The Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow: An Origin Story
Of all the Irish myths that exist, the story of leprechauns and their pots of gold seems to have infiltrated American culture the most. You can’t go anywhere around St. Patrick’s Day without seeing posters of rosy-cheeked, red-haired fairies sliding down rainbows into cauldrons of gold coins. What’s the origin of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and where can you find gold of your own?
Once Upon a Time
There are many old European stories describing fictitious creatures that hoard treasures. Many brave souls have tried to find their fortunes under the belly of a sleeping dragon or even in the furthest of depths of a mermaid’s sunken shipyard.
For those who might be fearful of fire and water, there is another fiery folk known for its vast stash of leprechauns. With a bit of cunning and a lot of luck, it is said that if you catch a leprechaun, he will tell you where his pot of gold is hidden. Beware, however, as the leprechaun is smarter than the average wood nymph, and you may be tricked into looking for gold at the ever-elusive end of the rainbow.
The Origin of the Pot of Gold
The most well-known origin story of the leprechaun’s pot of gold at the end of the rainbow involves a couple of poor farmers in Ireland. When this husband and wife pulled their very last carrot out of their garden, they found a leprechaun dangling from the roots. Being captured, the leprechaun promised one wish in exchange for his freedom.
The husband and wife could not decide on just a single wish, so they began wishing for everything: new tools, a house, jewelry, and the list continued until the leprechaun interrupted them. Dismayed by their greed, the leprechaun told the couple they might have all they wished for and more if they could find his pot of gold hidden at the end of the rainbow. The leprechaun winked and left the farmers to chase rainbows forever, looking for a fictitious fortune.
Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow Meaning
With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, many places are gearing up for a celebration of everything Irish. Towns will soon be flooded with green shamrocks, red beards, and the iconic wall decoration of a leprechaun sliding down a rainbow into a pot of gold. Why, out of all the Irish folklore, is the leprechaun’s story of deception the one that people perpetuate? Well, like all great fables, there is a moral to the story.
This cautionary tale reminds us that relying on luck, magic, and greed can be a recipe for disaster. Instead of working hard and making strategic moves to build financial stability, people can be tricked into wasting their precious time and resources searching metaphorically for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Someone or something that will be extremely impossible to get in reality, even if you have a strong desire to do so I would like to be honest with people rather than mislead them into believing that there will be some kind of pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Where’s Your Pot of Gold?
When the Irish came to the Land of Opportunity, they brought with them many traditions and the firm belief that you should work hard for your fortune. From coast to coast, the Irish earned their “pots of gold” in order to benefit their lives and the generations that followed. The Irish legacy is one reason the tale of the leprechaun’s promise of false fortune has become a fixture in almost every St. Patrick’s Day celebration. You may not believe in leprechauns, but if you want your pot of gold, you must do something to secure it for yourself.
Are you looking for your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Stop searching and start shopping with U.S. Money Reserve. Download our Free Gold Information Kit for more information about where to buy gold , how to buy gold, and what type of gold to buy.
The Pot of Gold Is a Metaphor for a “Happy Ending”
This alludes to the widespread Irish belief that at the end of the rainbow, a pot of riches is guarded by a leprechaun. You can acquire the gold if you locate the end of the rainbow. In this context, this idiom means to mean that there is a ‘happy ending’ or a ‘great reward’ in the finish of something. In this second case, it could symbolize a hopeful location, where people anticipate wonderful things will occur to them.
Irish Folklore and Legends About the Pot of Gold
St. Patrick’s Day is approaching, and with it comes a slew of myths and stories that both children and adults are familiar with. Tales of leprechauns and pots of gold at the end of a rainbow are among them. Let’s take a look at the history of this interesting fable, which includes some true history and science, before you venture off in search of riches.
It is believed that tales of riches located at the ends of rainbows date back thousands of years.
The Vikings raided Ireland in 795 AD, and they were famed for their pillaging and the mysterious hiding of valuables. It is said that as they left Ireland; they took some of their stolen gold with them, leaving some behind.
Pilgrim’s Progress tells us that leprechauns are misanthropic creatures who dislike mankind. Leprechauns reportedly found the lost riches and buried it to ensure that nobody would ever be able to locate it. Folktales have it that at the end of every rainbow, there is a pot of gold. Rainbows are illusions because of their arched shape, according to science.
Rainbows are essentially entire circles that are reflected by raindrops. When we are situated far away from rain, we can only see these circular rainbows. As we approach the rainbow, it moves away from us, making the task of finding buried riches much more difficult.