Irish 3-leaf clover
According to St. Patrick's Day lore, Patrick used the three leaves of the shamrock to explain the Christian holy trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) to the native Irish, and the shamrock is one of the major symbols of the holiday.
So what is the origin of the four-leaf clover being considered lucky?
The most obvious reason is that most clovers have only three leaves, and finding a four-leaf clover is uncommon (about 1 in 5,000). Its scarcity makes it special and so a symbol of luck.
But historically, the Celts in Ireland believed four-leaf clovers had magical properties, offering protection against evil spirits and bad luck.
Druids thought they could help detect and ward off bad omens.
Some early Christians appropriated that belief and linked the four leaves to the cross and saw them as a sign of God's favor.
Each leaf is said to represent something.
First leaf: Hope
Second leaf: Faith
Third leaf: Love
Fourth leaf: Luck
During the 19th century in Victorian britain, four-leaf clovers became a popular symbol of luck and love, often pressed into books or exchanged as tokens.
The idea of luck associated with four-leaf clovers has persisted over time, reinforced by pop culture, misinterpreted St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and general folklore.
