The Difference – Pixies and Fairies

When you think of pixies or fairies you often think of the same creature. A small human like being that is winged and beautiful. However, pixies and fairies are quite different, and in many legends do not even get along.

Pixies live in gardens and meadows. They prefer to garden themselves because their diet consists of nectar and honey. They are generally peaceful, but will go to war with a fairy over territory if needed. These creatures are not immortal; it is believed they live about 15 to 20 years. Some legends portray them with wings, others without. Most are dressed in green to camouflage with the garden or meadow. All of them have pointy ears.

Every Pixie loves to steal ponies for fun, and they enjoy playing pranks on each other. Not immune to pranking humans, these little creatures also often give domestic animals problems as a way to have fun. They are smaller than their fairy counterparts, averaging about 4 inches in height. They are deathly allergic to silver and even a brush against the metal can send them to their death.

A fairy is about 6 inches in height, and is often considered bossy. While these creatures are portrayed as beautiful winged beings full of magic and mystique, they can be mischievous and war like. Fairies will go to war over property and often make war with their counterparts.

Fairies are immortal and have the ability to grant gifts to people they choose. They have magical powers that allow them to be creative and fly, as well as the ability to disappear when a human approaches. Living wherever they choose, different types of fairies inhabit different areas. Most fairies avoid big cities because they prefer the freedom of open spaces and the fresh air of the country side. Most cities are “inhabited” with other magical creatures such as elves and gnomes.

Fairies dine on fruit and cheese and have the same aversion to silver as a pixie. Fairies have the ability to manipulate the elements, and often do. They enjoy making things such as shoes and will often steal household items from humans to complete their projects.

Both types of creatures have been in human folk lore since the onset of time. Every culture has a story about little winged creatures that bring fortune or trouble. Many of the legends and the associated magical creatures such as brownies and gnomes find their origin in England and Ireland. But every society mentions them at some point.