As we see in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the leprechauns are the team mascot of the Irish National Quidditch Team. Dressed all in green, they dazzle the crowd with their aeronautic feats, and shower the spectators with gold. We discover later that leprechaun gold disappears after 24 hours.
In Irish folklore, there are a couple of descriptions concerning the appearance of leprechauns. In a book called Irish Wonders (1888), D.R. McAnally describes them as standing approximately three feet high, dressed all in red. In stormy weather, they wear overcoats over their red suits, so that unless you are on the lookout for their hats (worn in the style of the 1700's) you can pass one on the road and completely overlook him.
In other folklore, leprechauns wear green in order to blend in with the trees and grass to avoid being captured by humans. The stories generally agree that if you catch a leprechaun he must give you his pot of gold. The leprechaun is very wily, and will use all sorts of tricks to evade capture or regain his freedom. If you look away from him before he gives you his gold, he will disappear and leave you with nothing.
Some stories say the leprechaun acquires his gold by stealing a little at a time from the homes of humans. Other stories attribute his wealth to finding buried pots of gold. These pots were supposedly buried by humans during wartime to prevent confiscation by invading armies.
There is a deal of confusion concerning the origin of the name “leprechaun”. Some possibilities include Lu-chorpan “The Wee Bodies”, Leith brogan “the one shoe maker”, and Luacharma'n “pigmy”. The stories pretty much agree that the leprechauns are shoe makers.
Concerning the descent of the Leprechauns, some say that leprechauns and faeries are descended from fallen angels. Another story says that Adam and Eve had many children. One day God came to visit and asked to see the children. Eve hadn't got all the children dressed yet, so she presented the children who were dressed and hid the others. God realized that some of the children had been hidden and decreed that they would remain hidden. They became known as the Hidden People. Another story states that faeries and leprechauns are the descendants of Adam and his first wife, Lilith.
Other sources state that the leprechaun is descended from a father who was an evil spirit and a mother who was a degenerate faery. He is seen as being mischievous or downright evil. Some stories, however, describe him as being helpful to those who believe in him. “He has a well-known dislike of teachers who deny his existence!” (The Leprechaun's Kingdom, pg 71).
J.K. Rowling uses many interesting images of the leprechaun within the Wizarding World. As they zoom across the Quidditch field during the World Cup they produce what they are famous for, spectacular rainbows and glittery gold. Now by the end of the match they show their vividly true colors which are closer to their folklore counterparts.
