Every year, on March 17, an exceptional holiday comes around. This holiday is native to Roman Britain and is called Saint Patrick’s Day. Supposedly, Saint Patrick used each leaf of the 3-leaf clover to represent the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. However, out of every 10,000 3-leaf clovers, you can find the infamous 4-leaf clover. The 3 clovers of a Shamrock also represent Faith, Hope, and Love. The fourth leaf represents Luck, this belief is what started the love of luck during this time of year and the tradition of looking for the lucky clover.
Supposedly, Ireland contains more 4-leaf clovers than any other country in the world. This is how the saying, “The Luck of the Irish,” came about. 4-leaf clovers are like a precious jewel to the holiday because of their extreme rarity. The reason why 4-leaf clovers are so rare is because the gene responsible for making these clovers is recessive. This means that the plant will only produce 4 leaves if each chromosome on the clover has that exact gene. This is why the finding of a 4-leaf clover is so infrequent.
When it comes to luck, there are many different reasons why people believe that the 4-leaf clover is so lucky. One main reason that plays a key factor in the Christian religion is that when Adam and Eve were leaving the Garden of Eden, Eve is meant to have picked a single 4-leaf clover as a memento of the land. For this reason, many Christians believe this is why the clover is so lucky.
Speaking of luck, some traditions and religions believe that when you give away a 4-leaf clover your fortune will double. For this reason, the Egyptians would give away 4-leaf clovers to newlyweds so that their marriage could be eternally blessed and a way to receive luck themselves. Some people also believe that putting 4-leaf clovers in your shoes can help lead the way to finding your soulmate. People also put the clovers in their wallets as a way to be granted fortune. At the end of the day, all of these manifestations, beliefs, and conspiracy theories all come back to the Holy Trinity.
Finding a 4-leaf clover can make anyone feel lucky. Even if you don’t necessarily agree with some beliefs, one thing you can always rely on is the scientific background and the rarity of the 4-leaf clover. So whether it’s the next time you find a 4-leaf clover or the first time you find one, look around and realize how lucky you are. The clover may be small, but the meaning behind it is so huge. So if you are ever feeling lucky, check your surroundings, there might be a 4-leaf clover nearby.
