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Leprechaun
In Irish mythology, the leprachaun is a type of male elf said to inhabit
the island of Ireland. They are a class of "faerie folk" associated in Irish
mythology and folklore, as with all faeries, with the Tuatha Dé Danann and
other quasi-historical races said to have inhabited Ireland before the
arrival of the Celts.
Leprechaun
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The leprechaun is related to the cluricaun and the far darrig in that he
is a solitary creature. The leprechaun, cluricaun and far darrig may even be
different aspects of the same creature. The cluricaun is considered by some
to be merely a leprechaun on a spree. Leprechauns and other creatures of
Irish mythology are often associated with "faerie forts" — often the sites
of ancient (Celtic or pre-Celtic) earthworks, or "faerie rings".
Leprechauns usually take the form of an old man and enjoy partaking in
mischief. Their trade is that of a cobbler or shoemaker and they are often
described as being seen working on a single shoe.
The leprechaun originally had a different appearance depending on where in
Ireland he was found.
In a poem entitled The Lepracaun; or, Fairy Shoemaker, the 18th century
Irish poet William Allingham describes the appearance of the leprechaun as:
A cluricaun with a jug of wine.
A wrinkled, wizen'd, and bearded Elf,
Spectacles stuck on his pointed nose,
Silver buckles to his hose,
Leather apron - shoe in his lap...
The modern image of the leprechaun is almost invariant: he is depicted
wearing an emerald green frock coat, and bestowed with the knowledge of the
location of buried treasure, often in a crock of gold.
Leprechauns are said to be very rich, having many treasure crocks buried
during war-time. While anyone keeps his eye fixed upon them, they cannot
escape, but the moment the eye is withdrawn they vanish.
The leprechaun's secret hiding place for his crock of gold is usually said
to be at the end of the rainbow (which, of course, one can never reach).
Stories about leprechauns are generally very brief and generally have local
names and scenery attached to them. The tales are usually told
conversationally as any other occurrence might be told.
In most tales and stories leprechauns are depicted as generally harmless
creatures who enjoy solitude and live in remote locations, although opinion
is divided as to if they ever enjoy the company of other spirits. Their
pastime is in the making of shoes for other faerie folk such as themselves.
Although rarely seen in social situations, leprechauns are supposedly very
well spoken and, if ever spoken to, could make good conversation.
Among the most popular of beliefs about leprechauns is that they are
extremely wealthy and like to hide their gold in secret locations, which can
only be revealed if a person were to actually capture and interrogate a
leprechaun for its money.
By nature, leprechauns are said to be ill-natured and mischievous, with a
mind for cunning. Many tales present the leprechaun as outwitting a human,
as in the following example:
A farmer or young lad captures a leprechaun and forces him to reveal the
location of his buried treasure. The leprechaun assures him that the
treasure is buried in an open field beneath a particular ragwort plant. The
farmer ties a red ribbon to the plant, first extracting a promise from the
leprechaun not to remove the ribbon. Releasing the leprechaun, he leaves to
get a shovel. Upon his return he finds that every weed in the field has been
tied with an identical red ribbon, thus making it impossible to find the
treasure.
In another story, a young girl finds a leprechaun and bids him show her the
location of his buried money. She takes him up in her hand and sets out to
find the treasure, but all of a sudden she hears a louds buzzing behind her.
the leprechaun shouts at her that she is being chased by a swarm of bees,
but when she looks around there are no bees and the leprechaun is vanished.
Leprechauns are often used, along with shamrocks, as symbolic decoration
on St Patrick's Day, the feast day for the patron saint of Ireland.
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