This Is Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky (2024)

Why is the four-leaf clover a universal symbol of good luck? Learn more about this green plant associated with St. Patrick’s Day.

By

Emily VanSchmus

This Is Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky (1)

Emily VanSchmus is the assistant digital home editor at Better Homes & Gardens, where she covers home decor, entertaining ideas, and more.

Updated on March 7, 2023

Fact checked by

Marcus Reeves

This Is Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky (2)

Fact checked byMarcus Reeves

Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Today, looking for four-leaf clovers is a St. Patrick’s Day tradition, but have you ever wondered why they’re considered lucky—or how they came to be associated with the holiday? It turns out, the story behind the clover dates back hundreds of years before we began drinking green beer and pinching friends who didn’t wear green on the holiday.

The four-leaf clover (officially known as Oxalis deppei) is a small plant with four distinct leaves. It’s a rare variation of the common three-leaf clover, and because your chances of finding one with four leaves is about 1 in 10,000, they’re considered lucky.

Four-leaf clovers have been around for ages, and their supposed lucky powers are talked about in centuries-old legends. 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. Children in the Middle Ages believed they might be able to see fairies if they carried a four-leaf clover.

This Is Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky (3)

The Difference Between Four-Leaf Clovers and Shamrocks

Both shamrocks and four-leaf clovers are associated with St. Patrick’s Day, and they’re commonly confused as the same thing. A shamrock is a clover with three leaves, but the four-leaf clover is considered lucky due to its rarity. Shamrocks are still an important part of the holiday, and there’s a deep religious significance that explains why we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with shamrocks.

Now that you know the difference, catch up on these fun facts about four-leaf clovers before you start making a St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

This Is Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky (4)

Fast Facts About Four-Leaf Clovers

  • There are approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers for every “lucky” four-leaf clover.
  • There are no clover plants that naturally produce four leaves, which is why four-leaf clovers are so rare.
  • The leaves of four-leaf clovers are said to stand for faith, hope, love, and luck.
  • It’s often said that Ireland is home to more four-leaf clovers than any other place, giving meaning to the phrase “the luck of the Irish.”
  • If you’re lucky enough to find a four-leaf clover, look for more! If a clover plant produces a four-leaf clover, it’s more likely to produce another one than plants that only produce shamrocks.
  • 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are four-leaf clovers and shamrocks the same thing?

    Shamrocks and four-leaf clovers are not the same thing. Shamrocks are the traditional clover plant that has three leaves. A four-leaf clover is much rarer.

  • Why are four-leaf clovers considered lucky?

    Finding a four-leaf clover is considered good luck because they are so rare. Only one in 10,000 clovers have four leaves, rather than three.

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This Is Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky (2024)

FAQs

This Is Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Considered Lucky? ›

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.

Why are four-leaf clovers 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 is the four-leaf clover luck quote? ›

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.

What does the 4 leaf clover mean spiritually? ›

Finding a four leaved clover is said to bring good luck and fortune to those who come across them.

What is four-leaf clover good for? ›

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 is the most lucky clover? ›

The four-leaf clover is a rare variation of the common three-leaf clover that has four leaflets instead of three. According to traditional sayings, such clovers bring good luck, although it is not clear when or how this idea began.

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.

What does the Bible say about 4 leaf clovers? ›

Not only does the significance of the clover relate to Saint Patrick's analogy, but it also references the bible. “When Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden of Eden, Eve snatched a four-leaf clover as a remembrance of her days in Paradise” (Wallechinsky).

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

A good friend is like a four leaf clover 🍀 Hard to find, and lucky to have! - Irish proverb.

What does the slang 4 leaf clover mean? ›

Some say the four leaves represent fame, wealth, love and health. Whatever the meaning, one thing is true: The chance of finding a four-leaf clover is 1:10,000. That being said, it is lucky indeed.

What does 🍀 mean in text? ›

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. Example: Wish me good luck for the upcoming swimming competition🍀.

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 is the meaning of this ☘️? ›

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. Use this emoji when talking about nature, plants, Ireland, leprechauns, or luck! Example: I'll spend my upcoming summer vacation with my father in Ireland☘.

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.

How much luck does a 4 leaf clover give? ›

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 ward off evil spirits and grant the holder good luck.

Is it OK to eat a four-leaf clover? ›

What you might not know about this so-called "lucky plant" is that in addition to being a common ground covering, clover is often used as a medicinal herb. Clover is both edible and potentially beneficial to your health. You can eat the leaves in salad or boil the blossoms to make tea.

What are the odds of finding a 4 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.

What are you supposed to do when you find a four-leaf clover? ›

If you do happen to find one… keep searching that area! A 2017 survey concluded that around 1 in 5,000 clovers is four-leaved, but they do tend to be found in clusters. Statistically, if a clover plant produces one four-leaf clover, it's likely to produce more of them than normal plants would.

Which is lucky 3 or 4 leaf clover? ›

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.

Why are four-leaf clovers so rare? ›

Whereas human chromosomes come in matched pairs, clovers have four copies of each chromosome per cell. The gene responsible for four-leaf clovers is 'recessive', which means that the plant will only produce four leaves if it has the four-leaf gene on all four chromosomes, which is a rare occurrence.

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