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Gift Ideas For Every Magical Creature
Yuletide is almost here, that magical, merry time of year! The world feels all the more enchanted during the festive season, and so we thought we'd put a mythical spin on our gift ideas this year.
Most people have a magical creature that they feel most connected to—whether it's the fieriness of the dragon, the earthy energy of the fairy, the playful spirit of the mermaid, or the mystery of the unicorn. We've collated a list of Dragonspace gift ideas based on each of these four magical creature personalities. So read on to find out what to get for your mermaid-sister, unicorn-nephew and all in-between!
FOR THE DRAGONS
Dragons are known for their fiery nature. The dragon-lover in your life will probably be drawn to fire as an element, so celebrate that by gifting them with some distinctive candle-holders or incense to burn. In particular, our Dragon and Sword Candleholder will look perfect in a dragon's lair, and our Dragon's Blood Incense is ideal for protection and banishing negative energy.
Dragons also love treasure. There's sure to be something in our sterling silver jewelry collection that your dragon will want to add to their treasure trove. Our Celtic Band Rings are popular among men and women alike, or perhaps some Dragon Earrings fit for a dragon queen.
Dragons are fierce. Our sword and dagger collection will appeal to dragon-lovers who enjoy tales of battle and glory. We've even got replicas of Game of Thrones swords, such as Jon Snow's "Longclaw" and Ned Stark's "Ice" Dagger.
FOR THE FAIRIES
Fairies are strongly connected to nature. Have a look at our range of nature-themed jewelry for the fairy-lovers you know, such as this Tree of Life Pendant or this Butterfly Ring.
Fairies are often believed to have magical divinatory powers. Help the fairy in your life divine the future with a divinatory tool like our range of pendulums and runestones. Our Amethyst Pendulums and our Rose Quartz Runestones are always popular.
Fairies are powerful feminine figures. We have a number of books that celebrate magical women in our collection. The Priestess and the Pen takes a look at powerful priestess figures in history and mythology, and Avalon Within explores the mysteries that have inspired women through the ages, such as Arthurian legend.
FOR THE MERMAIDS
Mermaids are creatures of emotion. Mermaid-lovers will likely be highly in touch with their emotions and creativity, so would appreciate a meaningful journal or notebook. This special Mermaid's Mirror Journal features quotes from poets and artists inspired by mermaids, while this vibrant Imagination Journal is perfect for the dreamer.
Mermaids are playful. They'll love rising to the challenge of one of our fantasy-themed jigsaw puzzles, such as the intricate 1500 Piece Flight of the Fablemaker Puzzle or the elegant 550 Piece Gift of Love Puzzle.
Mermaids are known for their self-love, sometimes mistaken for vanity. So a mermaid would have no qualms about having statues of herself in her home! We've got a range of lovely mermaid statues and figurines, like our Mermaid in a Pond and our adorable Mermaid Baby.
FOR THE UNICORNS
Unicorns are mysterious creatures. The unicorn-lover in your life will likely be intrigued by the mysteries of tarot and oracle, and we've got a large range of decks in stock to choose from. The stunning Oracle of the Unicorns and the mystical Shadowscapes Tarot in particular would be a perfect fit.
Unicorns are pure. A gift of sage smudge sticks or resin incense will help your unicorn to cleanse and purify their life and surroundings. Our White Sage and Cedar Stick is perfect for smudging, and this Forest Blend Resin creates a fresh earthy aroma perfect for forest-dwelling unicorns.
Unicorns are legendary. Your unicorn friends will enjoy reading about other myths and fairytales, like this beautifully illustrated Classic Fairy Tales collection by Berlie Doherty. And for the little unicorn in your life, you can't go past the charming tale of Thelma the Unicorn.
So there you go...a little something for every magical creature in your life! Here's hoping you have an enchanted Yuletide with your loved ones and we look forward to supplying you with more mystical and mythical wares in the New Year.
5 Favourite Fantasy Films
Wizards, dragons, goblin kings, magical gemstones, yellow brick roads...there’s nothing better than a good fantasy film, is there? With their sweeping landscapes and wonderful costumes, fantasy movies are a real feast for the eyes and for the soul! They’re a chance to get lost in another world for a little while, and to get swept up in the danger and adventure alongside our favourite heroes and heroines.
While there are so many amazing fantasy films to choose from out there, we’ve picked five of our Dragonspace favourites to shine a spotlight on this week:
#1 THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY (2001 - 2003)
It’s always hard to adapt a beloved book series onto the screen, but Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy did Tolkien’s fantasy masterpiece undeniable justice. The film trilogy isn’t just adored by fantasy fans—it’s a true legend of the film world in general. The third installment in the series, The Return of the King, was the first fantasy film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and it currently holds the record for the highest Oscars sweep. So who says that fantasy films are niche?
There’s so much about The Lord of the Rings trilogy to love. The films are visually stunning, thanks to the epic New Zealand landscapes that were used to bring Middle-earth to life. The superstar cast—including Sir Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis and Cate Blanchett—deliver stellar performances. And the visual effects of the films still manage to hold up, even decades later. Yep, as fantasy movies go, The Lord of the Rings is as good as they come, and is yet to be de-throned in our opinion!
(If you're a fan of Tolkien and Middle-earth, check out our range of Tolkien books here!)
#2 LABYRINTH (1986)
Fantasies and musicals are two film genres that aren’t often combined, but if anyone’s going to pull such a trick off, of course it would be Jim Henson, George Lucas, Brian Froud and David Bowie! Joined by Jennifer Connelly as the film’s heroic lead, this team created Labyrinth, the 1986 musical-fantasy classic. With Henson as director, Lucas as exec-producer, Froud as costume designer, and Bowie playing the Goblin King, Labyrinth brought us a world like no other. Goblins dance and sing, monsters become friends, and staircases turn upside-down in this wild adventure, in which protagonist Sarah must navigate a mystical labyrinth to rescue her baby brother from the dark Goblin King.
The thing that makes this film so unique is its fantastical puppetry. With the exception of Connelly and Bowie’s characters, the rest of the characters in the film are puppets created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (best known for The Muppets). The distinctive puppetry of Labyrinth gives the film an eerie surreal aesthetic, which still stands out in an age when most fantasy is heavy CGI. And of course, Labyrinth delivers some great singalongs, courtesy of the late great Bowie. A lot of fantasy films tend to be quite serious, so Labyrinth is a refreshingly quirky and comical addition to the genre.
#3 THE DARK CRYSTAL (1982)
But before there was Labyrinth, there was The Dark Crystal. This 1982 fantasy adventure classic is also the creation of Jim Henson and Brian Froud, along with famous puppeteer Frank Oz. Like Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, relies heavily on puppetry and animatronics to bring the fantasy characters of the film to life. As Jen, the ‘Gelfling’ hero of the story, undertakes a quest to restore a powerful gemstone, he traverses a weird and wonderful world that’s now become iconic.
The Dark Crystal was actually the first live-action film without any human beings on screen. Perhaps due to its ground-breaking and unprecedented nature, the film received mixed reviews when it was first released. It was much darker than Jim Henson’s Muppet work, so people didn’t quite know what to think. Now, however, The Dark Crystal is a firm fantasy favourite! And good news for all fans of the movie—there’s actually going to be a prequel produced in association with Netflix, so we all get to explore the surreal world of The Dark Crystal even further.
(If you're a fan of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, check out our full range of Brian Froud books here, featuring his distinctive and imaginative artwork.)
#4 THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
Technicolor musical The Wizard of Oz isn’t just one of the greatest fantasy films of all time—it’s one of the greatest films of all time in general. Released in 1939, The Wizard of Oz was one of the first examples of a film shot in colour, and it definitely used vivid Technicolor to its advantage, from the bright Yellow Brick Road to the glittering Emerald City.
Based on the children’s classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, the film follows the adventures of Dorothy (played by Judy Garland) and her little dog Toto as they enter an incredible fantasyland via a tornado. The friends Dorothy makes along the way—the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion—are iconic, as are the dazzling show-tunes that pepper the story. The Wizard of Oz won Academy Awards for Best Music - Original Score, and Original Song for Over The Rainbow, which is now a classic. From the munchkins to the Wicked Witch of the West to Dorothy’s ruby slippers, The Wizard of Oz made a lasting legacy that hasn’t faded even eighty years later!
#5 THE HARRY POTTER SERIES (2001 - 2011)
J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise created a world-wide fantasy mania that had never been seen before. And it wasn’t just the books that had fans lining up for midnight releases—the movies caused just as much of a stir! The film series ended up stretching over ten years, and viewers saw the young cast—with British actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint at the helm—literally grow up on screen.
Including film legends like Dame Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Kenneth Branagh and dozens of others, the cast of the Harry Potter films are one of its main strengths. But they’re also very visually impressive, with incredible set design, costuming, props and visual effects. When you watch these films, you truly feel like you’re inhabiting the wizarding world and joining in the adventures and trials of Harry and his comrades. Which is what all good fantasy films should make you feel!
(If you love Harry Potter, check out our new range of Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts mini activity kits here!)
Claddagh Rings and Romantic Jewelry
It doesn’t have to be a diamond to be romantic. Gifting jewelry as a token of love and commitment has been tradition for centuries in cultures all over the world. One of the most popular romantic jewelry items we get asked about here at Dragonspace is the Claddagh ring, so we thought we’d share the history of this famous love ring, and a few other pieces of romantic jewelry from our glittering cases!
The Claddagh Ring
Are you familiar with the above image? This symbolic ring—featuring a heart held by two hands and topped with a crown—is known as a 'Claddagh' ring and is a popular Irish icon.
Claddagh rings have been around since the 17th-century, and are said to have originated in the Irish village of Galway. The symbols on the ring represent love (the heart), friendship (the hands) and loyalty (the crown). So it's no surprise that Claddagh rings are popularly used as engagement, wedding and commitment rings.
What you might not know is that the way you wear the Claddagh ring is important. Many people believe that the positioning of a Claddagh ring is a statement of the wearer’s relationship status, as follows:
- Right hand, point of the heart facing away from the wearer: you’re single and looking
- Right hand, point of the heart facing towards the wearer: you’re in a relationship
- Left ring finger, point of the heart facing away from the wearer: you’re engaged
- Left ring finger, point of the heart facing toward the wearer: you’re married
While Claddagh rings are popular among Irish people and those of Irish descent, anyone can wear them! They might also be given as a gift of friendship, or even love among family members. The Claddagh symbol can also feature on other types of jewelry, such as earrings and bracelets.
Claddagh rings are certainly a popular piece of romantic jewelry, but they’re not the only kind. If you’re in the market for a symbolic trinket to gift your partner—or even pop the question!—we’ve got a few different options:
Celtic Knots
Celtic knots are a well-known type of Celtic artwork. These intricate knots feature in art, architecture and fashion all over the world, and are heavy in symbolism. Celtic knots signify the interconnectedness of the world and as many of the knots are ‘infinite’ or ‘endless’, they can be strong symbols of eternity. Therefore, gifting your partner with a piece of jewelry featuring a Celtic knot is a powerful way to declare your spiritual connection, and to make a promise of forever.
There’s also a special selection of Celtic knots that are ‘threefold’—such as the triskele and the triquetra—that symbolise the ‘threefold’ nature of our world. For Christians, this represents the Holy Trinity of God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit. But for Pagans, this indicated the three stages of womanhood: the maiden, the mother and the crone. Trinity knots are also popular wedding ring symbols as they’re a bold statement of being loyal to your partner through all stages of life.
Elven Love Rings
Most people are familiar with the famous ‘One Ring’ from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. But while that ring has a fairly ominous story behind it, there’s a more romantic version! This Elven Love Ring is inspired by the unique Elvish language that Tolkien himself famously created. Stamped upon the ring in Elvish is the inscription, ‘One ring to seal our love and forever to entwine us’, both on the inside and outside of the ring. What a perfect gift for the Middle-earth romantic!
Dragons and Fairies
In our modern times, many people are rejecting the traditional notions of ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ identities. A better non-gender specific way of describing different energies is that of ‘moon’ and ‘sun’ energies, or ‘dragon’ and ‘fairy’ energies. Dragon energies tend to be fierce, zealous and assertive. While fairy energies tend to be delicate, intuitive and sensitive.
If you’re not one for tradition, you might like to wear a matching dragon and fairy ring pairing with your partner. You’ll be the dragon to their fairy, and vice versa! This is a unique way of declaring your love for each other that’s far from traditional.
As you can see, there a few creative ways you can express your love to your partner, friend or family member in jewelry form. You might be guided by your cultural heritage or your spiritual interests—either way, your declaration of love can be just as unique as your bond is! Let us know in the comments what your favourite piece of romantic jewelry is, or what you’ve been inspired by.