A-Z Blog Challenge: F is for Familiar

Welcome to Letter F of the A-Z Blog Challenge.
My theme is Creatures in Paranormal Fiction.
To learn more about this blog hop and check out other participating sites, click on the blue button in the post
or the badge in the sidebar.

---

F is for Familiar.

A familiar is a supernatural entity that first appeared in medieval folklore and more recently in pagan lore. It was thought to assist a witch or sorcerer. Familiars are frequently depicted as cats, especially black cats, with uncanny abilities to serve their chosen witch or warlock. In spite of their side-kick roles, these beings are not subservient and are rarely controlled by anyone.

For a list of some famous witch's cats in movies and literature, check out this link: http://bewitchingnames.blogspot.com/2012/05/name-round-up-famous-witchs-cats.html. If you'd like to read more about the history of familiars, try this website: http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/2011/08/familiars-and-familiar-spirits.html

F is also for fairy, a tiny supernatural being in fairytales and folk lore. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. In this picture you can compare the size between an fairy (a Tinkerbell-like creature) and an elf, as they were often portrayed in children's fairytales.

---