The origin of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
Rainbows are truly magical things, and we don’t often get to see them. As such they almost appear to have some kind of magical quality, and they have a definite air of mystery attached to them. This is probably one of the reasons why we have developed stories, fables, and sayings related to rainbows over the years. There’s so much more to them than just the dazzling colours they produce.
We’ve all heard the myth that a pot of gold lies at the end of each rainbow. While we know there isn’t any truth to this, it’s an old adage that is fun to say and has been with us through the ages. But, where did it originate? It seems like it’s one of those folk tales from years gone by attributed to myth and legend. Let’s do what we can to find out more about the origins of this phrase, and where it comes from.
This is a legend that dates back to Old Europe, where it was believed, at least for a time, that fairies were real. Fairies were said to have great wealth, and would often bury their treasures or pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. This led to the fable that the end of the rainbow contained riches that could be found, and they would be guarded by leprechauns. It is folklore that has become synonymous with Ireland, as well as playing a huge part in St Patrick’s Day celebrations as well. This is one of the earliest beliefs about where the pot of gold and rainbow story originated.
Leprechauns play a massive part in the pot of gold legend, and there’s another story that involves them even more than the fairies one. An alternative belief is that the Vikings came to Ireland, looting, and plundering, and left some of their treasure behind when they left, which the leprechauns found. Distrusting all humans, leprechauns decided to bury their loot at the end of the rainbow so it would be almost impossible for humans to find. And so the legend was born, and this is one of the things that has made leprechauns so iconic.
The problem with the myth
Now, there are quite a few problems with this myth (obviously leprechauns don’t exist). The main issue being that finding a pot of golds at the end of a rainbow would actually be impossible as rainbows are spherical, and what we see is simply an optical illusion. Now, this could actually be a deliberate part of the myth, suggesting that a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is an unattainable goal and something that can never be found. In this sense, it would be a cautionary tale for people chasing dreams that don’t exist.
The story of the pot of gold waiting for a traveller at the end of the rainbow is one that has endured for hundreds of years. In fact, stories have been told about it, and it has made its way into folklore and local legend. As you can see, there are a couple of places this idea could have originated from, and it may well have also served as a parable or cautionary tale for a lot of people.