I love the month of March for two reasons—spring and St. Paddy’s Day. Most years, I try to find some cerebral topic to write about for St. Paddy’s Day as a way to embrace my own Irish heritage respectfully…but this year, I thought we’d just have a little fun! No sense in taking ourselves too seriously, right? This year’s topic is fun facts about the little green men. No, not aliens…Leprechauns! What do you know about those little green goblins called leprechauns? Today, I thought I’d give you ten fun facts you can share at that St. Paddy’s Day party! Red leprechauns?? Believe it or not, leprechauns were not always dressed in green. A couple hundred years ago, leprechauns in traditional Irish folklore wore red jackets and knickers with a tri-cornered red hat. What we know as the jolly little man wearing green with a red beard is a fairly recent development. Little dudes In Irish lore, leprechauns are almost always little men with withered faces. They are known for their diminutive size (in most cases), and there are no female leprechauns! Crafty little dudes! Many Irish folk stories depict leprechauns as craftsmen, usually shoemakers. They are very good at making and repairing things. These guys have no problem working with their hands! Hidden homes According to popular lore, leprechauns like to live in dark, out-of-the-way places like caves, tree trunk hollows, or basements (especially wine cellars). Out of sight, out of mind! Treasure hoarding Leprechauns are only one of many fairy folk known to collect and guard coins and treasure. This is deeply rooted in the mythology and folk tales across Europe. Tricksters Leprechauns are known to be shrewd tricksters who use human greed to fool those who want their gold. Keep your eyes on this little man if you want his gold, but know he will trick you by any means necessary! This mischievous fairy has fun inflicting low-level harm and practical jokes, so beware! Three wishes! If you are lucky enough to catch a leprechaun, you’re mighty crafty yourself! Now, set him free so you get your three wishes! Ancient gods Leprechauns are considered fairies or one of the many beings from the mythical people in Irish mythology called the Tuatha de Danann. These were said to have once been a real race of people conquered and banished to the ancient mounds to live for eternity. Leprechauns could be a modern relic of one of their important Celtic deities, the sun god Lugh. Water sprites?! Alternatively, leprechauns could be descended from the ancient water sprites. Many folk tales from various parts of Ireland mention names of fairy folk that seem similar in the ancient Irish language to various versions of the word leprechaun. Protected by EU law? Seriously! And I’ll leave you with the strangest one of all… There is actually a place in Ireland said to be inhabited by many leprechauns—the caverns of Carlington Mountain. And—believe it or not—this place is actually protected by EU law! The leprechauns are an important part of the local ecosystem! Yes, seriously! So that’s it! Ten fun facts about leprechauns. You’re welcome. Now, go enjoy that green beer! Related blogs you may want to read: A brief history of the Irish shamrock Celebrating Irish Celtic art for St. Patrick’s Day Who are the Irish fairies?
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I feel like I’m a little late to the party…It’s already March, and I’m only just now updating you on what’s on tap this year at DSD. I don’t know what happened to January and February…I guess they just got away from me! Honestly, I’ve been keeping my head down and staying busy. Quite a lot is happening, and a lot of projects are either in the works or are slated to get done within the next few months. My goal this year is to fill my online shop with beautiful items for you and pump out all new blog material about some of my (and your) favorite topics. This year I am full on embracing faux florals, fairy decor, and Celtic inspired art. If you like fairies, knotwork, castles, and nature inspired faux floral designs, you’re in for a treat New blog articles are coming! In addition to the usual DIY, how-to, and recipe blogs, I will be introducing some new topics with Celtic and fairy themes. This spring we are celebrating the magic of fairies and the beauty of Celtic art! New fairy houses Did I mention you will be seeing more fairy themed stuff?! Fairy houses will be making more of an appearance this year, with a couple new designs that are in the pipeline. The intention is to marry two of my deepest passions—fairy tales and miniature houses. I can’t wait to show you my new designs! But you’ll have to be patient! These things take a bit of time! Home decor with a Celtic flair Celtic inspired art is making an appearance on new home decor designs in the form of painted knotwork borders. These are still a work in progress, but I can tell you they already look like they are right out of a fairy tale! New faux floral designs This year will see not only new nature inspired candleholders, but also spring faux floral arrangements. These new designs are going to be a breath of fresh air in my shop, just in time for spring…or at least April! New candleholders And yes, there will be a few new candleholder designs this year, along with a few tweaks on some older designs. Everything is getting a much needed update for the 2023 spring season! More wood burned art Sadly, my poor Celtic shop has been neglected. I’ve sold several pieces and have not had the time to make more wood burned art…But that is about to change! The goal this spring is to build up my Celtic art shop, so I have set aside time to finally finish the many pieces that were started last year (and the year before, so sorry). I can’t wait to get back to doing some artwork again! A Youtube channel Wait…what?! Yes a Youtube channel! So this is not set in stone, but I’m thinking of finally embracing the video age! The intention is to create some short videos of my designs and processes to share with you on a Youtube channel, and maybe grow a community. But I’m getting ahead of myself…I just want to make some videos showing you some of my works in progress and maybe some DIY projects, and whatever else might be interesting for you to watch. I’ll drop a link to the page in my social media and on my web site if this should come to fruition. OR… Would you prefer joining a Patreon page, where you could potentially have access to more private and exclusive stuff…for a monthly fee, of course (probably only $5)! Let me know in the comments. So that’s what’s in the works. I have a very ambitious schedule, so things may change a bit here and there, and it might take me longer than I planned to get certain things done, but I would really like to see most of these things rolled out before summer. So, as always, stay tuned and follow me on social media for updates and my latest shenanigans. And don’t forget to share, comment, like, follow…all that good stuff…so I can continue to build this up and create more beautiful things for you guys! Related blogs you may want to read:
DIY chalk painted tray with Celtic border 10 essential elements for a magical outdoor fairy garden A brief history of the origins of fairy gardens Tips for creating a faux floral spring wreath My spring 2022 indoor fairy gardens How to care for faux florals The Celtic Motherhood Knot, a symbol of love Spring makeover for my indoor fairy gardens |
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