Leprechauns: facts about popular heroes of Irish fairy tales and legends

Leprechauns in Ireland are an alternative to fairies in other cultures. Nevertheless, it is important to note that these "fairies" from Irish folklore are not like the lovely Disney's Pixie. They can be lascivious, nasty, moody creatures whose magic can delight you in one day, and kill the next one, if you cause the displeasure of the leprechaun.

Although leprechauns are mythical creatures, a rare disease caused by insulin resistance, sometimes called leptoconism, is quite real.

How leprechauns appeared in legends

These mythical creatures are often described as withered, bearded old men dressed in green clothes (the early versions were dressed in red). They wear shoes with buckles, and often leather aprons. Sometimes you can see a pointed cap or hat. Leprechauns can also smoke a pipe.

In his book Elementary Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, John and Caitlin Matthews followed how legends about leprechauns appeared. Their trail reaches the eighth century. It was then that there were stories about water spirits called luchorpán, which means "small body". These spirits, after all, merged with the evil fairy of the household, began to stir up the cellars and drink heavily.

Fairy Shoemakers

Other researchers say that the word "leprechaun" can come from the Irish Leath bhrogan, that is, the shoemaker. Indeed, although leprechauns are often associated with wealth and gold, in folklore their main vocation is not glamorous at all: they act as humble shoemakers. The shoe business seems to be quite profitable in the fairy-tale world, since each leprechaun, according to legend, has its own pot of gold, which can often be found at the end of the rainbow.

According to Irish legends, people who were fortunate enough to find a leprechaun and capture him or (in some stories) steal his magic ring, coin or amulet, can offer him to exchange his freedom for treasure. They say that leprechauns, as a rule, give a person three desires. But dealing with them can be very difficult.

Deceivers

Leprechaun plays several roles in Irish folklore. First of all, he embodies the image of a swindler, who can not be trusted, because he will try to deceive you at any opportunity. Folkllorist Carol Rose in her encyclopedia "Spirits, fairies, gnomes and goblins" offers a typical story about deception of people leprechaun: a person who managed to find a leprechaun, asks him to show him a bush in a field where his treasure is hidden. Without a shovel, the man left a red bandage on this bush, and then kindly released the leprechaun and followed the shovel. Returning almost immediately, he found that every bush on the field was marked with a red bandage.

In a magical world, most spirits, fairies and other creatures have a characteristic sound associated with them. Some of them - such as the Irish fairy banshee or the Latin American spirit La Llorona - publish a mournful moaning, signifying their presence. In the case of the leprechaun, it is the tapping of his tiny hammer, by which he nails the shoes, working as a shoemaker. This sound can tell you that the leprechaun is nearby.

Singles

The publication of the book of 1825 entitled "Fairy Legends" seemed to consolidate the character of the modern leprechaun: "Leprechauns seem to always turn out to be lonely men".

It seems that all leprechauns are not only shoemakers, but also single men, which makes sense from a cultural point of view, since this type of mythical characters is closely associated with shoemakers, and this is traditionally a male profession. Although the fact that all the leprechauns turned out to be shoemakers, there is something interesting (what if they want to be writers, farmers or doctors?). This designation also fits well with the traditional folklore division of labor.

Leprechauns in popular culture

As with many old legends and traditions, the image and character of the leprechauns changed over time and was updated for the modern audience. Leprechaun Lucky, the charm of the Lucky Charms breakfast cereal from General Mills, is probably the most famous. Disney's 1959 film "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" also influenced how many people imagine this tiny people.

On the other hand, there is Leprechaun-murderer Lubdan from the film "Leprechaun". For several generations, some Irish have been annoyed by the leprechauns because of the ethnic stereotypes that they perpetuate, but for most people in other countries these mythical creatures only appear on St. Patrick's Day.

The moral figure

Leprechauns are also a fairy-tale moral figure, whose fables are warned from insane attempts to get rich fast, take something that rightfully does not belong to you, or interfere with the life of a magical people and other mythical creatures. Belief in leprechauns and other fairies was once widely spread on the Emerald Isle, and regardless of whether they are real or not, these creatures will continue to amuse and delight us for many centuries.

Genetic congenital disorder

Leprechaunism, also known as Donohue Syndrome, is an extremely rare disease characterized by abnormal insulin resistance. Some researchers prefer the term "Donohue Syndrome", because "leprekonizm" can be regarded as a pejorative name.

This is a recessive genetic disease that occurs when a person inherits two copies of an abnormal gene for the same symptom, according to the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD).

Children with this disorder are characterized by unusually small height and weight before and after birth, according to the National Institutes of Health. They can not grow normally, which means that they have low birth weight and can not dial it at the expected pace. They often lack muscle mass, and also such children can have a very thin layer of fat under the skin.

Characteristics of the syndrome also include abnormally large, low-lying and poorly developed ears; A wide, flat nose with raised nostrils; Large, thick lips and large mouth; Wide apart, bulging eyes. Sick children may also have an abnormally small head, or microcephaly. There may be excessive hair growth.

Most of the victims have skin problems, in which certain parts of it, for example the folds of the body, become thick, dark and velvety.

Anomalies

The Donohue Syndrome affects the endocrine system, which regulates the secretion of hormones into the circulatory system. Anomalies include excessive secretion of insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels, promoting the movement of glucose into the cells of the body. According to NORD, children with a disorder can not effectively use insulin, and therefore often have high blood sugar (or hyperglycemia) after eating, and low blood sugar (or hypoglycemia) when not eating.

Other hormonal effects include enlargement of the mammary glands and genital organs. Characteristics also include intellectual disability, abnormally large arms and legs, enlarged or bloated stomach, enlarged heart, kidneys and other organs, as well as hernias where the large intestine can protrude through the abdominal wall or in the groin area. Affected children are also more susceptible to recurrent infections.

Rare disease

Donohue Syndrome is extremely rare: in the medical literature, only 50 cases have been reported. It was first discovered in 1948 by Dr. Donohue, a Canadian pathologist who wrote about it in the journal Pediatrics in 1954. In the cases described, the disorder was twice as common in women as in men.

Treatment is usually aimed at specific symptoms, according to NORD. Endocrinologists treat hormonal problems, and dermatologists have skin problems, for example. Families can also receive genetic counseling.