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If I asked you what story does life remind you of, which one would you pick? 'War and Peace'? 'The Great Gatsby'? Maybe 'The Trial'?

Whatever your answer might be, there is a subreddit that wants to convince us that it's more like 'Cinderella' or 'Beauty and the Beast'. And it has plenty of, let's say, vivid arguments.

The online community is called 'All things that seem straight out of a Fairytale', and its members regularly share pictures of exactly that. Whether we're talking about intricate flower gowns or enchanting old houses, they have it.

So to remind you of the world's beautiful and magical side, we invite you to take a look at some of the subreddit's most popular posts.

#1

The Great Eared Nightjar Is Pretty Much A Dragon Bird

The Great Eared Nightjar Is Pretty Much A Dragon Bird

karmagheden Report

#2

Beautiful Flower Shop Entrance In Brussels

Beautiful Flower Shop Entrance In Brussels

wicketcity Report

We also managed to get in touch with the people taking care of the subreddit, and one of them, a moderator who goes online by the nickname cestrumnocturnum was kind enough to tell us more about it. They said the mods have to do a fair share of policing to keep the community and its content neat and tidy, and that includes manually approving each post.

"Our most common reason for rejecting a post is that some people don't want to play along with the title rules," cestrumnocturnum told Bored Panda. "We ask posters to come up with creative titles that will suggest a story to go with the photo. You don't have to be Tolkien, but a little imagination is appreciated. Things like book quotes, snippets of poetry, or song lyrics also work."

The mod said there are many subreddits for sharing beautiful scenery, "and if we accepted titles that were, for example, nothing more than a location name, we wouldn't be any different from [a community like] r/itookapicture. Our users have a lot of fun with this, but some people complain because they find it corny. We don't mind being corny. If you can't be fanciful in a fairytale-focused community, where can you?"

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#3

Salutation To The Dawn

Salutation To The Dawn

cestrumnocturnum Report

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Argle Bargle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Upvotes galore for all the wonderful titles. Thank you for the BP who wrote this page, they're spot on.

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#4

You Can Call Me Flower If You Want To

You Can Call Me Flower If You Want To

FormerFruit Report

#5

This Winter Wonderland Was His Domain... No Trespassers Were Allowed

This Winter Wonderland Was His Domain... No Trespassers Were Allowed

ManiaforBeatles Report

We at Bored Panda really appreciate the creative input that went into presenting these pictures, so we included the posts where we could too.

"Most people [here] are chill and just want to enjoy a bit of escapism," cestrumnocturnum said. "It's not uncommon for commenters to start geeking out about folklore and fantasy, especially when a photo reminds them of certain stories or characters that they love. Sometimes people are even inspired to write their own original fiction, taking the post as a story prompt. I love it when that happens."

#6

Come Back To Me! Come Back To Me, And Say My Land Is Fair!

Come Back To Me! Come Back To Me, And Say My Land Is Fair!

LOCATION: Madeira, Portugal
Title is from the poem The Ent and the Entwife by J.R.R. Tolkien.

cestrumnocturnum Report

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Babsevs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is actually a tree nymph, camera caught it by pure luck

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#7

Entrance To The Witches Cottage

Entrance To The Witches Cottage

This is a church door in Stow-on-the-wold in the UK

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Pollywog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the trees!! Funny how they call a church door an entrance to a witches cottage!!

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#8

From Deep Within Echoed The Sounds Of Laughter

From Deep Within Echoed The Sounds Of Laughter

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#9

And Into The Forest I Go, To Lose My Mind And Find My Soul

And Into The Forest I Go, To Lose My Mind And Find My Soul

reddit.com Report

Every now and then, people need timeouts. As social science writer and researcher Jeremy Sherman, the author of Neither Ghost nor Machine: The Emergence and Nature of Selves, told Bored Panda in a recent interview, we are uniquely anxious. "Just compare the range of worries a human could have compared to any other critter. No contest. To cope, we need denial, escapism, entertainment," Sherman then said.

But if you want to survive, you must, as Paramore's Hayley Williams sang in Brick By Boring Brick, keep your feet on the ground when your head's in the clouds.

According to studies, approximately 4 to 6 percent of people spend large chunks of their waking time in a fantasy world—these fantasies become maladaptive when they produce shame, loneliness, and emotional pain, and interfere with one's ability to engage in normal life activities. Research also suggests that maladaptive daydreaming first appears in youth and is more likely to affect individuals exposed to childhood trauma.

#10

Mont Saint Michel In Normandy, France

Mont Saint Michel In Normandy, France

therealmindzeye Report

#11

The Nymphs Of The Forest Went All Out This Spring

The Nymphs Of The Forest Went All Out This Spring

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#12

The Chubby Tabby Protected The Village For Generations

The Chubby Tabby Protected The Village For Generations

This is Stanton, a tiny village of few hundred people in Gloucestershire, England. It is a part of the Cotswolds, which was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1966. This cottage is the Little Sheppey House and it is a Grade II Listed building.

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Pollywog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He looks like the whole village feeds him as payment for his protection. No food, you're getting robbed.

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#13

A Quiet Place To Rest Before The Hardest Part Of The Quest

A Quiet Place To Rest Before The Hardest Part Of The Quest

cestrumnocturnum Report

'All things that seem straight out of a Fairytale' accepts all kinds of submissions. "Somebody's foggy backyard can be just as enchanting as a French castle, and anything that sparks people's imaginations can make it to the top post," cestrumnocturnum explained. "Posts that evoke lovely daydreams about a more magical life, or those that reframe an ordinary scene or object as part of a whimsical tale tend to get popular."

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As much as the subreddit appreciates the true beauty of the world, it also welcomes digitally "beautified" pictures; it considers technology to be a modern form of magic.

#14

Purple. Very, Very Purple Path

Purple. Very, Very Purple Path

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Pollywog
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wouldn't want to step on them..... I'd have to tiptoe. Now I'm singing "Tiptoe Through the Tulips"!!

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#15

Never Anger A Fairy

Never Anger A Fairy

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Babsevs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In retribution for chopping down her husband tree.....the tree nymphs took the wood cutters wife

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#16

The Wizard's Tower In The Lake

The Wizard's Tower In The Lake

Sintra, Portugal

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Wendy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra is magical, if you have the chance to visit, go!

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'All things that seem straight out of a Fairytale' is still a kid, even by Reddit's standards. It was created in April 2018. But despite its young age, the community already has 187,000 members.

cestrumnocturnum thinks the reason for this success is quite obvious. "We are bombarded by bad news and divisive issues every day, on a global scale. It's not just your own neighborhood you have to worry about. You hear about a corrupt politician coming into power half the world away, and it's upsetting, but what can you do about it when your country has its own struggles? Especially with the pandemic, there's just this pervasive sense of helplessness and frustration, as well as anger and anxiety, wherever you go on the internet," they said. "People need a respite."

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#18

The Faery Had To Move To The City, But She Brought Her Magic Into The New Place

The Faery Had To Move To The City, But She Brought Her Magic Into The New Place

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#19

No Birds Came For The Birdbath, But The Fairies Did

No Birds Came For The Birdbath, But The Fairies Did

ManiaforBeatles Report

#20

The Streets Were Empty, But The Taverns Were Full Of Merry Townsfolk And Adventurers

The Streets Were Empty, But The Taverns Were Full Of Merry Townsfolk And Adventurers

ManiaforBeatles Report

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Babsevs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm guessing Germany??? Or Bavaria??? Looks a lovely town to wander through, dropping into tavarns for a local brew

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#21

The Enchanted Door Is Connected To New Places Whenever It Is Opened. The Result This Time Is A Success

The Enchanted Door Is Connected To New Places Whenever It Is Opened. The Result This Time Is A Success

This is Tintagel Castle, a medieval fortification located on the peninsula of Tintagel Island adjacent to the village of TintagelNorth Cornwall, England. The site was possibly occupied during the Roman era. The castle also has a long association with Arthurian legends. This gate is a part of the courtyard wall built in the Victorian era, and it leads to the Merlin's Cave which is a sea cave formed by marine erosion and made famous by renowned British poet Alfred Tennyson with his work Idylls of the King.

ManiaforBeatles Report

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Which is exactly the niche 'All things that seem straight out of a Fairytale' is aiming at. "We've taken a stand not to allow any form of bigotry, but we also try to steer clear of political debates. And the fact that every submission has to be manually approved means that no one can even try making inflammatory posts. We just want to offer a little bit of an escape, a chance to breathe and think of something else other than our problems, and it turns out a lot of people appreciate that."

#22

The Call Of The Sea, Once Heard, Can Never Be Resisted

The Call Of The Sea, Once Heard, Can Never Be Resisted

cestrumnocturnum Report

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Swaggy Bee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am so creeped out like I have never seen it in real life only my dreams

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#23

The Delegates Of The Highlands Have Came To Greet Us

The Delegates Of The Highlands Have Came To Greet Us

ManiaforBeatles Report

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Carrie de Luka
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One was determined to share my lunch when I was hiking one time! The speed and determination was amazing.

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#24

A Little Shelter From The Snow

A Little Shelter From The Snow

cestrumnocturnum Report

#25

Their Trip To The Snow Queen's Castle Was Freezing Cold, But Also Memorably Beautiful

Their Trip To The Snow Queen's Castle Was Freezing Cold, But Also Memorably Beautiful

ManiaforBeatles Report

The moderator wanted to end our chat with a quote from American author Ursula K. Le Guin, paraphrasing Tolkien: "Yes, he said, fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don’t we consider it his duty to escape? The moneylenders, the know-nothings, the authoritarians have us all in prison; if we value the freedom of the mind and soul, if we’re partisans of liberty, then it’s our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can."

#27

The Fairies Left Scribbles All Over The Street, Much To The Villagers' Disamy

The Fairies Left Scribbles All Over The Street, Much To The Villagers' Disamy

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Potty pagan panda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It doesn’t disamy me. That’s where I want to be for the rest of my life

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#29

When The Sun Sets The Fairies Come Out

When The Sun Sets The Fairies Come Out

HellsJuggernaut Report

#30

This Place Looks Soooo Majestic

This Place Looks Soooo Majestic

Iangator Report

#31

The King Ordered The Gates To The Sea Be Opened To Let The Merfolk Participate In The Festival

The King Ordered The Gates To The Sea Be Opened To Let The Merfolk Participate In The Festival

This is the gates of Hotel Villa Cipressi, a hotel occupying some of the historical buildings on the shores of Lake ComoVarennaProvince of LeccoLombardy, northern Italy. Villa Cipressi is a series of buildings and gardens of great historical interest built principally between 1400 and 1800.. The small peninsula you see at the distance is Bellagio, another town on the shores of Lake Como.

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#32

Library Fairies

Library Fairies

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Debbie Barnes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How lovely is this? I love the little plants and lights that light the way for visitors....

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#33

Enchanted Well Surrounded By Roses

Enchanted Well Surrounded By Roses

Great Chalfield Manor, UK

ManiaforBeatles Report

#34

The Green Waves Washed Over The Yellow Shores

The Green Waves Washed Over The Yellow Shores

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Babsevs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

R a p e flowers always seem like fields of sunshine to me...glorious. And those undulating green fields behind are spectacular too

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#35

A Gardener Fell In Love With A Naiad And Offered Her Flowers Every Day

A Gardener Fell In Love With A Naiad And Offered Her Flowers Every Day

cestrumnocturnum Report

#36

A Warning: Not All Clear Paths Are Safe

A Warning: Not All Clear Paths Are Safe

cestrumnocturnum Report

#37

Life In The Castle Is Safe, But Adventure Beckons

Life In The Castle Is Safe, But Adventure Beckons

cestrumnocturnum Report

#38

The Place Where My Grandad Grew Up Always Had An Enchanting Effect On Me

The Place Where My Grandad Grew Up Always Had An Enchanting Effect On Me

It's from the film The Quiet Man (1952)

Riverlong Report

#39

Streets Are Empty In The Morning, Because The Townsfolk Fear What May Lurk In The Mist

Streets Are Empty In The Morning, Because The Townsfolk Fear What May Lurk In The Mist

ManiaforBeatles Report

#40

Kind Old Witch Lives In The Cottage

Kind Old Witch Lives In The Cottage

ManiaforBeatles Report

Note: this post originally had 83 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.