fits wrote: » So. Why are these a thing? A German friend of mine asked me about them last week but I didn't know much. I cant say they featured in my childhood much at all but people majorly associate them with Ireland. Why is that? The faeries were far more important in Irish storytelling and legend I would have thought.
conorh91 wrote: » Same in Ireland, we just call them leprechauns and tweak their dress, mode of speech, and traits to reflect our own circumstances and our own interests.
fits wrote: » Do we though? Do they actually feature in Irish culture at all pre Darby o gill?
Paramite Pie wrote: » Perhaps because leprechauns are exclusively part of Irish folklore and do not appear in other countries stories? There is no other leprechaun countries!!!
When I was a kid in the 90s we had books about leprechauns, can't remember the name of the books but they were funny! In general, they were associated with repairing shoes more than anything else, but also causing mischief/pranks. Not to mention the pot of gold. Traditionally they wore red waistcoasts (in the 1800s & older), not green which is a modern (& political addition). The modern appearance of leprechauns has little to do with the folklore itself, and seems to borrow stereo-types-of-the-day from Punch magazine.
kneemos wrote: » They trick you or take you away if your young is the traditional thing I've always heard. Not to be trusted.
quite a beau in his dress, notwithstanding, for he wears a red square-cut coat, richly laced with gold, and inexpressible of the same, cocked hat, shoes and buckles
Leprechaun-like creatures rarely appear in Irish mythology and only became prominent in later folklore. Modern depictions of leprechauns are largely based on derogatory 19th century caricatures and stereotypes of the Irish.[2]
oppenheimer1 wrote: » To be honest I have always been fonder on the Clurichaun.
The Th!ng wrote: » There's one living in the Phoenix park at the moment, recently a trainee naturalist wrongly identified it as a midget parasite.
fits wrote: » Clurichaun?
conorh91 wrote: » Don't most European civilizations have imps/ trolls/ goblins in their mythological heritage? Same in Ireland, we just call them leprechauns and tweak their dress, mode of speech, and traits to reflect our own circumstances and our own interests.
Paramite Pie wrote: » Traditionally they wore red waistcoasts (in the 1800s & older), not green which is a modern (& political addition).
Pumpkinseeds wrote: » Leprechauns are just an Irish gimmick. Every country has their own cultural variation of faeries but Ireland is the only one with leprechauns. Begosh and begorrah crap that appeals to tourists who will buy any old tat.:D
Gavster1982 wrote: » Anyone ever seen any of the Leprechaun horror films...classics
Trigger Happy wrote: » I am going to go out on a limb here and guess that you are not planning to spend tomorrow settling down to watch Darby O Gill and the little people whilst drinking warm porter from a bottle and eating bacon and cabbage?
Rosy Posy wrote: » There's a book called 'Summer with the Leprechauns' which is apparently a 'true' story of an American woman who met a leprechaun and told her how to save the world. It's some serious hippie crap but a scary number of people believe it! http://www.tanishelliwell.com/the-leprechauns-page/
