Expert: Mark Smith - 6/11/2009

Question
I have recently begun chatting with a few British people, and come across the terms "northern monkey" & "southern fairy".  I'd like to know how these terms originated and exactly what they mean if possible.  Thanks for your time

Answer
Hello Candy.
It's the famous north-south divide expressed in a light-hearted way. The north of England and Scotland is, generally speaking, colder and wetter than the south and traditionally poorer, so the term "northern monkey" could refer to the "rougher" appearance and manners of northerners. Because of this northerners regard southerners as soft and effete, therefore they're "southern fairies".
I understand a similar thing exists in the USA, southerners are sometimes regarded as backward by northerners.
Mark