Sprite (creature)
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
- This article is about the legendary creatures. For other uses of the word "sprite", see sprite (disambiguation).
The term sprite is a broad term referring to a number of legendary creatures. The term is generally used in reference to elf-like creatures, including fairies, dwarves, and the likes of it; but can also signify various spiritual beings, including ghosts. The term is chiefly used in regards to elves and fairies in European folklore, and in modern English is rarely used in reference to spirits or other mythical creatures. The word "sprite" is derived from the Latin "spiritus" (spirit). Variations on the term include "spright" (the origin of the adjective "sprightly", meaning "sprited" or "lively") and the Celtic "spriggan".
The belief in diminutive beings such as elves, fairies, pixies, gnomes, Japanese yōkai and various Slavic fairies has been common in many parts of the world, and might to some extent still be found within Neopagan spiritual and religious movements such as "Druidry" and Ásatrú. The belief in spiritual beings, particularly ghosts, is almost universal to human culture.
External links
- Fae Dictionary (http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/tigris/567/id51.htm)
- Swedish Myths (http://www.morion.com/morion/wood/beings.html)
Categories: Sprites | Fairies | Ghosts
