Land of Origin: Ireland.

Other Origins: None known.

Other Names: Our Housekeeper.

Element: Earth.

Appearance and Temperament: No one has ever fully described a Bean-Tighe (Ban-tee or Ban-Teeg), but they are generally thought to look like small elderly women in old-fashioned peasant clothing, with kindly, dimpled faces.

They are very friendly to humans and wish to have a friendly human house to watch over.

Time Most Active: All year, but especially from Samhain to Bealtaine when Irish families spend most of their times indoors.

Lore: The words Bean-Tighe literally mean "woman of the house."

She is the opposite in temperament to a Beansidhe, though they are both attached to the homes of the old Milesian families.

They are faery housekeepers, rather like the Brownies of Scotland, who can be found watching over children, hearths, and pets.

It was believed they would finish up any household chores left undone by the tired mother of the house.

They love fresh strawberries and crea, and a bit of this and a share of your home is all the reward they ask.

For centuries, Irish mothers have shared stories about their Bean-Tighe and her meticulous care of their children.

If you had one in residence, it was not uncommon to get up in the middle of the night to check on a child and find that the windows had been adjusted and the blankets taken off or put on the child's bed by the resident Bean-Tighe.

Bean-Tighes were thought to be on exceptionally good terms with the old village wise women of Ireland, known in the vernacular as Pishogues.

Old women in Ireland had to be especially careful not to keep too clean a home lest they be accused of having a faery living with them, which would make them guilty of witchcraft.

Where to Find Them: At your hearthside.

How to Contact: Call out to one, open your home to her, leave out her favorite foods.

They prefer to live in rural homes with children and fireplaces. Even if one will not take up residence with you she will offer blessings to your home, especially if you have Milesian ancestry.

Magickal and Ritual Help: Protection of home, children, and pet, and aid in household chores. She will also happily lend her energy to human fertility spells.