Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky (2024)

Updated: Mar. 31, 2024

We all know carrying a four-leaf clover will bring you good fortune, but the history of this lucky symbol may surprise you

Whether you’re a fan of the Boston Celtics or you have a countdown to St. Patrick’s Day on your calendar, you’re definitely aware of the shamrock (aka the three-leafed clover) and all it represents: Ireland, Celtic heritage and, of course, St. Patrick’s Day traditions. But when it comes to the shamrock’s famously lucky relative, the four-leaf clover, its meaning gets more complicated.

So, before St. Paddy’s Dayon March 17, learn about the true four-leaf-clover meaning, so you can welcome good fortune—not only on the big day, but throughout the rest of the year too!

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About the experts

  • Mike Cronin is the academic director of Boston College Ireland. He received his Doctor of Philosophy at Oxford University and has published various works on Irish history.
  • Marion R. Casey is a historian on the faculty of New York University’s Glucksman Ireland House and the author of The Green Space: The Transformation of the Irish Image.

Why is the four-leaf clover considered lucky?

Luck doesn’t only come from a good St. Patrick’s Day quote! One legend has it that the luck factor comes from Eve herself. As Adam and Eve were leaving the Garden of Eden, Eve is said to have plucked a single four-leafed clover as a souvenir of paradise, and this religious connection has led to them being considered lucky ever since. Four-leaf clovers were also been seen in fables. “Children are recorded in folklore as carrying them in the hope that they could see fairies, and more generally, people carried them in a pre-modern world because they believed it would bring them luck and ward off illness,” says Mike Cronin, the academic director of Boston College Ireland.

However, the belief that four-leaf clovers are lucky may have already existed among the Celtic peoples, probably because of the proliferation of clovers in Ireland and the rarity of finding one with four leaves. Many Celtic traditions were blended with the new religion over the years, and the importance of the clover was one of them. The four-leaf-clover meaning became intertwined with Christianity, so the first three leaves came to represent faith, hope and love, and the fourth leaf, God’s grace or luck.

How are clovers and shamrocks connected to Ireland?

Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky (1)Luis M/getty images

“In the 18th century, the cult of St. Patrick associated the three-leaf shamrock (which is a clover) with a legend that he used to teach the Catholic doctrine of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit in one God),” says Marion R. Casey, a historian on the faculty of New York University’s Glucksman Ireland House.

Other than the fact that they’re green and everywhere, the shamrock has such symbolism that they were even recorded as being worn by Irish people as early as the 1720s. “The shamrock was used as a symbol by Irish militia groups in the 1700s, and after the Act of Union, which made Ireland formally part of the United Kingdom in 1800, the shamrock appeared beside the Scottish thistle and the English rose to symbolize the unity of the three kingdoms,” Casey says.

Why do four-leaf clovers exist?

A genetic study at the University of Georgia (UGA) concluded that any more than three leaves on a clover are due to a genetic mutation in the genome of the common clover species, white clover (or Trifolium repens).

How rare are four-leaf clovers?

Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky (2)DEV IMAGES/Getty Images

According to Casey, four-leaf clovers “are as rare as the five-leaf clover, which is considered even luckier. The three-leaf clover is recognized as the genuine shamrock, and that is why it is emblazoned on the tails of Aer Lingus jets, the Irish national airline.”

Although it has been said that four-leaf clovers are exceedingly rare—as few as one in 10,000—an independent study carried out by Swiss researchers looked at 5.7 million clovers and found that the likelihood of finding one four-leaf clover was one in 5,076 three-leafed ones. Much better odds! Researchers at UGA also learned that you’re likely to see four-leaf clovers during the warmer months. And if you find one, there’s a higher chance of finding another one in the same area.

Are shamrocks and clovers the same thing?

Yes and no! Shamrocks are a type of clover. Shamrock, which comes from the Old Irish word seamróg, means “little clover” and describes a three-leaf clover. Since a four-leaf clover has four leaves, it is not considered a shamrock. That small lucky leaf makes all the difference!

Can you find clovers with more than four leaves?

Yes, you can find clovers with more than just four leaves! In fact, the Guinness World Record for the most leaves found on a clover is 56.

How do I find a four-leaf clover?

Find your very own four-leafed good-luck charm on St. Patrick’s day and beyond with the tips below:

  • Find a patch of clover. According to Scientific American, “a typical clover field contains about 200 clovers per 60 square centimeters.” To increase your chances of finding a four-leaf clover, they suggest scanning around 1.2 square meters of clovers—which works out to roughly 10,000 clover leaves.
  • Instead of scanning each clover individually, look for “something that deviates from the normal pattern.” Once you find it, go in for closer observation.
  • Search while the sun is still up because clovers tend to go to sleep early, folding up their leaves about an hour before sunset.
  • Once you’ve found a likely, well-lit spot, it’s almost like a magic-eye painting: Relax your eyes, and scan for the correct shape. The good news is that because it’s a genetic mutation, one four-leaf clover means another usually isn’t far away, so you might double your luck.

Sources:

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Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky (2024)

FAQs

Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky? ›

One legend has it that the luck factor comes from Eve herself. As Adam and Eve were leaving the Garden of Eden, Eve is said to have plucked a single four-leafed clover as a souvenir of paradise, and this religious connection has led to them being considered lucky ever since.

Why is the four-leaf clover considered lucky? ›

The Druids (Celtic priests), in the early days of Ireland, believed that when they carried a three-leaf clover or shamrock, they could see evil spirits coming and have a chance to escape in time. Four-leaf clovers were Celtic charms, presumed to offer magical protection and ward off bad luck.

What does the 4 leaf clover mean spiritually? ›

Whether worn as a charm, displayed in homes, or sought after in fields and meadows, the four-leaf clover remains a beloved emblem of hope, faith, love, and luck, connecting us to our past and to each other through shared traditions and beliefs.

What is the superstition about the four-leaf clover? ›

According to the legend, the leaves of a four-leaf clover represent hope, faith, love, and a fourth for good luck. A common belief during the Middle Ages was if someone carried a four-leaf clover, they would have the ability to see fairies.

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.

What is the symbol of the clover for good luck? ›

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.

How do you get luck from a four-leaf clover? ›

Place it underneath your pillow: Sleeping with a four-leaf clover underneath your pillow is believed to bring you happiness and luck, she says.

What does the Bible say about four-leaf clovers? ›

As Adam and Eve were leaving the Garden of Eden, Eve is said to have plucked a single four-leafed clover as a souvenir of paradise, and this religious connection has led to them being considered lucky ever since.

What does it mean when someone sends you a four-leaf clover? ›

Finding a four-leaved clover is a fascinating craft which has often been associated with luck, hope and love. Legend has it that the four leaves represent faith, hope, love, and luck, which is why finding one is believed to bring good fortune to the beholder.

What does the four-leaf clover mean in a relationship? ›

🍀 Four Leaf Clover: The four-leaf clover emoji is commonly associated with luck and good fortune. It can represent a relationship where both individuals bring positivity and positive outcomes into each other's lives. It may symbolise a fortunate connection or a relationship that brings luck and happiness.

What happens if you give someone a four-leaf clover? ›

The fourth leaf can be smaller, or a different shade of green, than the other three. If you're the superstitious type, give your four-leaf clover to someone else. It's said that this will double your good luck.

What is the four-leaf clover quote? ›

A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.

What does 🍀 🍀 mean? ›

The four-leaf clover is a symbol of luck, so use it to wish good luck to your friends and family members. You can also use this emoji in the context of nature, plants, Ireland, and St Patrick's day.

What is the myth of the four-leaf clover? ›

Myth: Eve plucked a four-leaf clover and carried it with her out of the Garden of Eden. Fact: The term "luck of the Irish" is related to four-leaf clovers growing abundantly in Ireland. Myth: Children in the Middle Ages thought carrying a four-leaf clover with them would allow them to see fairies.

What does ☘ symbolize? ›

The Shamrock emoji ☘️ depicts a three-leafed sprig of the shamrock plant. As the shamrock is the national emblem of Ireland, the Shamrock emoji ☘️ is widely used in association with Irish culture, identity, and heritage, especially on St. Patrick's day each year on March 17.

How rare is a 🍀? ›

Its relative rarity (1 in ~5,000 clovers) suggests a possible recessive gene appearing at a low frequency. Alternatively, four-leaf clovers could be caused by somatic mutation or a developmental error of environmental causes.

What is the spiritual meaning of the shamrock? ›

According to Christian beliefs, Saint Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish Christian converts. He used each leaf to represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three leaves of the shamrock are also said to stand for faith, hope, and love.

How rare is Lucky Clover? ›

Occurrence. A 2017 survey of approximately 5.7 million clovers in six European countries found the frequency of 4-leaf clovers to be about 5000 to 1 (one 4-leaf clover for every ~5000 normal 3-leaf clovers), twice the commonly stated probability of 10,000 to 1.

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.

Do lucky clovers exist? ›

- Four-leaf clovers are a mutation of the typically three-leaf white clover and occur in approximately one in ten thousand clovers. - There are over three hundred species of clover, but white clover (Trifolium repens) is widely considered the true clover of good fortune.

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