A leprechaun is an Irish “elf.” They are small in size, and some say they look like tiny old men in top hats with red beards. They are tricky fellows and like to play pranks on unsuspecting people. Legend says that leprechauns are shoemakers (also called cobblers). Curiously enough, they supposedly only make one of each type of shoe. It is said that you can tell a leprechaun is near if you hear the tapping of their hammers. Each leprechaun also has a pot of gold. Some say they bury it in secret places only they can reach; others say they hide it at the end of the rainbow. One thing is for sure, though, if you catch a leprechaun he will lead you to his pot of gold and give it to you as a bribe to let him go. Remember, leprechauns are tricky fellows so you must be creative and tricky when deciding on a way to try to catch him. You can try to lure him to you and grab him, or you can try to build a trap to capture him in. If you are lucky enough to capture one, your work is not done yet. Legend says you cannot take your eyes off him for even a second or he will disappear.
Build a Trap
The first thing you need to do is build a trap. There is no right or wrong way to build a leprechaun trap. You can make a contraption with a net, boxes, a clean can, or anything else you can think of such as paper towel rolls, empty containers, tin foil, paper, string or yarn, sandwich bags, etc; or, how about using an old shoe since they are said to be cobblers? You have to be very creative to catch a leprechaun!
Add Bait
Once you build your trap, don’t forget to add bait to help lure in the leprechaun. Since they are very greedy, one of the best things you can use for bait is coins. If you don’t want to use real coins, you can easily substitute candy coins or make your own gold coins by cutting circles out of cardboard and painting them gold. Gold nuggets made by painting small rocks are another option. Here are a few more tips and suggestions to help you get started:
Rainbows are good to use on or around your trap. Color your trap green and decorate it with green items (stickers, glitter, etc.). Leprechauns are also attracted to four-leaf clovers. They tend to like Lucky Charms cereal. Make sure your trap is disguised well—make sure it blends into its surroundings. No two traps should be alike or the leprechaun will get suspicious and leave. A leprechaun may leave a trail of gold and/or green glitter, so watch for it.
Now you should be ready to build your trap. There’s no guarantee you will catch one of these little creatures, but hopefully, you have fun in the attempt!
