Leprechaun

Leprechaun [ lɛprəkɔ ː n] ( Irish leipreachán, luprachán, lucharpán, lucharmán, lucharachán etc. ) is a being of Irish mythology, and belongs to the spirits of nature, which are often associated with the hidden gold at the end of the rainbow. The Leprechaun is true for the Irish harp as a symbol of Ireland.

Myth

As a folkloric figure of the Leprechaun is one of the most famous fairies in Ireland. He is small, zwerghaftem growth and is always found alone. It is said that he bequeathed a pot of gold to the person who manages the Leprechaun to elicit the secret of the place where the treasure is hidden. But this is only possible if you catch the creature by to get it to grab his shoulders and then it can no longer be out of sight, because it can disappear quickly. Background is avarice Leprechauns. As a collector, he is the gold here is very reluctant and is therefore particularly tricky. He is, however, described in some accounts as a helping spirit house. Although he is often depicted as grumpy, but he should also be very generous, especially when one has helped him. Then he gives sometimes even his magical gold coin when it is spent, always returns to the owner's hand.

Often, the Leprechaun is also referred to as a shoe cobbler or supplier of the fairies, which is why he is often depicted with a shoe he manufactures or repaired.

Origins

It is believed that the Leprechaun from the Irish legendary figure Lugh has arisen, which also occurs as a shoemaker in the Tuatha Dé Danann in the Lebor Gabála Érenn. It is also believed that he is a descendant of Ham, a cursed son of Noah, who had come in the early days of the colonization of Ireland to the island.

Etymology

It is assumed that the name has formed in the 17th century from the Irish leipreachán. This derives from the Middle Irish luchorpán ( mittelir. lu for " small" and corp for " body " ) from and alludes to the dwarfish stature of this mythical creature to. Another interpretation uses the Gaelic word stem * lukot ( altir. luch: mouse), which also indicated to its small size.

The alternative spelling leithbrágan consists Folk etymology of the words Irish leith (half ) and brogan (shoe) together. This is probably due to the representation of the Leprechauns as a shoemaker.

Reception

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, he emerges as a mascot of the Irish Quidditch team, where the name was rendered into German as " Leprechaun ". His gold is here but not real - it disappears after some time and is ultimately worthless. Even in real life, the Leprechaun is often used as mascots, such as the Boston Celtics, the football team of the University of Notre Dame or the wrestler Dylan Postl aka " Hornswoggle ". The use as a mascot underlines the auspicious nature of this Feenwesens.

The Irish fantasy author Eoin Colfer explains in his novel series Artemis Fowl the name Leprechaun with the extension of the acronym LEP - Lower Elements Police ( in the German translation LEP - Central underground police) by the people, who therefore referred to the Faerie henceforth as Leprechauns.

Movies

The Leprechaun also occurs in a variety of films that are responsive to its various aspects. To fulfill such, played by Gary Oldman in the film Interstate 60 wishes. An exaggerated nod to the avarice of this creature is the horror film series entitled Leprechaun - Leprechaun from The Killer. There were between 1993 and 2003 six more or less coherent films about the murderous leprechaun, who gets to work on all those who venture out to be gold. The best-known films in which Leprechauns occurred, are Henry Koster's The Luck of the Irish (1948 ) with Cecil Kellaway as Leprechaun, Robert Stevenson's The Darby O'Gill ( Darby O'Gill and the Little People, 1959), a Walt Disney production with countless Leprechauns, as well as Francis Ford Coppola's The Musical Finian's Rainbow ( original title: Finian 's Rainbow 1968 ). In addition, they come (as an individual being, but certainly also in plural) many a time in series before where they stand, as in Charmed for happiness ( here they spread happiness by means of gold nuggets in the world) or even back form negative characters.

Music

Also in numerous songs, it occurs, such as the children's song Dear Jessie Madonna or the song Deep Within by Within Temptation. Rare is the whole song of this mythical creature ( the Dixie Dregs Leprechaun promenade ) or even a whole album, as with the jazz-rock concept album The Leprechaun by Chick Corea.