Fhailean

Fhailean (pronounced "(h)AHL-an"), also known as Witch Rings, are a type of bangle used within Northern Witch Covens to denote status and training. The bangles are often solid rings of wood, carved with patterns, painted using natural pigments, or decorated using pyrography. Bangles for the highest ranking individuals are sometimes embellished with gemstones. The type of wood used can vary due to regional availability, and the most commonly used gemstones are quartz-type stones. The bangles are normally varnished with beeswax or other natural oils. They can be worn about the wrist or pushed up past the elbow to the upper arm.

In Northern Covens, bangles are exclusively used as status symbols, and are never worn as decoration. Additionally, bracelets of any kind are never worn (these are reserved for visitors to denote them as outsiders and are known as a Baidse Neach-tadhail, a Visitor's Badge), though necklaces and ear cuffs are common. Fhailean are custom-made for their recipient; they are never shared or passed down, and upon the death of a Witch, their bangles are buried or cremated with them.

It is considered a serious crime amongst Covens to steal Fhailean, to wear a bracelet or bangle without entitlement to it, or to carelessly lose one. Punishments for such crimes can range from loss of rank, to imprisonment, or to outright banishment. Outsiders caught with one in their possession risk serious punishment (which can include being cursed) depending on how and why they came to have it upon their person, as well as their intentions behind keeping it.

Etymology

Fhailean is Fey Sylvan in origin, and is the plural form of "fail", which can mean "ring", "wreath", or "bracelet".

In Fey Sylvan, "fail" and "fhailean" are generic terms for a ring/bracelet or rings/bracelets, but in Northern Coven usage they refer specifically to these bangles. This is because Covens in the North do not wear bracelets as decoration for cultural reasons.

Mispronounciations and Usage

In Common, many incorrectly use the plural form "fhailean" when referring to a singular "fail". It is also regularly mispronounced in both its singular and plural forms, "FAIL-een" instead of "(h)AHL-an" for Fhailean, and "FAIL" instead of "FAL" for Fail.