Images of Leprechauns

A leprechaun is one of the best globally-known characters belonging to a specific national folklore. It is widely recognized as one of the symbols of Ireland and is especially exposed at St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

While Irish mythology bursts with all kinds of fairies, or, as they are often called - little people or wee folk - leprechauns don't belong to its oldest tradition. This character is actually a pretty good example of a fusion of traditional and commercial elements. As specific entities, they were first mentioned in literature only in the 8th century as a solitary fairy of a small-figured man (about three feet or less than one meter tall) with a beard, always dressed in a coat and covered with a hat.

The word leprechaun has dubious origins. One of the most interesting theories is a connection with Latin luperci which leads to the ancient Roman festival Lupercalia (possibly coming from 'lupus', meaning wolf), a pastoral festival that precedes the St. Valentine's feast.

The leprechauns are cobblers by profession although it seems they mostly work on their own shoes which are constantly worn out due to the leprechauns' intense activity. Their second major characteristic is their love for practical jokes.

It's believed that every leprechaun has a full pot of gold which is hidden at the end of the rainbow.

From tradition, the leprechauns borrow some characteristics of other small people like aos si, clurichaun, or far darrig.

Yet they have more in common with dwarfs from Central Europe than the fairy folk of Ireland. Modern perception also changed the perception of the image of the leprechaun. While they were still always wearing red clothes different according to the region of Ireland, the 20th century cemented the look of the leprechauns as men with red beards with green coats and green top hats.

Their excessive drinking habit is also an invention of the 20th century.

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