Often folktales and fairy stories can be quite brutal and serve as warnings not to mess with the fae

Often folktales and fairy stories can be quite brutal and serve as warnings not to mess with the fae. This story, set in Humshaugh, near Hexham in Northumberland, England, is very simple and rather charming. It’s the story of a ploughman who, one day in summer, heard the sound of the fairies churning their fairy butter. He knew not to pry, so he didn’t stop to listen for too long or try to see them, so he continued with his work. However, as he returned to the spot with his plough he heard a tiny voice saying, “Alack a-day, what shall I do? I’ve broken my churn staff”. He called back, “Leave it out for me to fix!” then walked away, knowing they wouldn’t come out with it whilst he was standing there. When he came back, there waiting for him was the broken churn which he immediately set about fixing. He left it, and once again returned to his ploughing, and when he returned for the final time he found the churn was gone and, in its place, a pile of fairy bread and fairy butter was left in thanks.

[Source: Fairy folk celebrating around a plough by Charles Altamont Doyle,Folk Tales of the North Country by F. Grice]