Welcome back to Folklore Wednesday, cryptids and curious minds!
It’s wild to think this was only the second installment I ever wrote for the blog back in 2022- and it’s still one of the most read posts on The Crippled Cryptid. That post walked so this one could sprint through a faerie ring in full protective gear.
Now that it’s 2025, and Something Wicked (my current and most beloved WIP) has grown into its own tangled forest of inspiration, I wanted to revisit this topic with fresh eyes and deeper roots. My research has only expanded since then, pulling from Irish, Scottish, and Gaelic folklore, while intertwining elements of Germanic myth. My goal has always been to approach these traditions with love, respect, and curiosity- not appropriation. Because yes, it still needs saying: mocking or stealing from other cultures is not “aesthetic,” it’s just disrespectful and gross. This is 2025 people, get with the damn program.
So, let’s talk protection: not from bad vibes, but from the Fae.
❗Don’t Give Your Name
This bears repeating: never give your real name to the Fae.
Names hold power. In many traditions, knowing someone’s true name grants a measure of influence or control over them. If you must give a name, use a false one- and avoid nicknames too. It’s easy to forget in our ultra-online world, but safety starts with boundaries. Your nickname is still a part of you, and part of who you are, you don’t want them owning that.
đź‘• Protective Clothing (Yes, Really)
Wardrobe magic isn’t just for witches. According to folklore:
- Red clothing may repel certain Faeries (though Redcaps and Leprechauns beg to differ).
- Inside-out garments can help keep you from being glamoured or led astray.
- Daisies sewn into hems once protected children from being taken.
- Oatmeal in pockets was thought to keep the Fae away. (Granola girls, you were ahead of your time.)
🧲 Iron: The Faerie Kryptonite
Faeries and cold iron famously don’t mix. Many can’t touch it- or even be near it.
Carrying something simple like an iron nail or wearing a bit of iron jewelry may be enough to protect you. Some legends even suggest a wound from iron may never heal for the Fae, making it not just a shield- but a potential weapon. (Use with caution. Or not at all. Seriously, don’t antagonize ancient magical beings. Although, totally disregard this if you’re being attacked- protect yourself.)
🌿 Herbs, Plants, and Trees
Nature holds power- and protection:
- St. John’s Wort: Protective against enchantment (and available in pill form- modern problems, modern solutions? Just saying)
- Marsh Marigold & Primrose: Guard livestock and homes.
- Four-leaf clovers: Let you see through glamour and illusion.
- Sacred Trees: Never harm hawthorn, oak, or yew. They may be homes- or in some cases graveyards- for the Fae.
Respecting these spaces isn’t just good folklore etiquette; it’s basic human decency. Desecrating sacred land or culture is still disgusting in 2025. That hasn’t changed, and it never will.
🍞 Food and Drink
Never eat Faerie food. It may bind you to their realm.
Time flows differently in the Faerie world, and a single sip could cost you a century- or your soul. If you must accept a gift:
- Salt it: Salt breaks enchantments and purifies.
- Carry yeast-risen bread: For protection or trade. Bread as diplomacy? Always.
- Salt and iron also live in blood and tears. You’ve got more protection than you think. (Sorry for the squeamish and faint of heart.)
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re wandering through the woods or writing your own faerie-touched tale, these bits of lore aren’t just for fun. They reflect beliefs passed down through generations- and deserve our respect.
So, could you protect yourself from the Fae? Do you think you’d remember not to say your name, or to salt the enchanted cupcakes?
Let me know in the comments or on social media! I love your questions, and I’m always down to dig into folklore with fellow magic nerds.
Stay safe, stay respectful, and stay weird.
—The Crippled Cryptid 🌙
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