What Were Those Leprechauns Thinking?

A tip o'the hat.

A tip o’the hat.

Whether or not flesh-and-blood Leprechauns really do exist in the woodlands of Ireland, they have cropped up in ceramic forms, populating gift shops in the United States ever since the 1960s, when St. Patrick’s Day started to become an annual holiday celebrated by everyone, regardless of ancestry or nationalism. They seem to serve the purpose of coin banks, music boxes, flower vases and no particular use whatsoever except to denote that March 17th is near. Serious or goofy, the faces on these fellows are often inscrutable. Some look remote, others defiant, many of them giddy on beer. And for every one-hundred ceramic leprechaun, there seems to be only one St. Patrick himself, perhaps too formidable a presence to be reminded of after a drinking spree. What were those Leprechauns thinking? Here’s some thoughts.

Just try and get it, you just try. I dare ya.

Just try and get it, you just try. I dare ya.

Just fine I think. No, I better not stand.

Just fine I think. No, I better not stand.

It's Daniel, not Danny and at thirty, hardly a boy. So please don't ask me to sing that maudlin song again.

It’s Daniel, not Danny and at thirty, hardly a boy. So please don’t ask me to sing that maudlin song again.

We just like watching them get like this every year.

We just like watching them get like this every year.

Four, not three - seriously, I swear I'm not holding an extra leaf on a three-leaf clover. It's a real miracle!

Four, not three – seriously, I swear I’m not holding an extra leaf on a three-leaf clover. It’s a real miracle!

Well now let me tell you about that St. Paddy's Day from '83. I did Oh well, let me tell it to ya all over again.

Well now let me tell you about that St. Paddy’s Day from ’83. I did Oh well, let me tell it to ya all over again

Oewhhh...I'm not seeing double. I'm seeing four of ya there....

Oewhhh…I’m not seeing double. I’m seeing four of ya there….

Jameson's, just Jameson's. Nuthin' else.

Jameson’s, just Jameson’s. Nuthin’ else.

I'm not one of them, no really. I don't know how I got here. Where's Wendy Where's Hook?

I’m not one of them, no really. I don’t know how I got here. Where’s Wendy Where’s Hook?

My God, you have know idea how many prayers I'm asked to answer on March 18th.

My God, you have know idea how many prayers I’m asked to answer on March 18th.


Categories: Americana, Collectibles, History, Holidays

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4 replies »

  1. GOOD DAY CARL,
    I HAVE BEEN READING YOUR BLOG WITH GREAT ENJOYMENT AND
    INTEREST. WE HAVE A MUTUAL ADMIRATION , MAE WEST. YOU
    WON HER FLOOR LAMPS AT AUCTION AND I WON HER HUGE LAMP
    SHADES AT THE SAME AUCTION. I USED ONE ONCE THEN PUT IT
    IN THE ATTIC. A GREAT KEEP SAKE OF A GREAT LADY.
    ALL BEST,
    M.

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