There are two main courts of the Fae: the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. The Seelie Court consists of winged fairies, elves, and gnomes, while the Unseelie Court is home to darker creatures like ogres and goblins.
The Seelie Court, often considered the “good” faeries, are known for their kindness to humans. They aid the poor and elderly, provide seed corn to hardworking yet unlucky farmers, and give gifts to those who’ve helped them—especially those who’ve shown kindness in return.
In contrast, the Unseelie Court, the “bad” faeries, are notorious for bringing harm and misfortune. They kidnap people, particularly babies who fall under their influence, steal goods, and even kill livestock.
This distinction between the good and bad courts comes from Scottish folklore, where these two factions were divided. The word seelie itself comes from the Anglo-Saxon gesælig/sællic, meaning “happy” or “prosperous.”
The Seelie Court rules from Midsummer to Midwinter, while the Unseelie Court dominates the darker half of the year, from Midwinter to Midsummer. Both courts, however, share a love for liminal spaces—places where one thing transitions into another, like where the sidewalk meets the grass or where night meets dawn. Offerings of beer, honey, and eggshells to sit on are especially favored by these magical beings.
