What mythology do elves, dwarves, fairies, and etc. come from?

Question

Norse mythology?

Scandinavian mythology?

Celtic mythology?

Other?

I tried looking on Google, but... nothing really comes up. I mean, stuff does come up, but it's always intertwined with one of the three mythologies.

Answer 1

You find them in all those mythologies as they were talked about around the world just called by different names.

Where I come from in Wales, U.K Fairies were human sized creatures with witch-like powers and originated from Celtic mythology.

Answer 2

They are kind of twisted together you could say but when some one asks me about the mythology i like (which is what you just said) I just say European

Answer 3

i only know dwarves some from Norse mythology  

Answer 4

every culture in the world when it cannot explain something according to their logic makes it into something supernatural

Answer 5

Elves are found in Norse,saxon & Germanic myth. They are generally man high.

The Irish Sidhe are probably their equivalent but are also known as 'the faerie folk'. Scottish & Welsh 'trooping fairies' tend to be human high and more powerful than mortals.

Dwarves are found in Norse/Germanic myth and are great craftsmen. Some however can be quite evil.

  There are many 'small men' type of supernatural brings in celtic lore (leprichauns,cluricauns etc) but they are generally not referred to a dwarves. the Cornish Tommyknockers are quite similar to dwarves.

  genereicfairies come in a variety of guises such as pixies,brownies,hobthrushes,will o'the wisps etc.

Answer 6

the Bullshiteocrypha...

Answer 7

Personally I think they began when people had too much time on their hands, no T.V.,no radios,no cars,no indoor showers or plumbing, etc.etc.and drank too much booze.