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“Place your ear close to the hill. Can you hear the faint commotion, The rhythmic click of an elf’s hammer, The shrill voice of the Leprechaun singing joyfully As he merrily goes about his craft? He stands a span And a quarter tall. Spot him, catch him tight, And you’ll be a made Man!”
These lines from “The Lepracaun, or Fairy Shoemaker” by the Irish poet William Allingham (1824-1889) encapsulate the leprechaun’s small size, his shoemaking trade, and the old belief that capturing one could lead to wealth. But over the centuries, these crafty elves have earned many other intriguing characteristics and legends worth exploring, for as the saying goes: “Catch hold of a leprechaun and don’t let go, for he will tell you the address of the gold that is unknown…”
10. Leprechauns Were Once Believed to Be Water Spirits
The myth of the leprechaun evolved from ancient Irish mythology about a supernatural race known as the Tuatha Dé Danann. Originally, they were imagined as mischievous water spirits. As early as the eighth century, The Saga of Fergus mac Léti recounts the tale of a legendary Ulster king who, while sleeping, was kidnapped by three tiny water sprites, known as “lúchorpáin,” and dragged into the sea. After being awakened by the cold water, the king grabbed the little creatures in one hand and demanded three wishes in exchange for their release. However, their trickery eventually led to his undoing.
Over time, the leprechaun’s image evolved into that of a bearded fairy, standing around three feet tall, residing in underground caves or hollow trees. Their lore grew, and they were depicted wearing red jackets and breeches, with cocked hats perched atop their wrinkled heads. Often shown as hardworking cobblers, their hidden fortunes were said to be tucked away in pots of gold. Despite their change in appearance from water spirits, their mischievous nature remained unchanged.
In one timeless Irish folk tale, a farmer named Jack stumbles upon a leprechaun hidden in a hedgerow. True to tradition, Jack forces the elf to reveal the location of his pot of gold by maintaining direct eye contact. The leprechaun, unable to resist, leads Jack to a vast field of dandelions, showing him the specific flower marking the spot where his treasure is buried. However, Jack realizes he doesn’t have a spade to dig, and must go home to fetch one.
While the leprechaun remains under Jack’s spell, Jack orders him to keep the gold exactly where it is until his return. The little elf, powerless to defy the command, watches as Jack places one of his stockings on the flower as a marker before heading home. When Jack returns, he finds that the leprechaun has cleverly covered every single dandelion with identical socks, thus outwitting the farmer and protecting his gold. The story ends on a positive note, though, as the farmer’s wife is thrilled with the endless supply of stockings that she would otherwise have to knit herself.
9. The Word “Leprechaun” Is Quite the Enigma!
Let’s begin with its origins. As noted earlier, the first mention of this creature was in the form of mischievous water spirits known as “lúchorpáin,” which translates to “little bodies” in Old Irish. Scholars also point to the alternate spelling “leithbrágan,” meaning “half shoemaker,” referring to the common image of the leprechaun working on only one shoe. While many consider the one-shoe explanation a folk etymology, a play on words, there’s also a connection to the Latin word “Lupercalia,” an ancient Roman festival of revelry, where priests called “Luperci” ran naked. Over the years, a medieval Irish tale emerged in which the “Luperci” were imagined as supernatural swimmers who survived the Great Flood, only to haunt the waters of Ireland, bringing us full circle back to the “lúchorpáin” of water spirit legend.
So, how do we spell it exactly? This article uses the standard American spelling, but it’s important to note that leprechauns originate from a land with a history full of diverse counties and lordships that stretch back through time. While the Irish standard seems to be “leipreachán,” other variations include “loimreachán,” “lubrican,” “luchramán,” and “lúracán.” In many northern counties, they are called “logheryman,” “lurigadawne” in County Tipperary, and “luricawne” in County Kerry. It’s almost as if, at one point in Old Ireland, every household had its own way of spelling the crafty little cobblers! But of course, leprechauns are the original tricksters in all things, including the art of spelling!
We could dive into the many different pronunciations, but that would be a bit too much to handle!
8. Leprechauns Are Devious and Unattractive!
In the U.S., people tend to view leprechauns as symbols of good fortune, associated with four-leaf clovers. However, this image really stems from a mix of influences including an old Disney movie, a popular breakfast cereal, and St. Patrick’s Day traditions. If we were to choose a more fitting holiday for these little tricksters, it would most likely be April Fool’s Day—or maybe even Friday the 13th!
In Ireland, leprechauns are traditionally seen as sly, occasionally malicious little elves who love to trick people, especially those seeking to steal their gold. They are masters of mischief and deception, and even if you manage to catch one and demand three wishes, things won’t end well. They also enjoy a drink, either indulging in their own brew or swiping yours. But beware of what you say around them—these elves are well-versed in the art of casting curses, and out of spite, they have been known to make a household’s milk turn sour.
Leprechauns were often depicted as disheveled in both appearance and attire, with a notorious, unpleasant smell surrounding them. Their looks were considered grotesque, almost to the point of deformity, and their demeanor matched their rough outward appearance. In his 1888 anthology of Celtic myths, author D. R. McAnally portrayed leprechauns as having a disturbing ancestry, with an evil spirit as their father and a degenerate fairy mother. Considering such references, it's no wonder these little creatures sometimes resorted to drinking heavily.
7. There's No Such Thing as a Female Leprechaun
Have you ever observed that all leprechauns are male? In Irish folklore, female leprechauns have never been mentioned. This may explain why the males are typically portrayed as solitary, grumpy beings. It’s not hard to imagine that small, tipsy cobblers wouldn't fare well in the dating world, but this raises an intriguing question: how do these unpleasant little fellows manage to reproduce if there are no female counterparts?
Leprechauns are far too clever and mischievous to simply die off, or so it seems. Some legends suggest they either live for incredibly long periods or might even be immortal. However, this doesn’t quite answer the question of their origins. One theory proposes they hatch from eggs, though it remains unclear who, or what, lays them. Additionally, according to A History of Irish Fairies by Carolyn White, leprechauns are believed to be the malformed offspring of fairies, their unattractive features and bad tempers likely preventing them from ever becoming suitable husbands—even if female leprechauns were to exist!
In British Isles folklore, single-gender supernatural beings are not uncommon. Leprechauns, for instance, are solitary fairies, usually depicted as bad-tempered and withdrawn. Other examples of solitary fairies include the British hobgoblin and the Scottish brownie, both of which are generally male. On the other hand, the Irish banshee, a spirit that heralds death, is always female. Solitary fairies, unlike the cheerful, gender-diverse pixies that smile from time to time, are known for their isolation—and perhaps their frown lines!
6. The Morality of the Pot O' Gold
Much like other fairy tales and fables, leprechaun lore imparts a moral lesson. The infamous pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, along with the greedy men who chase after it, serves as a classic example of the sin of greed. The leprechauns' clever trickery towards these men highlights the theme of comeuppance and reinforces the notion that get-rich-quick schemes rarely end favorably.
A common pattern in many of these tales begins with a farmer, or some other unsuspecting person, stumbling upon a leprechaun diligently working at a shoe. According to legend, the crafty elf either freezes under the man’s gaze or is captured by the man’s grip as he demands the location of its treasure. In many variations, the leprechaun manages to escape either by cleverly distracting the man or breaking free from his grasp, only to disappear.
In other versions of the story, the man manages to be led to the pot of gold, always hidden beneath a flower or weed. The man then goes home to fetch a shovel, but only after making the leprechaun swear to leave the treasure exactly where it is. Upon returning, he is confronted with an endless sea of identical flowers, leaving him perplexed about where to begin digging. In some versions, when the man arrives with the leprechaun, thousands of flowers are already present, and he marks the correct one with a stocking or piece of cloth. Yet when he returns with his shovel, every single flower is marked with the same item, signaling the punishment for his greed and arrogance.
Another tale offers a warning against unkindness, especially when it comes to dealing with a leprechaun in need. These crafty cobblers earn their gold by making shoes for other fairies. However, when business slows and they run low on funds, they resort to knocking on human doors to offer their services. If you hire one, you’ll receive a fine pair of shoes and be spared any trouble. But if you turn one away, you can expect bad luck—from spoiled milk to broken bones, a curse will follow. Leprechauns, once offended, can become vicious and unpleasant, especially after dark.
5. The Despicable Clurichaun (also known as the Leprechaun After Hours)
In Irish folklore, there exists a lesser-known creature called the clurichaun—a grumpy, drunken rascal with atrocious manners! Strangely enough, it looks just like a leprechaun, dresses like one, and even hoards its gold like one. The main distinction, however, is that leprechauns, despite their malice, have certain limits. In contrast, clurichauns are unrelentingly wicked—and they really come out after dark! Many folklorists believe that clurichauns and leprechauns are regional variations of the same creature. While leprechauns are associated with hard work, thriftiness, and clever pranks, clurichauns spend their nights partying hard, raiding wine cellars and playing tricks on both noblemen and servants alike.
One key difference between the two creatures is how they respond after cursing a household. A leprechaun, once he’s cast his spell, typically disappears quickly, whereas a clurichaun makes himself at home, settling in a cellar, attic, or wherever the alcohol is stored. Many clurichaun stories revolve around men who flee their homes to escape the mischievous little fiend, only to have him follow them to their new residence. Clurichauns can form a bond with worthy hosts, dutifully guarding their wine and beer, but disloyal servants—especially those who sneak a sip—end up haunted, harassed, and sometimes even physically punished.
Another commonality between these two troublesome creatures is their fear of being caught and forced to reveal their hidden gold. However, this happens more frequently with the comparatively less aggressive leprechaun. When a clurichaun is caught, the tales follow the same basic plot as those involving the leprechaun, which is another reason why many folklorists believe the two creatures to be the same. Some linguists even consider the word “clurichaun” to be a regional variation of “leprechaun” found in southern Ireland. Regardless, the wine cellars to the north must seem a bit more inviting than those in the south.
In his 1828 work Fairy Mythology, Thomas Keightley recounts the story of a clurichaun named Little Wildbean who haunts the cellar of a kind Quaker named Harris. The clurichaun diligently tends to the beer barrels for his master, and in return, the servants feed him every night. However, one evening, Little Wildbean becomes furious when served a poor meal and violently assaults the cook at midnight. Fed up, Harris decides to leave, but not before discovering the troublesome creature hiding in one of his empty barrels. Reluctantly, Harris returns home with Little Wildbean, and soon after, buys a proverbial sheep farm. Despite this, the clurichaun remains in the house to this day, while the cook’s fate is uncertain!
4. The Americanization of the Leprechaun
In the mid-nineteenth century, the Irish made up more than a third of all immigrants to the United States, largely as a result of the devastation caused by the 1845 Potato Blight. While the idea of St. Patrick’s Day parades had already existed in America, their numbers and enthusiasm grew exponentially as countless displaced Irish immigrants found comfort in celebrating their heritage and culture.
During this time in U.S. history, Irish-Americans were often subjected to mockery and discrimination. Cartoons portrayed them as perpetually drunk, and signs such as “Irish Need Not Apply” were commonplace. However, after their significant involvement in the Civil War, Americans began to view the Irish more favorably, and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations became popular across all cultural backgrounds. Yet, many of the traditions brought from Ireland quickly became Americanized—sometimes watered down or trivialized. The leprechaun, a prominent symbol of Irish culture, was one of the most notable figures to undergo this change.
Perhaps the most noticeable shift in the Americanized leprechaun was in its character, transitioning from a grouchy, ugly, and wrinkled fairy to a cheerful, charming little fellow holding a four-leaf clover for good fortune. The creature’s small red coat, which had been worn for centuries (often as a symbol of defiance against the British), was replaced by a green outfit—one that became synonymous with Irish heritage in the U.S., even though azure blue was traditionally the color of Ireland. And then there’s the bright orange hair and beard—an odd addition considering that folklore descriptions of leprechauns often depicted them as ancient beings, implying their hair would be gray or white. But America already had a Santa Claus, and many Irish-Americans were redheads.
The way the leprechaun is commonly depicted today offends many people of Irish heritage, as it presents a distorted version created purely for American entertainment. While modern-day depictions of the little green elf are often made in good fun, that wasn’t always the case. In U.S. history, the leprechaun’s excessive drinking and his old-fashioned costume were used as derogatory symbols against the Irish so frequently that they became deeply ingrained in the American pop-cultural consciousness.
Ironically, the Americanized version of the leprechaun, along with other Irish stereotypes, has grown increasingly popular across the Atlantic, even among the Irish themselves. Thanks to television and the internet, they are now exposed to how much fun people have on March 17th. In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day was traditionally a religious holiday, with pubs closing up until 1961 in observance. However, since then, the celebrations and parades have gained significant traction, and by 1995, the Irish government began to market “Paddy’s Day” as a way to boost tourism. This led to a five-day festival in Dublin, which brought in €73 million (83.4 million USD) to the economy in 2019. The celebrations were paused in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, but there are hopes for a grand comeback in 2022—fingers crossed!
3. The Naked Leprechaun of Carlingford
The legend of the leprechaun remains important to the Irish, as evidenced by a 2011 survey in Ireland where one-third of participants admitted to believing in leprechauns, and over half thought they once existed. Admittedly, the survey was conducted by a whiskey distillery just before the annual leprechaun hunt. Yet, the little elves had already gained some official recognition in 2009 when the European Habitats Directive classified them as a protected species, at least in one part of County Lough. Here's how it all unfolded:
In 1989, a pub owner from Carlingford, County Lough, named P.J. O’Hare, heard a chilling scream from up on Slieve Foy (a nearby mountain). When he went to investigate, he discovered small bones, a green suit, a matching hat, and four gold coins. This “irrefutable proof” of a leprechaun (who appeared to have been stripped naked and was missing some bones) was displayed in his pub for years, until O’Hare’s death, after which the pub was sold. As expected, the four gold coins mysteriously vanished.
A few years later, P.J.’s friend, Kevin “McCoillte” Woods, claimed to have found the missing gold coins hidden in a stone wall. Soon after, he allegedly developed the ability to communicate with leprechauns, three of whom he reportedly encountered while hiking with his dog on Slieve Foy. McCoillte insisted that there were exactly 236 leprechauns living in the area, the last remaining members of their kind. He also revealed that the tiny suit and coins left by P.J. had been intentionally placed there.
McCoillte's tale gained quite the following, and in 2009, after years of lobbying the EU, the leprechauns of Carlingford were granted protected status. The European Habitats Directive couldn't prove or disprove their existence, so they were left alone. Now, every year, McCoillte sells hundreds of hunting licenses for a ceramic leprechaun hunt held on the Sunday when the clocks move forward in March, with the proceeds benefiting local charities. There are also tours available throughout the year, taking visitors through the cave where the leprechauns are rumored to reside, with tickets priced at €10 per adult. Talk about a pot of gold…
If you're doubting McCoillte's story or the authenticity of the tiny elf costume, rest assured that this account comes straight from the mouths of the fine leprechauns of Slieve Foy in County Lough.
2. No More Leprechaun Movies—Please!
In 1993, Jennifer Aniston, known for her role in Friends, starred in her very first movie, Leprechaun, which launched a franchise now consisting of eight films. The first six featured Warwick Davis in the title role. While Aniston's popularity has remained high, the Leprechaun movies are widely regarded as, well, not good! The first film was panned for its awkward mix of humor and horror, and the sequel, released just a year later, received even worse reviews. The series continued downhill with titles like Leprechaun 4 in Space (1996) and Leprechaun in the Hood (2000). Hollywood even tried to reboot the series in 2014 with Leprechaun: Origins, which earned a zero on the Tomatometer—yes, a ZERO!
Despite being considered B (or perhaps C?) movies in the horror genre, the Leprechaun films have gained a cult following. Every year, fans gather on March 17th to indulge in the cinematic chaos. This odd reverence places the films alongside other quirky horror cult classics like Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958), Night of the Living Dead (1968), and Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1978). Though, if we're being honest, Halloween might actually be a better holiday to watch Leprechaun than St. Paddy’s.
There's talk of another sequel or revamp in the works, and given how many other lackluster Hollywood franchises keep resurfacing, it's bound to happen. However, if another Leprechaun film does make its way to theaters, it's almost certain that one of the Lucky Charms Spotify music videos mentioned earlier would earn a higher Tomatometer score than the movie itself.
1. “They’re Magically Delicious!”
In 1964, General Mills introduced a new breakfast cereal called Lucky Charms, which became a hit thanks to its fun marshmallow shapes and a leprechaun mascot on the box. For over fifty years, Lucky the Leprechaun has been keeping kids from getting their hands on his cereal. His fame as a brand mascot has earned him a spot alongside Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, and Snap, Crackle, and Pop (the other elf mascots)!
It's been nearly three decades since the popularity of cold cereals began to decline due to shifts in diet, lifestyle changes, gluten-free trends, and the rise of alternatives like fast food breakfast, breakfast bars, and microwavable meals. To compensate for this decline in sales, cereal brands have flooded the market with new flavors, shapes, colors, and box designs—making choosing a cereal box almost as confusing as buying a car these days! Yet, Lucky Charms continues to perform well, with its sales actually increasing. Sure, the inclusion of candy in each serving helps, but Lucky's unique 'charm' makes him a standout mascot, even with new streaming musical marketing campaigns on Spotify.
But beware, mascots! The Notre Dame Fighting Irish has featured a leprechaun as their official mascot since 1965. However, some people are now claiming that the image of an angry, tiny Irish elf ready to fight is offensive. In a 2021 survey, the leprechaun was ranked the 4th most offensive college sports mascot, leading to backlash from both the university and its team. They argue that this issue is not comparable to the Redskins controversy, as Irish individuals were directly involved in the university's formation. Despite this, many view the leprechaun's combative pose as a stereotypical slur against the Irish.
Similarly, some people have criticized the NBA's Boston Celtics leprechaun mascot, claiming it appears either tipsy or just silly. Could the forces of political correctness target Lucky the Leprechaun next? If so, Lucky better watch out—while leprechauns have managed to avoid capture for centuries in Ireland, it might just be the American PC police who finally catch him.
