Myth Of The Leprechaun
The legend of the Leprechaun is one of the most enduring
myths in Ireland and relates to a mystical type of fairy who is originally
linked to the Tuatha De Danann of Irish mythology.
According to fables, Leprechauns are tiny entities that
normally take the form of an old man in a red or green coat. They are known to
be mischievous little creatures that like to make shoes and store their gold
coins in a pot of gold that is hidden at the end of a rainbow. If you happen to
capture a Leprechaun, he will give you three wishes provided you let him go.
Leprechaun Origin
Most Leprechaun legends can be traced back to the 8th
century tales of water spirits which were known as ‘luchorpán’ which means
‘small body’. It is said that these spirits merged with a household fairy and
developed a penchant for heavy drinking so no cellar was safe! According to
other researchers, the term Leprechaun actually comes from the Irish term
‘leath brogan’ which means shoemaker.
It is interesting to note that Leprechauns are often
associated with wealth, particularly gold coins, but they are actually cobblers
which you would hardly presume is a lucrative vocation! Nonetheless, the myth
of the pot of gold persists and there are still people who go looking for this
hidden treasure!
The Pot of Gold
This is the most common of all Leprechaun myths which says
that they find gold coins buried in the earth and store them all in a pot which
is hidden at the end of a rainbow. The fact that a rainbow doesn’t have a fixed
spot or a real end should be discounted for the sake of the story!
Quite why Leprechauns even need gold is another matter
entirely since they can’t actually spend it. Some researchers suggest that this
gold is used as a means of tricking humans and given the Leprechauns’
propensity for trickery, this is entirely possible.
In most Irish folklore tales featuring the Leprechaun, he is
depicted as a rogue who will deceive whenever he can. In rare cases where
humans catch Leprechauns in tales, they are easily outsmarted by the magical
creature that often uses a person’s greed against him. Unless you are an expert
in all things Leprechaun, there are a few facts about the mystical trickster
that may surprise you.
Popular Culture
The image of Leprechauns has been updated and now the legend
serves as something of a tourist attraction which lures a huge amount of
American tourists in particular to Ireland. The Leprechaun has really captured
the imagination of Americans and features as Notre Dame’s mascot and the symbol
of Lucky Charms cereal. Of course, not everything related to Leprechauns is fun
or particularly tasteful as can be seen in the awful Leprechaun movies starring
Warwick Davis.
It is fair to say that many Irish people are irritated by
the ethnic stereotypes perpetuated by Leprechauns but there is a tale of
morality that can be taken from the fable of the Leprechaun. The fact that they
often trick people who seek the pot of gold can be taken as a warning to people
not to be invested in ‘get rich quick’ schemes.
Additionally, you should not look to take what isn’t yours
nor should you interfere with things beyond your understanding. Ultimately,
tales of the Leprechaun are not to be taken seriously and should only serve to
amuse and delight us.
Did You Know?
The modern day depiction of a Leprechaun is that of a man
clad entirely in green. However, Irish folklore describes Leprechauns as men
who wore red outfits and tri-cornered hats. Irish novelist Samuel Lover describes
Leprechauns as such in his 1831 work Legends and Stories of Ireland.
According to Carolyn White’s A History of Irish Fairies,
there is no record of any female Leprechauns existing. This of course means
that Leprechauns defy typical laws of biology by surviving and there is no
evidence which tells the story of how they breed. The aforementioned book says
that Leprechauns are actually deformed children of the fairies.
Though the legend of the Leprechaun is well over a thousand
years old, there was a ‘sighting’ as recently as 1989 by a pub landlord called
P.J O’Hare in Carlingford, County Louth. O’Hare claims that he heard screams
from a well and found the remains and clothing of a Leprechaun which is on
display in his pub! The town now has an annual Leprechaun hunt though the
object of the game is to find plastic versions of the fabled creature.
Did you know that Leprechauns are actually a protected
species under EU law? Carlingford’s Sliabh Foy Loop trail is officially
protected land for the 236 Leprechauns that apparently live in Ireland. A local
lobbyist group which contains Kevin Woods, a native of Carlingford, managed to
convince the EU that the area should be protected and now it is under the
European Habitats Directive.
See you all tomorrow.
Buh-bye.
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