Fairies and Butterflies

I don't know you but I'm very fascinated by legends and myths. Beside the ones about hauntings, I also like the ones about magical creatures. In the country I live apparently there have been - or still are! who knows!- some, from fairies to even dragons. For instance, there's a church with a giant bone hanging from the ceiling of the main hall which local legend says it belonged to a dragon who used to guard the lake in that area. (I will go check this out soon ^^)

Now I would like to share with you a place I went to visit last week. It's called Butterfly Arc and The Fairy Wood and it's a place where you can see hundreds of living butterflies of all kind from all over the world (including the butterfly you see on the top of this blog :P). They have created a natural enviroment so good that butterflies even live longer in there than in their natural habitat. At the entrance of the Butterfly Arc they show you the main species of these lovely creatures so that you get prepared to what you are going to see next.

Do you see anything familiar among these ones? eheh.. :)

These were just some of those exposed. To see them alive, you remain stunned by their beauty:

The butterfly coccoons

Two intruders!! There was also a little exposition of reptiles, spiders and insects inside the butterfly area.

When you exit the arc you find yourseld in the Fairy Wood. Right before the exit you find yourself in a little cavern where they show you the remainings of magical creatures like gnomes, goblins, fairy-like creatures or others. Along the road they put drawings of the magical creatures which are supposed to be found in that area and the description of their powers (good or evil). It is believed that fairies and butterflies are very connected to each other. Could a fairy be the next stage of a butterfly? :)

A rock labyrinth which was buit to make the place look more magical.

There was also a show many kinds of local witches and explanations of their supposed powers.

Inside the park there was also the cage with the nocturnal butterflies, unfortunately many were hidden behind the trees and the only pictures I could take:

I also had the chance to see one of the weirdest animals on earth...:S

LOL

There was also a fairy circle near the labyrinth. It's a natural occurring ring or arc of mushrooms which is believed to be be either created by fairies, witches or a gate to an elfic world.

"Fairies are magical beings who create the circles by dancing within them. Myths tell of mortal people entering fairy rings and suffering for it. Some believe that anyone stepping into an empty fairy ring will die young. Those violating fairy perimeters become invisible to those outside and may be unable leave the circle. The fairies force intruders to dance till exhausted, dead, or in the throes of madness.

The only safe way, according to some beliefs, to investigate a fairy ring is to run around it nine times only. A tenth lap would nullify the effect. Doing this allows the runner to hear the fairies dancing underground. It must be done under a full moon, and in the direction the sun travels during the day. It is also said that wearing a hat backwards confuses the fairies and stops them from doing the wearer any harm." 

"Victorian society believed that fairies, elves and witches were all closely associated with one another, and malevolent toward humans. Scandinavian and Celtic traditions have it that fairy rings are caused by elves dancing, just as witches and fairies do. One Scottish woman claimed that the mushrooms were used as seats and tables for dining by the magical beings, while a Welsh girl claimed that the fungi were used as umbrellas."

"Fairy rings also occupy a prominent place in European folklore as the location of gateways into elfin kingdoms, or places where elves gather and dance. They are called "sorcerers' rings" in France, and "witches' rings" in German, where folk believe they are most active on 'Walpurgisnacht' – Hallowe'en to us. According to the local folklore, a fairy ring appears when a fairy, pixie, witch or elf appears."

Source: www.environmentalgraffiti.com