Pagan Portals - Where Fairies Meet: Parallels between Irish and Romanian Fairy Traditions

by Daniela Simina

Traditions surrounding fairies are, essentially, a cross-generational compass that helps young and old to orient themselves into the ever-changing cultural landscape. As such, fairy traditions allow people to position themselves on the time-space continuum, not only through perpetuation of values but also through connecting deeper with the subtler realms that surround and interpenetrate consensus reality. Connecting to subtler realms gives access to a body of knowledge built upon the record of interaction between our world and the Other. In Ireland and Romania, fairy traditions are alive and evolving. The study of the parallelism that exists between bodies of lore, past and present, from areas diametrically opposed on the map of Europe, gives scholars, lay people, and spiritual seekers access to an everlasting repository of wisdom.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2023

Reviews

[Mael Brigde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the title of this book, which evokes memories of my aunt telling me about my grandmother. I see the fairies of her stories gathering around the jack-in-the-pulpit plant, which brings a great fondness up in me. Not a bad way to greet a book.

Daniela Simina has serious intentions for her unique inquiry. Although entertaining, this book is meant also to educate. She wants to bring clarity to our understanding of fairies in any culture, and wants us to employ greater self reflection when we come to this lore, to see it through more than our habitual lens. And for those who believe in fairies, she wants to encourage safe and meaningful relationships with them. But primarily this book is exactly what it says on the cover: an exploration of ways that the fairies and fairy lore of two far-flung European cultures resemble each other and where they diverge. The author is herself Romanian and has the great advantage of having grown up with a grandmother who was herself a Romanian medicine woman and fairy seer. She brings a perspective that is unique and valuable.

As a person who mostly gets to read only in short snatchers, I appreciate the brevity of the chapters, which focus on one topic and compare it within the two bodies of fairy lore. These chapters include“ fairies and sports,“ “fairies connection to natural features and phenomena,“ “hags“ (one of my favourites), and so on.

This short book beautifully accomplishes its task, challenging as it does so the narrow focus that commonly exists in English language popular culture of fairies from a small part of the world, and even that generally misunderstood. I look forward to Simina’s next book, which I believe will explore her upbringing with her grandmother and her natural relationship with and understanding of her native fairies.

[Colton]

Very informative and unique. Although this is through a pagan lens, the writing is academic and well informed. Whether you are exploring pagan practices or looking for information on folk cultures this is a good read.

[Patricia Woodruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a terrific book. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because I really think the book would have benefitted from a little more fleshing out. I wanted a lot more detail. However, the book is a terrific addition to an understudied area of Romanian fairy lore. It's a valuable resource showing the commonalities and differences in tales of the fey.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an intriguing and well researched book that compare two different cultures, Irish and Romanian, and their fairy lore.
I loved it as it made me learn new things about fairy and Romanian lore.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Brian Greiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book, both from the historical and supernatural points of view.
The author takes a scholarly approach to comparing the two fairy traditions, but manages to keep the tone of the book quite readable.
I enjoyed it.

[Lolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rate and first hand do comparison with excellent tidbits tucked in. Good reading on non-western-European fae from research and lived experience.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars