The Lucky 4-Leaf Clover: Facts and Myths

The four leaf clover has been used for thousands of years as a symbol of luck, prosperity, and good fortune. It is said that if you find one, you will have good luck forever! But why?

The story of how the four leaf clover became synonymous with luck is rooted in Ireland, where there was once a legend that if you found one on St. Patrick's Day, it would bring you good luck for the year.  The legend goes, St. Patrick used a three-leaf shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity, with one leaf representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, respectively. More recently, the four-leaf clover has also come to represent the Holy Trinity, with the fourth leaf symbolizing God’s Grace. 

Who was St Patrick?

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th every year in honour of St Patrick's life, work and ministry. On this day many people wear green as a sign of their Irish heritage as well as throughout the year (because green is associated with Ireland).  

St. Patrick was a 5th Century missionary to Ireland and later served as bishop there. He is credited with bringing Christianity to parts of Ireland and was probably partly responsible for the Christianization of the Picts and Anglo-Saxons. He is one of the patron saints of Ireland.

To this day it is believed that if you find a rare four-leaf clover while walking through the woods, you will have good luck all year long. In fact, it is common practice to pick and dry these rare plants so they can be carried with you throughout the year as good luck charms!

But some people might say that four leaf clovers are not lucky, just interesting! Plants have two sets of genes, one from each parent. In most cases, the genes are identical for all parts of a plant, but sometimes these genes can mutate and create an entirely new trait in that part of the plant's development. This means that every time you find a four-leaf clover, it means that there was one specific gene mutation somewhere in its history - and nothing more.

Is it lucky to wear a four leaf clover?

Whether you believe in the power of luck or not, there are plenty of reasons to wear a four leaf clover necklace or bracelet. You might be interested in the lore behind these charms, or you might just want something pretty to wear. Either way, it's worth knowing why these charms have been considered lucky for centuries.

The four leaf clover is considered lucky because of its rarity and folklore. And while many people assume that three-leafed clovers are the rarest, that's not actually the case: about 1 in 10,000 clovers will grow with three leaves, but only 1 in a million will grow with four leaves and that's pretty special in itself!