The leprechaun is an Irish fairy and is linked to the Tuatha De Danann, type of deity court similar to the Olympians of Greece. The leprechaun is known world-wide for its obsession with gold. However, the original leprechaun was neither known to wear green clothing or hold a large pot of gold.

The word leprechaun possibly derives from two separate meanings. The first is leath bhrogan which, translated, means ‘shoe-maker.’ The second is luacharman, or in Irish, ‘pygmy.’

The leprechaun is a tiny man who is no taller than a young child. Originally, the leprechauns were depicted as wearing red clothing; a cocked hat, tightly laced coat, leather apron, breeches, and shoes with silver buckles. He is often described as being an older male with a beard. The hair and beard are usually red or white. Like most solitary fairies, the preference in clothing color was red. As the leprechaun became the symbol of St. Patrick’s Day, their clothing became associated with the color of the holiday: Green.

Preferring to live alone, usually in a remote place in a forest, but occasionally under toadstools, they lead a very lonely existence. Maybe their obsession with gold stems from that solitude.

One of the jobs of a leprechaun is to make and repair shoes for the fairies. Thought to be born of an evil spirit and a fairy, they are neither wholly good nor wholly evil, but an odd mixture of both. In their boredom, they can become obnoxious tricksters.

Originally, when a leprechaun was captured, he would give their abductor one to three wishes. Later, the wishes changed to a pot of gold, which they were said to guard with a savage ferocity. By capturing a leprechaun, you can force him to show you where he keeps his pot of gold. The gold is said to always be hidden in the last place you would think to look. But, if you take your eyes off of him, even for a second, he will vanish and you will lose your chance. Leprechauns, knowing this, will try to get you to look away from him, using a surprisingly large number of tricks in order to succeed.

One way to trap a leprechaun is to use a barrel of wine or whiskey. Because of their love of liquor, the wine can be used as bait. Place a barrel in the center of a clearing in a forest and watch from a discreet distance. With any luck, a leprechaun will appear and soon become drunk from the alcohol, enabling you to grab it.

A close cousin of the leprechaun is the cluricaun. They are a more rowdy version of the leprechaun, preferring to cause havoc wherever they go. They will rampage through a house, causing a mess in their wake as though a tornado had run through. Sometimes, in their escapades, they will tie a halter and reins to goats, sheep, cows, donkeys, horses, and even large dogs, and ride them through villages. They will steal anything that piques their curiosity and often raid wine-cellars to keep inebriated.

Of the two, it would, perhaps, be best to deal with a leprechaun, since they prefer to avoid human contact at all costs. If captured, they are less likely to hold a grudge and all they really want is to be free. The cluricaun, however, is so unpredictable that it could be folly to release them, no matter what their promises.

Sources:

Written by Mastin, Colleayn O. Illus. by Sovak, Jan. “The Magic of Mythical Creatures.” B.C.: Grasshopper Publishing, 1997. Print.