Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather are the three good fairies in Walt Disney's 1959 film Sleeping Beauty. They are characterized as Princess Aurora's fairy godmothers and guardians, who appear at baby Aurora's christening to present their gifts to her. The three were voiced by Verna Felton, Barbara Jo Allen, and Barbara Luddy, respectively.
Characteristics
Flora is the tallest fairy, dressed in a red gown (although her favorite color is pink), a red hat, and a red cape clipped with an orange square. She is the leader of the group. Her gift to Aurora is the gift of beauty. She created and possesses the powerful Sword of Truth and the invulnerable Shield of Virtue, which she can conjure whenever she sees fit. She is voiced by Verna Felton.
Fauna is the middle fairy, dressed in a green gown, a green hat, and a green cape clipped with a green triangle. She is shown to be a bit flighty, but is the kindest of the three and the most sensitive. Her gift to Aurora is the gift of song. She is voiced by Barbara Jo Allen.
Merryweather is the shortest fairy, dressed in a blue gown, a blue hat, and a blue cape clipped with a blue circle. She is the most aggressive of the fairies and is bolder and feistier than the other two. As Merryweather is about to give Aurora the gift of happiness, Maleficent makes her appearance and curses the princess to die when she pricks her finger on a spinning wheel's spindle before sunset on her sixteenth birthday. Merryweather softens the curse so that instead of dying, Aurora will only sleep until she is awakened by true love's kiss. She is voiced by Barbara Luddy.
Appearances
Sleeping Beauty
The three good fairies arrive at the christening of King Stefan and Queen Leah's newborn daughter, Princess Aurora. They tell King Stefan and Queen Leah that each of them will give a single gift to the infant, and proceed to give their respective gifts, the first two being beauty from Flora and song from Fauna. As Merryweather is about to give her gift, the wicked witch named Maleficent arrives and stresses about not receiving an invitation, to which Merryweather replies that she is "not wanted." Maleficent prepares to leave, but also decides to give a "gift" to Aurora by cursing her so that before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel's spindle and die. Merryweather then uses her gift to weaken the curse so that instead of dying, Aurora will only sleep until she awakens to true love's kiss.
The three good fairies plot against Maleficent, since they were not convinced that King Stefan and Queen Leah's response to the curse (declaring that every spinning wheel in the kingdom be burned) would be enough to stop the witch. Flora came up with the plan of the three of them raising Aurora while disguising as peasant women, as the unkind Maleficent would never expect such a thing. All of them are gleeful about it, and they become excited about taking care of a baby. Flora then confiscates Merryweather's and Fauna's wands, since they should avoid using magic while carrying out the plan. After asking for the king and queen's consent, they take Aurora to raise her.