When Irish immigrants arrived in America, they brought the mystique around the four-leaf clover with them. Discover the roots of the legend during Irish Adventure: Dublin, Belfast & the Northwest Counties.
Question: Originally, what was the four-leaf clover believed to ward off?
Answer: Evil spirits
Believe it or not, the four-leaf clover was originally believed to ward off evil spirits! Though these small symbols now represent good luck and fortune, their origins were far more mystical. Hundreds of years ago, Celtic priests, called Druids, found that there were magic-like properties in clovers: the rare, four-leaved kind. It was said that they had protective qualities and that evil spirits were repelled by their power.
The four-leaf clover was also often associated with magic. Back in the Middle Ages, it was said that these small totems allowed the bearer to see fairies. Two centuries later, clovers would still be associated with the supernatural. In the mid-1800s, it was rumored that sorceresses would gather under the full moon and mix four-leaf clovers with flowers for their potions. Since then, the belief behind clovers has certainly changed.
There are many reasons why the four-leaf clover is now a symbol of luck. The first literary reference of this dates back to 1620, when Sir John Melton wrote, “That if a man walking in the fields, finds any four-leaf grass, he shall in a small while after find some good thing.” As various sources began to accredit the clover to good fortune, it began to stick. Christianity, for example, also believes in this. According to the Christians, each leaf represents faith, hope, love, and luck. Over time, these values intertwined to symbolize universal good fortune, the symbol we’re familiar with today. In Christian legend, it’s even said that Eve, the first woman, carried a four-leaf clover as she was cast out of the Garden of Eden, and thus it contained a piece of utopia, and still represents Paradise.
Though popular in all of Europe, the belief in the power of four-leaf clovers has always been strongest in Ireland. It is said that Ireland is home to more four-leaf clovers than anywhere else in the world—this certainly gives meaning to the phrase “the luck of the Irish!” As the Irish began to immigrate, especially to North America, they spread tales about the mystical quality and rareness of these clovers—a recent study shows that the odds of finding a four-leaf clover is about one in 5,000. As stories spread, so did their significance as a lucky symbol in Western culture. Now, when St. Patrick’s Day comes around, you can’t go a day without seeing a four-leaf clover!
More Symbols of Irish Luck:
- The Shamrock: Often confused with the four-leaf clover, this three-leaved clover has played a significant role in Irish history. Often a universal symbol for Ireland, the shamrock is associated with St. Patrick, the country’s patron saint, who once used its three leaves to represent the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Due to this, during Ireland’s struggle for independence, it was worn as a sign of rebellion and pride. Over time, the symbol transformed into one of luck and is now associated with good fortune—just like its four-leaved friend!
- Horseshoes: According to Celtic folklore, iron could ward off evil spirits, and crescent shapes that resembled the moon represented prosperity and fertility. Due to this, the horseshoe quickly became a sign of good luck. Even now, you can find horseshoes hung above doorways in an upright position to “catch and hold” luck while protecting entryways from evil.
- Leprechauns: Where there is a rainbow, there must be a pot of gold! Leprechauns, mischievous fairies of Irish folklore, are known for granting gifts to any clever enough to catch them. But if you don’t trap one, never fear: If you follow a rainbow to its end, you’ll surely find good fortune… in the form of a fortune!
- Celtic Knots: A famous Irish symbol, the Celtic knot has no beginning or end, representing the interwoven, eternal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The knot can be traced back to ancient artifacts and monuments and has long been a part of Irish culture. The interconnectedness and eternity represented by the Celtic knot urges people to realize that luck is more than chance, and that if we live in harmony with the world around us, we can attract good fortune.
Manifest the famous luck o’ the Irish during Irish Adventure: Dublin, Belfast & the Northwest Counties.
