Leprechaun
by Micha F. Lindemans
Very small sprites who sometimes live in farmhouses or wine cellars.
They are known to aid humans and perform small labors for them.
Sometimes they ask humans for supplies and furniture, for which
in return they give objects which bring luck and fortune. Leprechauns
are called fairy cobblers, for they make shoes for elves (but always
one shoe, never a pair). They are seen quite often by humans and
are described as merry little fellows gaily dressed in old-fashioned
clothes; green, with a red cap, leather apron, and buckled shoes.
When they finish their daily tasks, leprechauns like to organize
wild feast, during which time they are referred to as cluricauns.
These (often drunk) cluricauns can then be seen riding in moonlight
on the back of a dog or a sheep.
According to popular belief, a leprechaun possesses a treasure
(usually a pot of gold) which a human may obtain if he succeeds
in capturing one, which is extremely difficult. Even after capture,
a person may not take his eyes off of him for an instant, for then
he will vanish. Leprechauns are mainly found in Irish folklore.
Derived from the Gaelic luacharma'n, "pygmy"; or leith
brogan "maker of one shoe".
Article created on 03 March 1997; last modified on 10 April 1999.
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