First, let me tell you
what a leprechaun is:
Leprechauns are
shoemakers and, according to the tales, tricky beings that, when they meet a
human, they grant him or her three wishes. They are rumored to enjoy whiskey
maybe a little too much. Physically, leprechauns are small ginger men (sorry,
no female leprechauns) all dressed in green with funny shoes and a funny hat. They
might be holding a pipe in one hand and a pot of gold in the other. If they’re
not holding the pot, then they probably have hidden it at the end of a rainbow…
sounds familiar yet?
Now, when we think of
Ireland, most of us think of shamrocks, beer, the color green and/or leprechauns.
Well… sorry, but did you know Leprechauns are not THAT important in Ireland?
People outside Ireland usually
perceive this figures as they are this big
important and popular part of the Irish folklore. Yes, they are amazingly
popular overseas, but not in the country itself. Lots of native Irish don’t recognize
them this way. They don’t deny leprechauns as part of their folklore, but they are
only seen as minor characters in tales.
To be honest, I’m still
not quite sure why; maybe it is the easier way to create a stereotype of
Irishmen, maybe it’s because of immigration, since Saint Patrick’s day became so
popular all around the world it may have expanded the leprechaun figure,
therefore that’s pretty much the only idealization we have of Ireland. That’s
my theory, what do you think?
I think that the Irish people is trying to shelve the image of the leprechaun, to focus on their maybe deeper culture and folklore. This could be because of, as you said, immigration and stereotypes, and maybe globalization. I believe that they're trying to not be swayed by what the other nations and populations think about them on a superficial way, but focusing in what they think is important and relevant of their culture.
ResponderEliminarThis was very interesting, thank you!
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ResponderEliminarAbsolutely! every time i think of Irish people, the first thing that comes to my mind is green color and a shamrock. The fact that they don't feel identified with this makes me wonder how people from abroad sees chilen people? Maybe they think that we are always dressing chamantos , spurs and flowered dresses,drinking chicha and eating empanadas... and that worries me because this is not the way that we chilean people are in our daily basis.So thanks for clarify this wrong perception about Irish people, Now every time i see a leprechaun , i'll think twice before bringing that stereotypical image to my mind again.
ResponderEliminarI think Irish people are the most stereotyped people in the whole world. First of all as you said, we think they all are ginger or small or always wearing green. Maybe for Saint Patrick's Day and all the globalization process we took just a small part of their culture (a very small part, if you said that some of them don't recognize the leprechauns) and today we made it into something commercial.
ResponderEliminarIndeed this was very interesting and surprising also!
I think it's a stereotype based on a fun sort of legend that someone though as correct and I have to admit I think the same when I hear Ireland. Perhaps it is because ths country is very far away from us and it's the easier way to talk about them or maybe just another proof that stereotypes are incredibly strong and dumb
ResponderEliminar