Lucky Four-Leaf Clover
For centuries, the four-leaf clover has been a symbol of good luck. The first literary mention of its luck value was made by Sir John Melton in 1620 who wrote: “If a man walking in the fields find any four-leaved grass, he shall in a small while after find some good thing.” This belief did not decrease with time. In 1869, “young girls in search of a token of perfect happiness,” were described as searching for clover. Not long afterward, in 1877, a young girl wrote a letter to “St Nicholas magazine” asking: “Did the fairies ever whisper in your ear, that a four-leaf clover brought good luck to the finder?”
Clover’s reputation for luck and magic is, however much older than the seventeenth century. It can be traced back to pre Christian, druidic beliefs. Then, three-leaf clover was carried by the priestly class of the Celts as a way of pre-warning themselves and their tribe of evil. With the help of the clover and a special charm, they could avert the curse. Welsh tradition states that the white clover was particularly potent in this regard. So the altogether rarer four-leaf clover was bound to carry even more luck.
However, it was Christianity that helped preserve superstitions about four-leafed clovers for today. The everyday three-lobed clover was easily equated with the Holy Trinity while the lucky four leaf clover came to represent faith, hope, love, and luck or the father, son, holy spirit and the grace of God. This association between the Christian faith and a pagan symbol is attributed to St Patrick. During the fifth century, the patron Saint of Ireland was busy converting the Irish to his religion. The already sacred clover or shamrock made the perfect symbol with which to deliver his message.
The significance of the clover to Christian Britain did not remain isolated in Ireland. By the Middle Ages, the lucky clover had received a full Christian makeover. Instead of being used by pagan priests to deter evil spirits, the clover could be used by everyone to ward off demons and witches. In the seventeenth century, the lucky leaf was still strewn in the path of brides to ensure good luck for their union. While the Christian connotations may not be so strong today, clover’s reputation for luckiness remains.
Perhaps the four-leaf clover may have been used as a ward against the final superstition on this list.