The tiny faeries of Lincolnshire are referred to as ‘Strangers’, small
creatures with arms and legs that are as thin as threads, and on the ends of these,
enormous hands and feet.
They can be seen scampering about the flat lands of the Fens wearing their
distinctive yellow hats in the shape of toadstools, the rest of their clothing
is just the normal green jacket and breeches. Apart from this, their appearance is
quite odd; they have long noses, great wide mouths out of which their tongues
have a tendency to loll.
Up until quite recently, offerings were left for these people on flat stones around
the Fens, usually the first ears of corn and the first new potatoes of the crop.
Bread and milk and also Beer would be left upon the fireplaces of the locals' homes
to ensure a good harvest for the following year, for the ‘Strangers’ were believed to
help the corn ripen and all things to grow.
If neglected, these faeries can be vindictive, affecting harvests, and even the birth rate!
from Faeries and Folklore of the British Isles
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