Leprechauns in Ireland are an alternative to fairies in other cultures. It is important to note, however, that these "fairies" from Irish folklore are not like the cute Disney Pixies. They can be lustful, nasty, capricious creatures whose magic can delight you one day, and kill the next if you displease the leprechaun.
Although leprechauns are mythical creatures, the rare disease caused by insulin resistance, sometimes called leprechaunism, is very real.
How leprechauns appeared in legends
These mythical creatures are often described as withered, bearded old men dressed in green clothes (early versions were dressed in red). They wear buckled shoes and often leather aprons. Sometimes you can see a pointed cap or hat. Leprechauns can also smoke pipes.
In their book, An Elementary Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, John and Caitlin Matthews traced the origins of the leprechaun legend. Their trail stretches back to the eighth century. It was then that tales of water spirits called luchorpán, which means "little body", appeared. These spirits, in the end, merged with the cunning fairy of the household, began to excite the cellars and drink heavily.
Promotional video:
Fairy Shoemakers
Other researchers say that the word "leprechaun" may come from the Irish Leath bhrogan, meaning shoemaker. Indeed, although leprechauns are often associated with wealth and gold, in folklore their main vocation is not at all glamorous: they act as humble shoemakers. The shoe business appears to be quite lucrative in the fairy tale world, as each leprechaun, according to legends, has his own pot of gold, which can often be found at the end of the rainbow.
According to Irish lore, people who are lucky enough to find a leprechaun and capture him, or (in some stories) steal his magic ring, coin or amulet, can offer him to exchange their freedom for treasure. It is said that leprechauns tend to grant a person three wishes. But dealing with them can be very difficult.
Deceivers
The leprechaun has several roles in Irish folklore. First of all, he embodies the image of a scammer who cannot be trusted, as he will try to deceive you at every opportunity. In her encyclopedia "Spirits, Fairies, Gnomes and Goblins," folklorist Carol Rose offers a typical story about a leprechaun deceiving people: a man who managed to find a leprechaun asks to show him a bush in a field where his treasure is hidden. Not having a shovel, the man left a red bandage on this bush, and then kindly dismissed the leprechaun and went to get the shovel. Returning almost immediately, he found that every bush in the field was marked with a red bandage.
In the wizarding world, most spirits, fairies, and other creatures have a distinctive sound associated with them. Some of them - such as the Irish fairytale banshee or the Latin American spirit of La Llorona - utter mournful laments at their presence. In the case of the leprechaun, this is the sound of his tiny hammer, which he uses to hammer nails into his shoes, working as a shoemaker. This sound can tell you that a leprechaun is nearby.
Loners
The 1825 edition of a book called Fairy Tale Legends seemed to reinforce the character of the modern leprechaun: "Leprechauns always seem to be single 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 a traditionally male profession. Although there is something interesting about the fact that all the leprechauns turned out to be shoemakers (what if they want to be writers, farmers, or doctors?). This designation also fits well with the traditional folkloric division of labor.
Leprechauns in popular culture
As with many old legends and traditions, the image and character of leprechauns has changed over time and has been updated for the modern audience. Lucky the Leprechaun, the mascot of General Mills' Lucky Charms breakfast cereal, is probably the most famous. Disney's 1959 film Darby O'Gill and the Little People also influenced how many people imagine these tiny people.
On the other hand, there is the killer leprechaun Lubdan from the movie Leprechaun. For generations, some Irish people have been irritated by leprechauns because of the ethnic stereotypes they perpetuate, but for most people in other countries, these mythical creatures only appear on Saint Patrick's Day.
Moral figure
Leprechauns are also a fabulous moral figure, whose fables warn against frantic attempts to get rich quickly, take what is not rightfully yours, or interfere with the life of fairy people and other mythical creatures. Belief in leprechauns and other fairies was once widespread on the Emerald Isle, and whether they are real or not, these creatures will continue to amuse and delight us for centuries to come.
Genetic congenital disorder
Leprechaunism, also known as Donoghue syndrome, is an extremely rare disorder characterized by abnormal insulin resistance. Some researchers prefer the term "Donoghue syndrome" because "leprechaunism" can be viewed as a derogatory name.
It is a recessive genetic disorder that occurs when a person inherits two copies of an abnormal gene for the same trait, according to the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD).
Children with this disorder are unusually short and underweight before and after birth, according to the National Institutes of Health. They cannot grow normally, which means that they are low birth weight and cannot gain it at the expected rate. They often lack muscle mass and may have a very thin layer of fat under their skin.
The characteristics of the syndrome also include abnormally large, low-set and poorly developed ears; wide, flat nose with raised nostrils; large, thick lips and large mouth; wide-set, bulging eyes. Sick children may also have abnormally small heads, or microcephaly. There may be excessive hair growth.
Most people affected have skin problems in which certain areas, such as the folds of the body, become thick, dark and velvety.
Anomalies
Donoghue's syndrome affects the endocrine system, which regulates the secretion of hormones into the circulatory system. The abnormalities include excessive secretion of insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels by promoting the movement of glucose into the cells of the body. According to NORD, children with the disorder cannot use insulin effectively and therefore often have high blood sugar (or hyperglycemia) after meals and low blood sugar (or hypoglycemia) when not eating.
Other hormonal effects include enlargement of the breasts and genitals. Characteristics also include intellectual disabilities, abnormally large arms and legs, an enlarged or distended stomach, an enlarged heart, kidneys, and other organs, and hernias where the large intestine may protrude through the abdominal wall or groin. Affected children are also more susceptible to re-infections.
Rare disease
Donoghue's syndrome is extremely rare: only 50 cases have been reported in the medical literature. It was first discovered in 1948 by Dr. Donoghue, 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 usually targets specific symptoms, according to NORD. Endocrinologists treat hormonal problems and dermatologists treat skin problems, for example. Families can also receive genetic counseling.
