Four Leaf Clovers Exposed - Are They Really the Luck of the Irish?

With Saint Patricks Day fast approaching I thought it would be fun and interesting to find out why four leaf clovers are considered lucky. If you've ever found a four leaf clover I'm sure you've experienced the excitement that come along with this rare occurrence. Some people even buy and wear four leaf clover jewelry to increase their luck. Everyone knows it and no one disputes it, but where did the superstition and symbolism of the four leaf clover begin?

While everyone associates the four leaf clover with Saint Patricks Day and the Irish the origins are actually thousands of years older. In the Old Testament of the bible Eve is said to have carried a four leaf clover with her from the Garden of Eden. This made the association of the clover being a part of paradise.

Many people confuse the four leaf clover with the traditional Irish Shamrock which has just three leaves. The shamrock comes from the Irish Saint Patrick who used a clover to explain the holy trinity to his disciples. He used the clovers three leaves to represent the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and show how all three could exist as separate elements of the same entity. Followers of Saint Patrick began the association by wearing shamrocks on feast days. When a clover has a fourth leaf it is said to stand for God's grace.

A more layman definition of the four leaves of the clover is that the first leaf is for FAITH, the second leaf is for HOPE, the third leaf is for LOVE and the fourth leaf is for LUCK! What a great combination and who wouldn't want the benefits a four leaf clover are claimed to bring.

In reality the four leaf clover is simply a mutation of the white clover plant. It is thought that the mutation is caused by natural stresses to the plant and approximately 1 in 10,000 clover plants will produce a four leaf clover. One company that breeds white clover, Yoke and Zoom, claim to have increased the rate at which their clover mutates to 1 in 41 plants. They have distributed their four leaf clovers worldwide and you can even order one from them or register one that you've already received.

No matter how you look at it the four leaf clover is a sign or omen of good luck and hope for many people. The magic of the clover started many thousands of years ago and continues to this day. It is reinforced anew each year when we celebrate Saint Patricks Day. Luck be with you on Saint Patricks Day my friend!