"Fairy circles" occur naturally, and entering one isn’t dangerous — unless, that is, you believe the legends that surround them.
@ajsands.kc/TikTokPart of the “fairy ring” of mushrooms that recently appeared in one woman’s yard.
A woman named Angela on TikTok recently showed off a strange discovery she made in her lawn. According to her, she’s lived in the same place for 25 years and never seen anything like it. Immediately, commenters began to explain that what Angela was seeing was something called a “fairy circle” — and that she should stay as far away as possible.
Earth produces plenty of strange phenomena, and humans have often spun these natural wonders into complex mythology.
For example, at various points in history, the Northern Lights have been interpreted to represent everything from the spirits of deceased whales to warnings about imminent wars.
While some of these phenomena are grand in scope and scale, others can be found right in your backyard, as Angela recently discovered. But why are viewers warning her to stay away from the mushrooms?
What Are ‘Fairy Circles’ And Why Are They Supposedly Dangerous?
In a video with over 2.4 million views, TikTok user Angela (@ajsands.kc) shows the anomaly that’s been growing in her yard.
“Our lawn is freshly cut this week, and then all of a sudden, these things,” she says to the camera. The “things” in question are white, cotton ball-like mushrooms. The strange part? They appear to be growing in a circle.
“There’s another one popping up right there,” she says. “What the heck is this?”
“The shape was so unusual,” she adds in the caption. “Are these dangerous mushrooms?”
Commenters immediately sounded the warning bells.
“[You’re] standing in a fae circle,” wrote a user. “You need to get out of it and stay away from it.”
“Don’t! Don’t go in them because it brings bad luck,” added another.
Public DomainAn example of a fairy ring in Australia.
However, others countered that it was simply a natural phenomenon and nothing to worry about. So, who’s correct?
It’s true that “fairy circles” or “fairy rings” occur naturally. This happens because the body of a fungus lives underground. If the conditions are right — often, if there’s been a significant amount of rain recently — the fungus will grow outward in all directions in search of nutrients. It does this using root-like threads called mycelia.
Since this growth occurs in multiple directions from a central point, it produces a circle as it reaches the surface.
Entering a fairy ring isn’t dangerous — unless, that is, you believe some of the legends that surround them.
The Long History Of Fairy Circles In Mythology
Given just how strange the appearance of a fairy circle can be, it’s no surprise that cultures around the world have invented their own myths and legends about them.
For example, English and Celtic folklore tended to regard the areas as places where fairies danced. If a human entered the circle, they would be made to dance until they fainted from exhaustion. Dutch legend claims that if a cow grazes in a pasture with a fairy circle, the butter made from the creature’s milk will taste spoiled.
Legends around fairy rings aren’t all negative, however. National Geographic notes that some English traditions claim houses built on grasslands with fairy rings will never fall down. In contrast to the Dutch, Welsh tradition says farmers should grow crops near fairy circles and allow livestock to feed nearby — though humans should not enter the rings themselves.
However, even if you don’t believe the mythology surrounding fairy circles, that doesn’t mean you’re free from danger.
Public DomainLegend states that fairy rings mark the spots where fairies dance — and entering them is bad luck.
At least 60 different species of mushrooms are known to appear in fairy rings. As a result, it’s impossible to say whether a fairy circle mushroom is inherently safe or dangerous.
Generally speaking, you should not eat mushrooms growing on your lawn unless you can identify them for certain. It’s best to consult an expert or double-check the identification of any mushroom before touching it.
Many mushroom species that look nearly identical can have dramatically different impacts on the body if consumed. For example, the edible Agaricus campestris looks similar to Amanita verna — a highly toxic mushroom also known as the “destroying angel.”
As some mushrooms can be dangerous to both humans and animals, many people choose to remove fairy rings when they pop up in their yard. This can be difficult, as mushrooms can easily regrow, but it can generally be done by removing the mushrooms by hand, aerating the lawn, and removing excess organic material in the area.
But be careful — removing the fairy circle might anger the fairies.
After reading about the fairy circle that appeared in a woman’s yard, discover other bizarre natural phenomena found around the world and the legends that surround them. Then, learn about how mushrooms communicate using a 50-word vocabulary.
