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- changeling, in European folklore, a deformed or imbecilic offspring of fairies or elves substituted by them surreptitiously for a human infant.
www.britannica.com/art/changeling-folklore
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May 10, 2023 · For centuries, changelings were said to be fairy offspring left in place of kidnapped children. But the truth is that many kids believed to be these creatures simply had unknown illnesses.
- Austin Harvey
Some stories tell of changelings who forget they are not human and proceed to live a human life. However, in some stories, changelings who do not forget return to their fairy family, possibly leaving the human family without warning. The human child that was taken may often stay with the fairy family forever.
changeling, in European folklore, a deformed or imbecilic offspring of fairies or elves substituted by them surreptitiously for a human infant. According to legend, the abducted human children are given to the devil or used to strengthen fairy stock.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Changelings are mythical creatures that have been a part of European folklore for centuries. According to legend, changelings were fairy offspring left in place of kidnapped children. In some stories, changelings were said to be sickly and would not grow in size like a normal child.
Supernatural Origin: Changelings are often said to be the offspring of fairies, elves, or other mystical creatures that secretly replace a human baby with their own. These creatures desired human children for various reasons, such as to improve their own offspring’s health, or to have human servants.
Oct 1, 2024 · The changeling legend tells of human children who are stolen by the faeries and replaced with another, often ill or aged, fairy being that assumes the appearance of the human child.
It was thought that fairies could only change their weakly and more starveling elves for the more robust offspring of men before baptism. In the Highlands, children used to be watched until the christening was over, lest they should be stolen or changed by the fairies.
