''In English and Scottish folklore, the name given to a small, industrious and kindly sprite believed to do helpful work at night.
According to legend, Brownies are meager, shaggy, and wild in their appearance, usually making their quarters in a unused part of the residence. At daytime they lurk in the remote recesses of the old houses they delight to haunt; at night they diligently employ themselves in any laborious task which they think might be acceptable to the family to whose service they devote themselves.
Brownies do not like to be seen and will work only under the cover of darkness, at night, customarily in exchange for small gifts or food. They are supposed to enjoy porridge, cream, or bread and milk. One should never call these gifts payments or misuse their labor, because the Brownies will then leave the house or worse yet, turn into Boggarts.
The Ùruisg was a solitary fairy of Scottish Gaelic tradition, a half-man and half- goat, but not satyr-like, despite appearances. He is a tougher, hirsute Brownie, with a particular fondness for dairy products, but is also given to helping at household chores, especially churning butter and cleaning.
Not surprisingly, he was feared by milkmaids, who made regular libations of milk or cream to charm him off, or to secure his favor.''
Taken from here.
I am rather sure in some way or another we've all heard of creatures like this. Whether they be from popular movies or books or stories, or perhaps from some old wives tale.
My question would be, have you ever known someone who had an encounter with these types of beings? Or perhaps you yourself?
Have you heard of any other creatures like this? And do you think these 'fairies' are the opposite of poltergeists? Or perhaps there is an opposite type of fairy to their helpfulness?
