Leprechauns: 7 Things You Probably Didn't Know

Although we love leprechauns in America and quite often feature them in commercials, cartoons, horror movies and breakfast cereals, the Irish find them to be brute, bastardized versions of a Celtic legend ruined (like a lot of old, amazing stories) by Walt Disney.

A film called Darby O'Gill and The Little People received great critical reception after Walt Disney did it following a trip to Ireland, and it was seen as a great fantasy of Gaelic tall stories (pun intended).

Unfortunately, it reinvented the leprechaun and actually changed its colors in popular culture forever (see item #5). This movie has been attributed to part of what has cemented the leprechaun to St. Patrick's Day, even though the creatures had absolutely nothing to do with the patron saint of Ireland or his esteemed day.

It's kind of like if they made Satan, or some random demon, part of Christmas just because they're part of Christian lore. Although fans of anagrams will say that it has happened.

01:55 Speed up to this part for a singing, Disney-fied, really young Sean Connery... you're welcome, ladies.