Fenodyree

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Fenodyree

The Fenodyree (also known as phynodderee, phynnodderee, fynnoderee or fenoderee; pronounced [fəˈnɑðəɾi]) is the Manx name for a brownie. A brownie or broonie are household spirits that out to assist the inhabitants while the people are asleep. They are generally given offerings of a bowl of milk or cream, which is left by the hearth.

The term 'Fenodyree' consists of Manx words fynney meaning 'hair, fur' and oashyree meaning 'stockings', or possibly from Swedish: fjun, lit. 'down'. although this "hairy stockings" etymology may be conjectural. The etymology appears to fit the description of the Fenodyree.

Description

The Fenodyree is a small fae, who is envisioned as a "hairy spirit of great strength". The Fenodyree is described as a large nocturnal creature with fiery eyes. According to the Isle of Man, the Fenodyree is a hairy spirit or fairy that carries out household chore, much like other brownies.

It is said that the Fenodyree can be stronger than any man, it is even capable of threshing an entire barn full of corn in a single night. Although helpful, Fenodyree is regarded as generally unintelligent and unpredictable. However, the Fenodyree is a very rare sight and will disappear at any sight of trouble.

It is said that the Fenodyree is a 'fallen' fairy, those who had been banished from the elfin-king for having paid his addresses to a pretty Manks maid, who lived in a bower beneath the blue tree of Glen Aldyn, and for deserting the fairy court during the re-hollys vooar yn ouyr, or harvest moon, to dance in the merry Glen of Rushen.

The image was uploaded by Timothy S. Brannan to https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2020/11/monstrous-mondays-fenodyree.html?m=1

Tales and Myths

Gift of clothing

One Manx folktale tells of how the Fenodyree once tried to round up a flock of sheep and had more trouble with a small, hornless, grey one than any of the others; the "sheep" he had so much difficulty with turned out to be a hare. The same mistake is also attributed to a brownie from Lancashire and the story is also told in western North America. Like other brownies, the Fenodyree is believed to leave forever if he is presented with clothing. In one story, a farmer of Ballochrink gave the Fenodyree a gift of clothes in gratitude for all his work. The Fenodyree was offended and lifted each item of clothing, reciting the various illnesses each one would bring him. The Fenodyree then left to hide away in Glen Rushen alone.

Stone mover

An­other tale Train (1845), pp. 149–151 de­scribes how a gen­tle­man wish­ing to build a large house "a lit­tle above the base of "Snafield moun­tain" (Snaefell), at a place called Tholt-e-Will or 'Will's Barn' (in the orig­i­nal tale spelt Sholt-e-will)" The rocks for build­ing this ed­i­fice (in­clud­ing an enor­mous block of white stone) needed to be quar­ried from a place near the shore. These were won­drously trans­ported in one night by a phynn­od­deree. But when the gen­tle­man left a set of cloth­ing as rec­om­pense, the hairy one de­clared "Bayrn da'n chone, dy doogh da'n choine. ('Cap for the head, alas, poor head/ Coat for the back, alas, poor back/ Breeches for the breech, alas, poor breach. / If these be all thine, thine can­not be the merry Glen of Rushen')". In the tale, the hairy phynn­od­deree sub­se­quently de­parted in a "melan­choly wail", de­clar­ing that his voice could thence­forth be heard in the whistling winds of the moun­tains, mourn­ing the loss of his Fairy Bower.

In Modern Culture

Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx written by John Rhys

The Fenodyree are present within the educational book, written by Welsh Scholar, John Rhys. In chapter 4, he describes the myth of the Fenodyree, while chapter 5 is a tale of 'The Fenodyree and his Friends'.

Rousseau and Alan Garner written by Jacqueline Rose

In this piece, the two central characters are guided by a Fenodyree down a hidden path to their father.