The Other Green Fairy

Shamrock green (not to be confused with shagreen, which is rough, untanned sharkskin) – otherwise also known as forest green. Or even emerald. But what’s in a name? It is a lovely shade of viridian (that is blue-green to you layfolk who never opened a tube of viridian oil paint).

Once upon a time leprechauns were depicted wearing red, not green, but now of course they are associated with St Patrick’s Day and Ireland’s national colour, green. According to folklore, a leprechaun is the son of an evil spirit and a degenerate fairy, and is not wholly good or evil (does this mean there are no leprechaunettes?). What an origin though! How would you live that down?

The leprechaun spends his time making shoes (my kind of good fairy), and his favourite pastime is counting his gold coins that are usually stored in a pot at the end of the rainbow. One account of the etymology of his name originates in depictions of the leprechaun working on one shoe – a brogue. I like to tie mine with peach silk ribbon, and if the eyelets weren’t so narrow I would have switched to green just for today.

Happy St Patrick’s Day, Irish!

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Read more about Irish ó ceallaigh green here.