Certain things you can't help but associate with St. Patrick's Day: green beer, corned beef hash, leprechauns, pots of gold, and — of course — four-leaf clovers. But have you ever wondered why four-leaf clovers are linked to the holiday? If you're curious about the history behind these good luck charms, then these four-leaf clover facts will set the record straight (and give you some fun trivia to share at your St. Paddy's Day party!). But before you can know the story behind four-leaf clovers, you should know a little about how March 17 came to be.
Dating back nearly 2,000 years, St. Patrick's Day was originally introduced by a man (named Patrick, of course) who was brought to Ireland as a slave and held captive for six years. He eventually escaped only to return years later to bring Christianity to the nation before his passing on March 17, 461 A.D. — which is why we celebrate St. Paddy's Day on that date. However, it wasn’t until the 1700s, when Irish immigrants began arriving in the United States, that the holiday started resembling the festivities we now know, complete with parades, green clothing, and shamrocks. Speaking of which...
What's the difference between four-leaf clovers and shamrocks?
Though shamrocks and four-leaf clovers are both associated with St. Paddy's Day, the two are not, in fact, the same thing. The important difference: a shamrock is a clover that only has three leaves, which is far less rare to find than a four-leaf clover and therefore not as lucky. In fact, there are approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers for every four-leaf clover, so shamrocks are much more common. However, four-leaf clovers aren't just considered lucky because they're so rare.
Why are four-leaf clovers considered lucky?
Clovers first appeared in centuries-old Druid legends as symbols of good luck, way back in the very early days of Ireland. According to legend, Celtic priests believed that they could detect evil spirits when carrying a three-leaf clover or shamrock, while four-leaf clovers were Celtic charms thought to provide magical protection and ward off bad luck. Then, in 1620, Sir John Melton made the first literary reference to clovers bringing good luck when he wrote, "If a man walking in the fields find any four-leaved grass, he shall in a small while after find some good thing." From there, the legend stuck.
How rare are four-leaf clovers?
It’s often said that Ireland grows more four-leaf clovers than anywhere else in the world, which explains that famous expression "the luck of the Irish." But just how rare are they? While the chance of finding one is about 1 in 10,000, you are more likely to find multiple four-leaf clovers in the same area, since the gene for a fourth leaf is inheritable. Of course, the gene responsible for four-leaf clovers is recessive, so while they do tend to be found in clusters, finding a four-leaf clover at all is a rare occurrence.
Fun facts about four-leaf clovers
What else should you know about these symbols of good luck? Here are some fun four-leaf clover facts to prepare you for St. Paddy's Day:
- The leaves of four-leaf clovers are said to stand for faith, hope, love, and luck.
- According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the most leaves ever discovered on a single clover stem is 56.
- The plant’s Latin name is Trifolium repens, which actually means white clover.
- Abraham Lincoln always carried a four-leaf clover with him but reportedly forgot it at home the night he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
- The word shamrock comes from the Irish word seamrog, which means "little clover."
- Children in the Middle Ages believed they would be able to see fairies if they carried a four-leaf clover.
- St. Patrick used a three-leaf clover as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he was first introducing Christianity to Ireland, which is why shamrocks are associated with the holiday.
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
FAQs
The leaves on four leaf clovers are said to stand for faith, love, hope and luck. Four leaf clovers are extremely rare. For every one, there are approximately 10,000 three leaf clovers! In Ireland's early stages, the Druids, or Celtic priests, thought that four leaf clovers had the power to protect them from bad luck.
Why are four-leaf clovers lucky in Ireland? ›
In the early days of Ireland, Celtic priests known as Druids carried three-leaf clovers, or shamrocks, in the belief that with their help, they could see evil spirits approaching and be able to escape. Four-leaf clovers, then, were Celtic charms, offering magical protection and warding off bad luck.
Why is clover important to the Irish? ›
But the clover also has a long history in Ireland. The Druids are said to have believed clovers had magical powers and used them to ward off evil. Even today, the four leafed clover is thought to also bring luck or good fortune as does the shamrock.
What does it mean to feel lucky like a four-leaf clover? ›
The story behind the four-leaf clover
The first sheet is for hope, the second is for faith, and the third is for charity; the fourth leaf would therefore be lucky. It is also said that it would be in the image of God: a single plant with three lobes, which represents the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
What is the saying about the four-leaf clover luck? ›
“A good friend is like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have.” To create a fun collage using this Irish Proverb, we focused on bold font pairings to highlight certain words in the quote.
Is the Irish symbol a 3 or 4 leaf clover? ›
Loved by the Irish and Irish diaspora, as well as anyone celebrating Saint Patrick's Day, the shamrock is a symbol of Ireland, worn on clothes and seen on objects. Not to be confused with a lucky four leaf clover, the shamrock has three leaves - which are key to the reason that the shamrock is now a symbol of Ireland.
What does luck of the Irish mean? ›
The phrase originated during the second half of the 19th century, according to O'Donnell. A lot of the successful miners at the time were Irish. The phrase "the luck of the Irish" was used to imply that the miners were finding success purely based on luck, rather than based on intelligence and skill.
Is Irish clover good luck? ›
These rare little four-leafed plants can be found in around one in every 10,000 clovers or shamrocks, and if you do manage to discover one, it is said that you will have an abundance of luck. Origins for the lucky shamrock stem from the patron saint of Ireland himself, St Patrick.
What is the spiritual meaning of the four-leaf clover? ›
A four-leaf clover represents more than just good luck for its rarity. Aside from being regarded as lucky, four-leaf clovers are supposed to represent symbols of faith, love, hope, and good fortune. Unlike shamrocks, which have three leaves, four-leaf clovers are not religious emblems, particularly in Ireland.
How rare is a four-leaf clover? ›
According to The Weather Network, a four-leaf clover is rare, and difficult to find. A quick Google search said the odds are 1 in 10,000, but a 2017 study says chances are much better, with a 1 in 5,000 chance. Inside Science also reported 1 in 10,000 odds.
According to Parade.com, Four-leaf clovers are considered lucky for their rarity. In the Middle Ages, it was believed by some Celtic groups that wielding a four-leaf clover would help you see fairies, as well as to ward off evil spirits and grant the holder good luck.
What does each leaf mean in 🍀? ›
According to Irish tradition, those who find a four-leaf clover are destined for good luck, as each leaf in the clover symbolizes good omens for faith, hope, love, and luck for the finder.
Is 3 or 4 leaf clover lucky? ›
A fourth leaf is where we get the luck from. The four-leafed clover, or “lucky clover”, is an uncommon variation of the three-leafed clover, and widely considered to be a symbol of good luck. Because they are a mutation, they are rare, and not found in the same abundance as the shamrock, and thus, considered lucky.
What is the benefit of the four-leaf clover? ›
Other Benefits of the Four Leaf Clover Plant:
Aside from luck and spirituality, some people believe that four-leaf clover has healing properties. According to legend, Druids used them for various purposes, including protection against spirits.
What does ☘ mean in love? ›
The 3 leaves of shamrock are said to stand for faith, hope, and love. This emoji gives off the feeling of luck, Ireland, St. Patrick's Day, and lots of green beer.
How does Lucky Clover work? ›
Lucky Clover can copy any Adventure spell, not just one with targets. The copy is created on the stack, so it's not "cast." Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won't trigger. The copy will have the same targets as the spell it's copying unless you choose new ones.
Why does Celtic have a 4 leaf clover? ›
Their badge is a striking four-leaf clover, a plant which Celtic (as in Celts, with a hard “K” sound, not the soft “S” of the club's name) tradition believed to portend luck, mercy and faith. It is a symbol still associated with Ireland today and is the most obvious touchstone for the club's Irish history.
What is the Irish symbol for luck? ›
The significance of the three-leafed shamrock comes from St. Patrick himself. He used the shamrock to describe the three forms of God – the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit – to convert early Irish people to Christianity. Despite the role played by the shamrock, the four-leafed clover took over as a symbol of good luck.
What is the significance of the shamrock in Irish culture? ›
In his work as a missionary, it is told that Saint Patrick used a shamrock. He used it as a metaphor to explain the Holy Trinity - where the three leaves represented God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Since its use by Saint Patrick, the shamrock has been associated with Ireland.
What does the shamrock mean on the Irish flag? ›
The shamrock and Irish culture are so intertwined thanks to Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick. Legends attest to St. Patrick using the three petals of the shamrock to illustrate the mysteries of the Holy Trinity to the Celtic pagans. Each leaf represented the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
