Folklore: Female leprechauns?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Female leprechauns?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 01:02 PM

The difference with Hobbits is that they are not traditional, like Leprechauns, but an invention of JRR Tolkein. I can't remember if he provided female ones [not books I have ever warmed to].

Subject: RE: Folklore: Female leprechauns?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 02:05 PM

Of the various tribes of Little Folk (fairies, pixies, piskies, elves and tommyknockers) we seem to have tommyknockers.

Tommyknockers originally lived in mines. They responsible for sharp cracking sounds and soft thuds coming from parts of the mine WHERE NO ONE WAS WORKING. What other explanation could there be?

Kansas City has lots of mines - limestone mines. In fact, we just had another Groundhog Day race, probably the only 10K race in the world held underground. You can see a picture of it here:

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/1719538.html

Anyhow, the tommyknockers came over to work in our mines, and not being stupid, migrated to nearby homes where there was central heat. Our basement, being made of natural stone, must have appealed to them.

Evidence - various cracking sounds in the house, especially on quiet nights. Small, shiny things disappearing. And why else would there be a toy automobile from the 1940's in the rafters of the basement? No child could reach that high.

Plus, if I leave a pan of brownies on the counter in the evening, there are often fewer brownies in it by morning. I rest my case.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Female leprechauns?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 02:12 PM

I had one once, but I did have to pay her. She was a real Leprewhore. Just perfect---3 ffet tall with a flat spot on her head where I could put my drink.

Art

Subject: RE: Folklore: Female leprechauns?
From: semi-submersible
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 06:57 PM

Hobbits and Borrowers (both modern inventions): yes, both male & female are described.

Iodine deficiency: I may be wrong, especially about the hillbilly connection, but if I recall correctly the interview with a public health advocate, average IQs of American schoolchildren jumped quite a few points in many inland areas when iodized salt became mandatory. Goiters (symptom of extreme iodine deficiency) are rare but subtler, generally unrecognised effects of low-level deficiency even today retard neural development in populations in many regions of the world. But I'm no expert. Certainly the "hillbilly" stereotype depended on lack of education and communication, whether or not other factors contributed.

Leprechauns as ethnic caricature: the CBC radio documentary which mentioned the caricatures and similarity to FAS symptoms, implied this Irish folklore figure was previously familiar enough to borrow for English cartoons. These in turn shaped the popular image of leprechauns to this day. Some of the features representing the Irish to the English public and caricaturists of that day may actually have been symptoms of poverty. Is this implausible?

Swift satirised another side of the same stereotypes and economic policies in his "A Modest Proposal": to this unforgettable "remedy" there could be not one objection as it was designed only for the "kingdom of Ireland, and for no other that ever was, is, or, I think, ever can be upon Earth."

Jeri, did the slidey tracks get bigger as they descended? Any overhanging branches near the top end? Possible rolly tracks instead? (Wee folk bowling? Ravens, like otters, have been seen repeatedly sliding down a snowy slope "cawing vociferously" but from your description these tracks were tiny.)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Female leprechauns?
From: Joybell
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 09:35 PM

I don't think there are any Irish girl-children either. Or maybe they just don't play, or there aren't any in the Galway Bay area, or they wear shoes. What I'm getting at is --
"...and watch the bare-foot gossoons at their play."
No girls you see.
But then the author was English so what would he know.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Folklore: Female leprechauns?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 10:19 PM

"bare-foot possums at play?"

Joy, I just found Greg's e-mail where I must've deleted it. Tell him I'm sorry---and we're enjoying the CD he sent!

Art

Subject: RE: Folklore: Female leprechauns?
From: Bert
Date: 06 Feb 10 - 09:09 AM

Of course if you see a wee fellow named Seamus, he might be a Lepreclown.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Female leprechauns?
From: Joybell
Date: 06 Feb 10 - 07:15 PM

That's great Art. I'll re-send the email. I think it was just to tell you about the CD.
Possums! That must be it. So bare-foot Possums? That makes much more sense.
Bare-foot possum waiting by the roadside.
Bare-foot possum when you say "Hello".
With eyes that shine and lips that bring forth laughter...