The Fairy Bridge
On the Isle of Man, it's still bad luck to cross a certain bridge without saying hello to the fairies.
What was reported
On the road between Douglas and Castletown, on the Isle of Man, is the Fairy Bridge. By long tradition, anyone crossing it says 'hello, fairies' or 'good morning, little people' to avoid bad luck.
The custom is still widely kept by islanders and visitors, and people leave notes, photos and messages for the fairies on nearby trees. Manx folklore often avoids naming the fairies directly, calling them 'themselves' or 'the little people'.
Explanations offered
It's a living folk custom rather than a claim anyone sets out to prove. Belief in fairies was once common on the island, and the greeting survives as a mix of tradition, superstition and fun.
- When
- A custom still followed
- Where
- Ballalona, Isle of Man
- Witnesses
- Islanders and visitors, who greet the fairies
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.