Looking for a Leprechaun
St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, is a national holiday in Ireland. It celebrates one of that country’s special saints.
It is not a national holiday in the United States, but many Americans celebrate anyway.
Even people who have no Irish ancestors like to pretend they’re Irish for a day!
St. Patrick
St. Patrick was a missionary in Ireland during the fifth century. He was taken there as a slave when he was a teenager.
After he returned to his home in Britain, he believed he was called to go back to Ireland and spread Christianity.
Irish folklore
Ireland is famous for its folklore, or traditional stories that are passed down from generation to generation.
A favorite symbol of Ireland is the
leprechaun (LEP-ruh-kawn). To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, The Mini Page learned about this crafty little fairy.
Meet a leprechaun
A leprechaun is a mysterious or magical being. According to Irish legend, leprechauns live in the countryside with humans. But they’re rarely seen by people.
Most pictures of leprechauns show jolly little elves with pink cheeks and smiles. You might see these on items for sale around St. Patrick’s Day, or on cereal boxes.
Folklore experts say leprechauns are indeed small, but their clothing is usually untidy and old. They might wear an old blue or green coat, short pants, woolen stockings and a wide-brimmed hat or stocking cap.
Instead of being happy, leprechauns are more likely to play tricks on humans. In fact, Irish people used to leave milk, cheese, bread or other foods on their doorsteps at night to keep the local leprechaun from making mischief, or trouble, at their homes.
Leprechauns are also thought to be miserly, or greedy for money. They make their homes in abandoned barns or churches, or in the woods or in caves.
Leprechauns at work
Leprechauns are thought to be shoemakers. They make and repair shoes for other fairies, who wear out their shoes quickly with all the dancing they do. Some people believe that you can tell when you’re close to a leprechaun’s home because you can hear the tapping of his little hammer as he works on shoes.
Other legends tell of leprechauns being builders and stonemasons, metalworkers and even bankers.
Leprechauns also love music and can remember old tunes that have been forgotten by humans. They like to play the harp, fiddle and Irish pipes.