Today at the museum we feature leprechauns. This green sprite belongs to our exhibit on piñatas. Why, you may ask is a leprechaun in a piñata exhibit? Along with drinking green brew, dancing an Irish jig, or kissing the blarney stone, whacking a papier–mâché leprechaun for candy is one of many ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
And if that isn’t enough to make your head throb, leprechauns are associated with the sound of tapping. Legend claims one knows these mythical cobblers are near by the tapping of their tiny hammers as they drive nails into shoes.
But wait, there’s more! Here’s a fun, toe tapping clip of an Irish jig featuring a bedazzled Michael Flately (remember him?!) Enjoy! Lord_of_the_Dance
Fun fact: Leprechauns did not always wear green. Author Samuel Lover, in his book Legends and Stories of Ireland (1831) described leprechauns in tricorn hats and sporting red threads.
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