Throughout the world, fairies have always been the symbol of beauty, magic, romance and luck. There are very few countries in the world where there isn't a story or two about some kind of fey-like creature. While some fairies are relatively unknown and their names have never hit the headlines, here are three of the most famous fairies of all time.



With the Upturned Nose & Twinkly Toes: Tinkerbell

Who has not heard of Tinkerbell, the "spritely" little fairy from the movie Peter Pan? Literally one of the quietest fairies of them all, she is also the most famous of them all. Thoughts of Tinkerbell conjure up images of magical fairy dust accompanied by the magical sound of tinkling bells. Her penchant for getting herself into trouble is legendary.

What would Wendy, John and Michael have done without that magical fairy dust that made their dreams of adventure come true?

Walt Disney, the creator of Tinkerbell was a man of magic; so much so one wonders if he himself wasn't some kind of fairy disguised in mortal wrappings. His movie "Peter Pan", based on the story of the boy that never grew up just wouldn't be the same without this precocious tiny little fairy with all the big personality. Tinkerbell may not be a historical fairy, but she sure is a famous one. She is the one all little girls look for when they are in need of some of that magical fairy dust.

The Queen of Fairies: Titania

Titania, the Queen of the Fairies, was created in the mind of William Shakespeare. As Queen of the Fey in his work A Midsummer Night's Dream, she was beautiful, powerful, jealous and cunning. Shakespeare "birthed" Titania after reading a book about the Titans, brothers and sisters of the Greek god, Zeus.

Since her first appearance, Titania has become the symbol for women everywhere who love to have a good quarrel with their husbands. Titania isn't just known for her role in Shakespeare's work, she has also made debuts in the American animated television show "Gargoyles" and the motion picture, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", with none less than the gorgeous Michelle Pfeiffer playing Titania.

An Irish Legend: Aoibheal

In Irish legend, fairies are as old as the land itself. Children of the goddess Diana or the Tuatha di Daanan, they are the very breath and life of the Emerald Isle. Fairies are rumored to live among the people within hills known as Fairy Mounds. Every mound or kingdom has a king and a queen. One particular mound north of Munster is ruled by the beautiful and famous Queen Aoibheal (pronounced Ah'veel). As legend goes, Aoibheal foreknew the outcome of a vicious battle at Clontarf and tried to warn her people about it.

In more popular media, Queen Aoibheal is a key character in the Highlander series of books by author Karen Marie Moning. Here, she is depicted as a beautiful, ancient, powerful and vain queen that does all she can to uphold the treaty between the races; mortal man and immortal fey. Although she has a king, she would rather dally with her super hunky jester, Adam Black.

Fairies inspire flights of fancy and dreams of dashing adventures. Historical or not, fairies have a very important part in the culture of today. Without fairies, where would Peter Pan be? Without fairies, where would every little girl be?