ELF/ ELVES
European
May be spelled Alfe, Alve, Elve, or Ylf
This is a type of SPRITE or MANNIKIN in British, Icelandic, Scandinavian and Teutonic legend. Originally, the word in Anglo-Saxon meant all fairies, but later denoted a special breed. This was then adapted by other cultures. Elves are tiny human-shaped supernatural creatures that can shape shift at will.
In England the ELF men a said to be like little old men, but the ELF maidens are young and beautiful. It is believed that they live in communities with kingdoms and kings in the same way as humans. They will use their supernatural powers on humans whenever they can, sometimes benevolently but more often with mischievous intent. The ELVES live in the forest and the trees mostly in hollowed out tree trunks. They also live in long burrows and ancient burial mounds where they spring from at night and dance in the moonlight.
In Teutonic mythology the ALFAR are divided into Dark and Light Elves who are malicious and benevolent, respectively. In German folklore, the forest ELF is called SCHRAT.
In Danish folklore the ELLEN or ELLE Folk are particularly malicious towards humans if seen in the woods. They reward a housewife whose home is particularly clean, but are prone to stealing her bread and other things from her kitchen.
In Sweden he ELVES are known as ELVOR, GROVE FOLK or GROVE DAMSELS.
In Iceland they are known as SPAE-WIVES. Sometimes they will be friendly towards humans, and stories are told of them asking for help, but the ELF community is usually quite independent and very powerful, taking terrible revenge on any human who offends them. They may also steal babies, cattle milk and bread or enchant and hold young men in their spell for years at a time. An example of this is the well-known story of RIP VAN WINKLE.
So well known is the harm that ELVES offer to humans, that many conditions and phenomenon have been attributed to them, as follows:
Elf Arrows: Neolithic arrowheads, supposed to have been shot at humans by ELVES.
Elf Bolt: a disease of farm animals caused by ELF arrows
Elf Bore: a piece of wood from which the knot has dropped out.
Elf Cake: an enlargement of the spleen
Elf Child: a CHANGLING
Elf Cup: a stone with a hollow from dripping water
Elf Fire: Will o’ Wisp
Elf Locks: tangles and knots in the hair caused by ELVES tangling the hair at night.
Elf Marked: natural defects at birth or birth marks caused by mischievous ELVES
Elf Twisted: said of a person who suffered a stroke, or of fascinated, deformed vegetation.