Fairies in the garden

One hundred years ago there was a big debate about whether fairies were real or make believe. All over the world children of that time were enchanted by stories of little creatures who tended the flowers of every garden. There were many beautifully illustrated children’s books that showed rose fairies, pansy fairies, hollyhock fairies and other beautiful creatures. In these books fairies looked like tiny people with clothes made of flower petals. Maybe because children are so much closer to the ground than adults, fairies always seemed possible to them.

But, 100 years ago, some very important adults also believed in fairies. The famous author Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, believed in fairies and defended their reality to other adults who said they were only make-believe, like the great magician Houdini.

Children and adults can look for fairies in the beautiful gardens of the Fenyes Mansion at the Pasadena Museum of History. Each Spring, the museum has a very special program all about fairies. It includes stories about the wee creatures, tiny crafts, games, and a visit to the Garden Café for Fairy Flower Punch and Elf Cookies that are made just once a year especially for this event.

The third annual fairy party at the Pasadena Museum of History is on Thursday, May 24 from 6-8 p.m. Advance reservations are required for this event and there is a fee for the fairy party. For more information, go to https://www.pasadenahistory.org or call (626) 577-1660, ext. 10.

This Learning Link was provided by the Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut St., Pasadena.