Ima Leprechaun, aka Roger Sims, 710 years-old, of Sonora (above and below left) keeps his shoes by the door. Maggie Beck/Union Democrat, copyright 2012
The self-proclaimed 710-year-old leprechaun is Roger Sims, of Sonora.
In full character for the day, this will be Sims’ fourth Irish Day parade.
Even outside his role, Sims is quite a character.
A retiree and former master gardener, he spends his free time gardening his whimsical Sonora Meadows yard — complete with oversized mushroom statues — and reading up on fairies and leprechauns at his home.
Sims’ keeps up on leprechaun and fairy lore and has a collection of 600 books in his home library, some dating back to 1600.
Sims’ ancestors moved to the U.S. from Ireland in 1590 and were counted in the 1600 U.S. Census after settling in the Tennessee Valley.
For years, he worked as a cameraman in Hollywood. He also worked as a groundsman at a Modesto hospital.
Until two years ago, he owned a Jamestown gift shop called The Mossy Bog — aptly filled with fairies, gnomes and other whimsical creature figurines.
He organized several Jamestown parades, including the Fairy Parade and “I’ll be Gnome for Christmas.”
Leprechauns, fairies and gnomes are Sims’ calling.
“When I was 4, my mother would see me look under mushrooms and ask: ‘What are you doing?,’ ” Sims recalled.
He’d reply: “Where are the doors and windows? How do they get in?”
“I just think keeping the spirit of fairies, gnomes and pixies alive for children is important,” Sims said.
Leprechaun lore originated in Ireland roughly 2,000 years ago, Sims said. He described the mythical creatures as a cross between a fairy and a boogeyman. They are mischievous pranksters by nature who live in the countryside and stand 1 to 3 feet tall.
The ancient word for leprechaun is luchorpan, which means “little body,” Sims explained.
Leprechauns prefer to live in trees, in the ground and in peoples’ homes. They avoid cities, according to Sims.
They love to drink Irish whiskey and are often shoemakers, distillers and tailors, he explained, jocularly.
Female leprechauns often make jewelry and “they love to sew,” he added.
While leprechauns’ signature color is green, some have been seen in red. They love tricking humans and will often pilfer little things from homes, Sims said.
So what about the pots of gold at the end of rainbows?
That’s where they hid their gold, according to legend. Leprechauns like to look at gold because it’s shiny and they enjoy hiding it from humans, Sims said.
“They don’t dig it up. They just want to know where it’s at. They don’t spend it,” Sims said.
“Mankind wants the gold.”
The only way to get leprechauns’ gold is to catch them. But, according to Sims, “only a fool would try to catch a leprechaun.”
“As far as I know, no one has ever caught one,” he said. “There are, however, many ideas on how to catch one, like placing coins on green tissue paper over a deep box, so when the little fellow gathers the coins, he will fall in and be captured in the box.”
Unfortunately, this method never works because Leprechauns are a lot smarter than humans, Sims said.
“Don’t even try,” to catch one, he advised. “They can vanish just like that. They’re very quick.”
Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on March 17 that commemorates Saint Patrick, who is the most commonly recognized Irish patron saint. According to legend, he used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to people.
The four leaf clover, associated with leprechauns, signifies faith, love, hope and lunch, Sims said.
St. Patrick’s Day marks the arrival of Christianity in Ireland in the fifth century AD.
“They really celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland. Everyone’s a leprechaun on that day,” he said.
Ireland two years ago set aside a tract of land 200 miles west of Dublin “for the little folks,” Sims added.
Sims said his grandchildren enjoy watching him perform his leprechaun shtick.
The best thing about leprechauns is “we probably wouldn’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without them,” Sims said.
They are fun-loving and he’s spent many a night drinking whiskey having conversations with them, Sims said.
Sims said the Murphys Irish Day parade coordinators were worried the forecasted rainy weather on Saturday will detract from the festivities.
“With luck of the Irish, it’ll be good,” he said. “I pose with everyone after the parade (for photographs).”
“It’s really great that he will be there and add his touch,” said JoAnna Reagan, who with husband, Bob, coordinates the Irish Day Parade.
For more information or a schedule of Murphys Irish Day events, visit Murphysirishdays.org
For directions on how to make a leprechaun trap, go online to familyfun.go.com/crafts/to-catch-a-leprechaun-710897/
