"faerie rings"

Fungi Folklore Mushrooms often suddenly appear, as if from nowhere. This is probably why there are so many magical tales surrounding them. Have you ever seen mushrooms growing in a circle? People used to think that fairies, elves and goblins danced the night away on the circular "dance-floor" within these so-called fairy rings. It was thought that the mushrooms were used as little stools and chairs. Others believed that fairy rings grew where lightning had struck the ground, or that haystacks, ants and moles were the cause of the rings!