I am constantly amazed and impressed by the imagination and ingenuity of people. When I was in Ann Arbor, Michigan, someone recommended that I check out the fairy doors. I am so glad I did. The fairy doors were on business establishments and were a miniature replica of the main door. Some opened some did not. Had we not known to look we would have walked pass them without looking down to discover these treasures. It seems that the fairy doors began to appear in the city unannounced in 2005. Like all fairies the ones in Ann Arbor are surrounded in mystery. But the local, fairyologist, Jonathan B.
Wright, is the authority on these wonderful miniature art doors. On Main Street we saw our first Fairy Door at the Peaceable Kingdom, the perfect place for a Fairy Door because the shop is filled with folk and whimsical works of art. They are a tourist attraction and it is possible to get a walking guide to locate them all. I thought the Ann Arbor Fairy Doors were unique but it turns out there are fairy doors in many places.
A fairy door is often set into the base of a tree, behind which may
be small spaces where people can leave notes, wishes, or gifts for the "fairies." Fairy doors can be purchased commercially and many are public art installations crafted by unknown artists. One should get permission before placing one in a public places. Many placed in parks have been removed by park officials and do-gooders. I was surprised to learn that there is a Fairy Trail in New York. The miniature dwellings were once at Tinker Nature Park in Henrietta, near Rochester, but they were removed because they drew such large crowds they caused damage to the trails. They were relocated Mendon Ponds Park in Honeoye Falls. Mendon Ponds Park is much larger than Tinker Nature Park and has 10 trails. The 40 magical fairy houses have found a great home.
Imagination knows no bounds. In Putnam, Connecticut, there are over a dozen fairy door installations that represent major American cities such as New York, Chicago, and Seattle. The city of Portland, Oregon, has two fairy doors in a northeast community garden. The doors are housed in a miniature fairy garden within the community garden. The fairy garden holds a hotel, a Ferris wheel, and an archery field.
Some use fairy doors to stimulate their children's imaginations and
prompt creative thinking, describing the fairies as creatures that use their magical powers to protect children from bad dreams, grant their wishes if they are well-behaved, and replace lost teeth with small rewards. These are usually near their bedroom door so the fairy can enter the bedroom quietly to protect them. There are also leprechaun doors but they usually appear around St. Patrick’s Day and then disappear. There are also Hobbit doors, Tooth Fairy doors, and elf doors for holiday time many of which can be purchased. There are also online instructions for building miniature doors for all occasions.
I didn’t realize there was such a collection of fairy enthusiasts. Every fall the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut, has three dozen or more miniature fairy-inspired buildings along their Artists’ Trail. They offer classes in creating fairy doors. Fairy doors can be purchased if one doesn’t feel creative or magical enough to create their own.
