thecaffeinebookwarrior:

They are indeed the same thing!  In Irish folklore, calling the Folk by their true name(s) could draw them to you, or worse, be seen as a sign of disrespect.  My great aunts/uncles and great grandmother were Irish immigrants, so really, I’m just keeping with tradition and respecting the Good Gentlemen of the Hills!

In terms of resources:

Wikipedia has a list of beings referred to as fairies.

Here’s Legends and Lore From Europe.

Here’s the A-Z Dictionary of Fairies and the Wee Folk.

Here’s a guide to Celtic folklore.

Listverse also has some great articles on fairies here and here.

It’s also worth noting that in some mythologies, the word “fairy” is also considered disrespectful/a general no-no.

I hope this helps, and happy writing!  ❤