in these myths may be of the more cartoonish variety and signify simply love, magic and springtime, but most signify things like death, sexual depravity, abduction and general immorality. This exhibition looks at representation of fairies within art of many different mediums and time periods.

What religion believes in fairies? ›

Faerie Faith is a Wiccan branch from the "Old Dianic" tradition (later renamed McFarland Dianic) through the work of Mark Roberts and his high priestess, Epona.

What God do fairies worship? ›

The ultimate goddess of fairies could be said to be Danu, the ancient Mother Goddess of the Tuatha de Danann, from whom all the Gaelic fairies descended, and whom they still worship as their High Goddess.

What is the original idea behind fairies? ›

The first tales of fairies date back to Greek mythology, where fairies protected the Earth with vigor and might. In the 1400s, England came up with a new idea of “l*ttle people” who were either nice or evil. This invoked fear in the British, and the average citizen avoided every place that fairies lived.

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