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Farfadets are creatures of French folklore. The word translates variously as " Sprite", "
Despite this reputation, the 18th century French writer AVC Berbiguer believed he was tormented by them, and wrote extensively about them and their depredations. In 1821 he was constrained to publish an autobiography, ''Les Farfadets ou Tous les démons ne sont pas de l'autre monde'' ("The Imps or All the demons are not from the other world"), which was intended as a warning "To all the Emperors, Kings, Princes and Sovereigns of the Four Parts of the World".
Berbiguier: ''Les Farfadets'' (preface)
at psychanalyse.paris.com. Goblins French legendary creatures Sprites (folklore) Brownies (folklore) Leprechaun
Farfadets are creatures of French folklore. The word translates variously as " Sprite", "Imp
IMP or imp may refer to:
* Imp, a fantasy creature
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters
* Imp (She-Ra), a character in ''She-Ra: Princess of Power''
* Imp a character in '' Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony''
* Imp, a character in the '' Clan ...
", " Brownie", or " Leprechaun", though they also resemble the Pixies of Britain's West Country
The West Country (occasionally Westcountry) is a loosely defined area of South West England, usually taken to include all, some, or parts of the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, and, less commonly, Wiltshire, Gloucesters ...
. The term is in general use throughout France, though the creature is local particularly to the Vendée
Vendée (; br, Vande) is a department in the Pays de la Loire region in Western France, on the Atlantic coast. In 2019, it had a population of 685,442.
and Poitou regions. Farfadets also feature in Occitan Occitan may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Occitania territory in parts of France, Italy, Monaco and Spain.
* Something of, from, or related to the Occitania administrative region of France.
* Occitan language
Occitan (; o ...
mythology, particularly in Provence
Provence (, , , , ; oc, Provença or ''Prouvènço'' , ) is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the Italian border to the east; it is bor ...
, where they are known as ''fadets''.
Description
Farfadets are described as being small (some half-meter tall), wrinkled, and brown-skinned; they generally wear tattered brown clothing, or go naked. Farfadets are said to be helpful rather than malicious, though playful and sometimes mischievous. They like to tend horses, which they will groom, or weave ringlets into their manes. They live in woodland, but will also attach themselves to a neighbouring farm or homestead, and complete odd tasks in the fields, in return for a bowl of milk or cream left on the doorstep at night. However they can be frightened away by too much kindness, such as leaving new clothes out for them.A warning
Despite this reputation, the 18th century French writer AVC Berbiguer believed he was tormented by them, and wrote extensively about them and their depredations. In 1821 he was constrained to publish an autobiography, ''Les Farfadets ou Tous les démons ne sont pas de l'autre monde'' ("The Imps or All the demons are not from the other world"), which was intended as a warning "To all the Emperors, Kings, Princes and Sovereigns of the Four Parts of the World".
See also
In French, "Farfadet" can also refer to * Atransient luminous event
Upper-atmospheric lightning and ionospheric lightning are terms sometimes used by researchers to refer to a family of short-lived electrical-breakdown phenomena that occur well above the altitudes of normal lightning and storm clouds. Upper-atmo ...
, known in English as a " Sprite"
* The junior section of the Scouts and Guides of France, the equivalent to the Beavers of Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
countries
* An early submarine of the French Navy, the name ship
The lead ship, name ship, or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable to naval ships and large civilian vessels.
Large ships are very complex and may ...
of its class, which was lost with its crew in 1905
Notes
References
*Édouard Brasey
Édouard Brasey is a French novelist, essayist, scriptwriter and story-teller born on 25 March 1954. Author of more than seventy works, many of which have been translated into English, Russian, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. He specia ...
''Encyclopédie du Merveilleux, Des peuples de la lumière'' (2005)
* Alexis-Vincent-Charles Berbiguier ''Les Farfadets ou tous les démons ne sont pas de l’autre monde'' (1821)
External links
*{{Commonscatinline, FarfadetBerbiguier: ''Les Farfadets'' (preface)
at psychanalyse.paris.com. Goblins French legendary creatures Sprites (folklore) Brownies (folklore) Leprechaun