Korrigans – the Fairies of Brittany

http://celtsandmyths.mzzhost.com/korrigans.html

The Korrigans were the tiny female fairies of Brittany in north-west France. They were regarded as the smallest of the fabled “little people”. The Korrigans were particularly fond of sacred wells, fountains, rivers and springs where they could be seen combing their long, blond hair.

The fairies of Brittany were said to be only two or three inches (or five to seven centimetres) tall and surprisingly strong for their size. They were described as well proportioned, miniature women with long, flowing blond hair which they combed constantly.

A long white veil was worn around their bodies and tied in the middle. Some versions of fairy women said they could fly in the air on wasp-like wings.

A Korrigan took the shape of an old crone in daylight with red eyes, white hair and deeply wrinkled skin. At night it changed into beautiful, seductive woman.

Men were merely the tiny fairy's playthings as it could make any man fall hopelessly in love with it or destroy him at will. The men who accidentally came across the fairy women in remote woods were punished, sometimes severely. The Korrigans were known to have killed, married or take mortal men by force to the supernatural realm of the Otherworld.

The tiny fairies were fairly friendly towards people. Those who met a Korrigan were advised to be wary as they earned a reputation for being sensitive creatures and easily offended.

The Korrigans were semi-divine beings and so immortal. They possessed numerous supernatural powers as, for example, the ability to make themselves invisible or change their shape at will. Their magical abilities were renowned in local tradition as they could cast evil spells on people as well as foretell the future to those who sought them out.

People were most likely to meet Korrigans in the spring and summer time as they hibernated during the cold weather in winter. The little beings awoke from their deep sleep when the weather was warmer in the spring.

Springs, streams and wells were rumoured to be some of their favourite haunts and where they were often seen combing their long golden hair. Local tradition said the Korrigans guarded wells, fountains, rivers and other places near water which were sacred pagan sites of worship in the distant past.

Historians believe the Korrigans were remnants of an earlier pagan goddess of nature called Korrigan. Korrigan was venerated in Gaul, or modern day France. It is thought the cult of the goddess originated in Brittany and spread to modern day Jersey in the Channel Islands.

The goddess Korrigan was portrayed as a small, translucent deity associated with nature with a special connection to sacred places near water. Sacred shrines found near springs, fountains and wells were thought to be blessed by the goddess.

The Korrigans, or the Corrigans, were said to be the priestesses who attended to the goddess Korrigan and were also associated with areas of water. Some believe they were lost human souls and doomed to wander the earth after suffering a tragic death.

Historians are of the opinion the fairy women were echoes of druidesses from Brittany's pagan past. Their well known wanton and immoral desires were thought to be part of a religious rite that was performed by the priestesses of the cult of the goddess Korrigan.