Leprechauns

They're Magically Delicious!!

Am I dating myself with that?  In case you have no idea what that is a reference to, "They're magically delicious" is what Lucky the Leprechaun used to say about Lucky Charms cereal.  And it's the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of leprechauns :) I'm not even sure they make Lucky Charms cereal anymore- boy, I feel old.

In Ireland, though, leprechauns are real.  Really.  Well, maybe not really, but they are a big part of the Irish folklore.  They have been mentioned in stories for many hundreds of years.  According to Irish legend, leprechauns are a type of fairy. 

They are most commonly a child-sized adult man traditionally wearing a red and gold coat and a jaunty hat.  Somewhere down the line that got changed to a green outfit.  They spend their time making shoes (not sure for who) and they have a stash of golden coins (from selling shoes?) that they keep hidden in a pot at the end of the rainbow.  If a human catches a leprechaun, the leprechaun will grant 3 wishes in exchange for freedom.  They are quite mischievous and love to play practical jokes, so be careful if you  try to catch a leprechaun!  They might just catch you!!

I've already got my own little leprechauns- they don't have any gold but they love to play practical jokes and be mischievous!!  My little leprechauns and I have an art project for you so that you can have your own little wee leprechaun :)

Lucky Leprechaun
For the project you will need:

• construction paper in green, orange, and flesh-colored
• markers to draw the face or any designs on clothes
• glue stick or liquid glue
• scissors

1. Cut out a body, legs, arms, hat, and shoes from the green.  I used two different greens but it doesn't really matter.  See picture for patterns.  They are very simple shapes.

2.  From the orange paper cut a large round shape with irregularly scalloped edges.  This is the hair and beard.  I don't know that all leprechauns have orange hair but they did in all the pictures online.  Redheads are very common in Ireland.

3. From the flesh-colored paper cut out hands and a roundish face.  At the top of the face piece cut it so that it looks like a bite has been taken out of it- that will look like his hairline when it's all glued together.  See picture parts picture above.

4. Glue the face piece on top of the orange hair piece and draw his facial features. Glue on his hat.

5. Add head to body and then glue on the rest of the pieces.

There now you've got your own little leprechaun!!  Now you can hide him and try to find him.  Remember whoever finds him gets 3 wishes!!!  What do you wish for??