All about Leprechauns

It’s St. Patrick’s Day, when the three-leaf clovers come out. Celebrated on every March 17th, the day is a commemoration of the death of Saint Patrick. The Saint was born about 385 AD with the name of Maewyn Succat. As a 16 year old teenager, he was kidnapped from some Irish raiders and sent into slavery. As a shepherd, Maewyn started experiencing religious visions. Eventually, he escaped after 6 years of captivity and fled to France, where he became a priest, and then a bishop. As a 60 year old man, Saint Patrick came to Ireland again in order to spread the word of faith. Shamrock that resembled a three-leafed clover was used by him as a symbol to describe God in the Christian context.

The national fairy of Ireland, Leprechaun has also been associated with Saint Patrick’s Day for centuries with different myths and legends attached to it. The term leprechaun has originated from the Irish word ‘leath bhrogan’ that means shoemaker. Some experts consider it to have developed from the word “luacharma’n” that means pygmy in Irish. According to legend these tiny and aged men were always in a state of intoxication, but still they were did not drink too much to ensure that they could hold their hammers steadily to carry out their shoemaking business.

Leprechauns are also considered to be the guardians of the ancient treasure that was left behind by the Danes, when they invaded Ireland, and buried the treasure in pots and crocks. It is considered that it is for the Danes that leprechauns regard the mortals as fools, who are greedy and unreliable, and hence they avoid them. The legend has that if a mortal captures a leprechaun, he will receive a promise of great wealth if he lets the leprechaun free. They are believed to carry a couple of leather pouches – one consists of a silver shilling, which is magical and it reappears every time it is given to someone. And, the second leather pouch consists of a gold coin that is used by him to evade threatening situations. And, once a leprechaun gives away the gold coin, it transforms into leaves or ashes. Once you capture a leprechaun, do not take your eyes off him, or else he will vanish instantly.

It is surprising to note that the first parade of Saint Patrick’s Day took place in New York City in the year 1762. And, now the parades take place in more than 100 US cities. Also you can check a page with Leprechauns wallpapers.