Create a fairy tea time full of enchantment and magical memories. Want to linger a little longer with the fairies? We’ve got fun ideas for parties too!
Before we get to the fairy tea time, do you remember this story?
It was summertime in Cottingley, a picturesque village nestled in the rolling hills of West Yorkshire, England. Two young cousins, Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, would often escape to the beautiful woodland near their home seeking solace from the grim realities of the time. The year was 1917, and the world was embroiled in the turmoil of World War I. These woods were a magical place where the rippling brook, or “beck” as they called it, and rustling leaves whispered secrets of an enchanting realm just beyond human sight.
One afternoon, Elsie, aged 16, and Frances, 9, decided to capture the beauty of their hidden world with Elsie’s father’s camera. The girls had been captivated by the idea of fairies, inspired by their vivid imaginations and the stories they had read. Determined to share the magic they felt in the woods, they devised a plan to photograph the ethereal beings they believed danced among the flowers and foliage.
Elsie, a talented artist, created delicate paper cutouts of fairies, meticulously detailed and mounted on hatpins. With the props ready, the girls set out to stage their scene. Frances posed by the brook with the paper fairies, a look of innocent wonder on her face, while Elsie clicked the shutter. The resulting photograph showed Frances surrounded by what appeared to be real, live fairies.
The girls presented the photo to Elsie’s father, Arthur Wright, who was initially skeptical but eventually conceded that the image was charming. However, when Elsie’s mother, Polly, saw the photograph, she was convinced it was genuine. The picture found its way to the Theosophical Society, a group deeply interested in spiritualism and the paranormal, and soon, it caught the attention of one of the most famous writers of the time, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Doyle, the creator of the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes, was a fervent believer in spiritualism and eagerly embraced the photographs as proof of the existence of fairies. He published an article in the December 1920 issue of “The Strand Magazine,” featuring the Cottingley Fairies and proclaiming their authenticity. The article caused a sensation, capturing the imaginations of people worldwide who longed for evidence of a mystical world beyond the mundane.
The girls produced more photographs, each showing different fairy scenes, and the fascination grew. While many were enchanted, others were skeptical, questioning the authenticity of the images. Expert photographers analyzed the photos, with opinions divided on whether they were genuine or cleverly staged.
Years passed, and the world changed. The girls grew up, and the photographs remained a curious relic of a bygone era. It wasn’t until the early 1980s that Elsie and Frances, now elderly women, revealed the truth behind the Cottingley Fairies. In a series of interviews, they admitted that the fairies were indeed paper cutouts, and the photographs had been a childhood prank that spiraled out of control.
Despite their confession, Frances maintained until her death in 1986 that one of the photographs, depicting a group of dancing fairies, was genuine. Whether this was a lingering belief or a desire to keep a touch of magic alive, the mystery persisted.
I have always been fascinated by this story, so when the movie, FairyTale: A True Story, came out in theaters in 1997, we were there to see it the day it released. This film has always held a special place in my heart. It is filled with the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside, the clothing of days gone by, a timeless English country cottage, and more! I watch it at least once or twice a year… This shows just how powerful imagination and wonder can be, and that enchantment can be created in the simplest of ways!
A Simple, But Enchanting Fairy Tea Time (or Picnic)
If you want to capture a bit of “fairy magic” for your children in a simple, yet beautiful way, then why not start with creating a fairy-themed tea time? For even more fun, move the tea time outdoors.
You could pull together a simple spread like we did above:
- Fairy Cakes (cupcakes baked in a mini-muffin pan, frosted, then sprinkled with “pixie dust” or edible glitter)
- Fairy Berries (fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc. dipped in white chocolate then sprinkled with pixie dust or rainbow sprinkles)
- Pixie Stix (candy I’ve loved since I was a little girl & may or may not have a hard time resisting…sigh…)
- Twigs (pretzel sticks)
- Toad Stools (half of a cherry tomato secured to half a mozzarella stick with a toothpick)
- Sprite in a tea cup or a floral tea with honey to drink
Or create an elaborate tea time, including this “Fairy Ring” cake (below) like Olivia made.
Poetry for Your Fairy Tea Time
Be sure to include some lovely fairy poems to read, like this one:
Fairies, by Rose Fyleman
There are fairies at the bottom of our garden!
It’s not so very, very far away;
You pass the gardener’s shed and you just keep straight ahead—
I do so hope they’ve really come to stay.
There’s a little wood, with moss in it and beetles,
And a little stream that quietly runs through;
You wouldn’t think they’d dare to come merrymaking there—
Well, they do.
There are fairies at the bottom of our garden!
They often have a dance on summer nights;
The butterflies and bees make a lovely little breeze,
And the rabbits stand about and hold the lights.
Did you know that they could sit upon the moonbeams
And pick a little star to make a fan,
And dance away up there in the middle of the air?
Well, they can.
There are fairies at the bottom of our garden!
You cannot think how beautiful they are;
They all stand up and sing when the Fairy Queen and King
Come gently floating down upon their car.
The King is very proud and very handsome;
The Queen—now you can guess who that could be
(She’s a little girl all day, but at night she steals away)?
Well—it’s Me!
The Ultimate Fairy Tea Time & Party Guide
Add even more enchantment to your tea time or go all out and create a Fairy-themed party, book club, or even summer camp with our Fairy Tea Time & Party Guide!
Step into a world of magic and wonder with our Fairy Tea Time & Party Guide. This beautifully crafted 32-page guide is your ticket to creating a fairy-tale event that will leave your sprites spellbound.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Fairy lore – Discover the rich and captivating history of fairy folklore.
- Fairy poems – Add a touch of literary magic with our collection of enchanting fairy poems.
- A fairy-themed menu with recipes – Delight your guests with a menu fit for a fairy queen, including our show-stopping “Fairy Ring” cake (pictured above).
- Fairyland decorating ideas – Transform your space into a mystical fairyland with our creative decorating tips.
- Fairy dress-up ideas – Inspire your pixies with whimsical dress-up ideas that bring the magic to life.
- Fairy music playlist – Set the perfect mood with a curated Spotify playlist of enchanting fairy music
- Fairy Activities & Games, including:
- Fairy Name Generator – Discover your true woodland-realm identity with our fun and easy-to-use fairy name generator. Are you Florella Bramblebush or Buttercup Silkwing? Find out now!
- Fairy Scavenger Hunt – Embark on a hunt to search for fairy rings and other nature finds in your own backyard.
- Fairy Trivia – A fun game to test your knowledge of fairy lore and glamour (magic)
- Fairy Bingo – Fairy-themed activities fill this card with all sorts of fun ways to bingo!
Books to Enhance Your Fairy Tea Time
Do You Have These Fairy Poems & Flower Fairy Books in Your Library?
Here are few of the “fairy poetry” books that convey the lighthearted, beautiful garden fairies. We’ve been huge Cicely Mary Barker fans for years! No one even comes close to the beauty of her flower fairies (in my opinion at least)!
Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Fairy Poems
Read-Aloud Fairy PoemsThe Complete Book of the Flower FairiesFlower Fairies of the SpringFlower Fairies of the SummerFlower Fairies of the AutumnFlower Fairies of the WinterFlower Fairies of the Garden : Poems and PicturesFlower Fairies of the Wayside: Poems and PicturesFlower Fairies of the TreesHow to Find Flower FairiesFlower Fairies Paper Dolls
Create These Fun Crowns for Your Fairy Tea Time or Party
Add some dress-up to your tea party by creating these fairy crowns ahead of time. All of these supplies were purchased at the Dollar Tree. Choose a flower fairy crown or a woodland fairy crown!
Flower Fairy Crown
Woodland Fairy Crown
Have a Fairy Paint Party!
Gather your woodland sprites together and let them create their own beautiful fairy with this lesson from the Masterpiece Society:
Fairy Wings
Not gonna lie…Olivia and I had way too much fun creating our fairy crowns and wings for ARTventure into Neverland. I still have my wings hanging up in my art studio in front of my windows. I love the way the iridescent cellophane catches the light.
Here is the tutorial we used to create our wings.
Beautiful Fairy Gift Ideas
If you are looking for beautiful fairy-inspired gifts (beyond the cutesy cartoonish variety), then check out some of these ideas. I love how they all convey ethereal, enchanting fairies.
Vintage Trio of Fairies with Flowers Illustration Blank Notebook Journal LinedPaperblanks | Olive Fairy | Lang’s Fairy Books | Hardcover | Ultra | Lined | Elastic Band Closure | 144 Pg | 120 GSMFairies – Flower Garden Fairy Journal: Beautiful Whimsical Purple Fairy tending her Wildflower Flower GardenAlritz Fairy Lantern Craft Kit for Kids -DIY Fairy Jar Toys Gift for Girls Ages 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Years Old- Flicking Candle Night Lights Craft Projects Party Centerpiece BirthdaySUMFAN Fairy Necklace for Teen Girls,Birthstone Pendant Gift for Girls White Gold Plated Austrian Crystal Jewelry Gift (Rainbow)MATIHAY Flower Fairies Acrylic Window Hanging, Fairyland Wall Hanging Spring Summer Garden Decor Gift for Girls, Mom, Grandma (C, 8Tryme Solar Wind Chimes Changing Colors Fairy Wind Chime Outside Lights Windchimes Outdoor Unique Decorative Mobile Gifts for Mother’s Day Birthday Thanksgiving ChristmasHapinest Make Your Own Flower Crowns and Bracelets Craft Kit for Girls Gifts Ages 6 7 8 9 10 Years Old and UpSolar Lanterns, Outdoor Garden Hanging Metal Bronze Star Moon Fairy Lanterns, Set of 1,9.3 Inch Waterproof Flickering Flameless Candle Mission Lights for Patio,Table,Pathway,Balcony,Party DecorativeSUMMIT COLLECTION Pondering Fairy on Lotus Fantasy Art Nouveau Michelle Jewelry Box Display Decoration, 3 InchesSuyorpe Flower Fairy Garden Decor,Garden Fairy Statues Outdoor,Solar Powered Outdoor Fairy Figurine Accessories,Patio Lawn Yard Porch, Resin Ornaments for Outside Gifts,9.45 Inches TallZEERSHEE 60mm 3D Laser Engraved Crystal Fairy & Moon Ball Figurine 3D Crystal Ball Sphere with Stand Glass Paperweights Table Decor for Girls Daughters
Let us know in the comments your ideas for creating a beautiful fairy tea time!
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