Fairy, or elf, rings are places where natural circles form. They are usually made of mushrooms, but daisies, flowers and circles of unnaturally bright or deadened grass might also serve as a fairy ring.

There are many supernatural explanations behind the appearance of a fairy ring, with many European myths attributing them to the fair folk. The rings are said to be places that fairies dance, or even entryways to the fairy realm. Humans must be wary of stepping inside a fairy ring, either accidentally or on purpose, and of damaging the fairy ring in any way.

Those who step inside a fairy ring may find themselves trapped, cursed to dance until they die, or else be allowed to leave only to find that they can no longer interact with the mortal realm. In myth a person is usually unable to escape themselves, and it is generally a family member or lover who must use cunning to enter the fairy ring and retrieve their lost child or partner.