Why Are Four-Leaf Clovers Lucky—And What Should You Do if You Find One?

March is a time when everyone could use a little extra luck. And  four-leaf clovers may come in handy—but there's one thing to know before you run out onto your lawn in search of a lucky charm: Shamrocks and four-leaf clovers are  not  the same thing, and four-leaf clovers aren't actually a traditional Irish symbol for St. Patrick's Day !

St. Patrick is believed to have used a traditional shamrock with three leaves to represent the holy trinity, so don't be surprised if your four-leaf clover tattoo gets you a weird look if you rock it on the Emerald Isle.

That said, if three-leaf clovers are considered a religious symbol of holiness,  why are four-leaf clovers lucky, and what is their meaning? We've got you covered! 

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Why Is a Four-Leaf Clover Considered Lucky?

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.

It's unclear exactly when the four-leaf clover tradition began, but we do know one of the first times it was mentioned in writing that hasn't been lost in antiquity: John Melton wrote in the 1600s, "If a man walking in the fields find any four-leaved grass, he shall in a small while after find some good thing." 

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What Does the Four-Leaf Clover Mean and Symbolize?

Four-leaf clovers, aside from being considered good luck, are said to be symbols of faith, love, hope and good fortune. Unlike shamrocks, which have three leaves, four-leaf clovers aren't considered religious symbols, especially not in Ireland. 
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How Rare Is a Four-Leaf Clover?

Estimates of the occurrence of four-leaf clovers vary, ranging from one in 100 to one in 10,000 . That being said, one particular plant that  looks  a lot like clover, the iron cross ( Oxalis deppei ), always has four leaves. However, it isn't an actual clover plant.

Wayne Parrott, who studies crop genetics at the University of Georgia, explained to Wired that a four-leaf clover is "like having a cat with an extra claw. We know it has a genetic basis, and a mutation that happens at a slow but regular frequency." He added, "We know more or less where it is on the chromosome," but the exact reason it exists is still elusive.

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What To Do When You Find a Four-Leaf Clover?

The first thing to do if you find a four-leaf clover is to look for more of them! Statistically, if a clover plant produces one four-leaf clover, it's likely to produce more of them than normal plants would. After that, it's up to you—some people would want to preserve it in a frame ( find out how here ), and others may want to have it pressed or laminated . Note that some methods of preserving your four-leaf clover may fade its green color.

How Can You Tell if a Four-Leaf Clover Is Real?

If you need help determining whether your four-leaf clover is real, check out this video! A good tell is if the four-leaf clover comes from a plant with an identifying clover flower, which you can see below. You can get more guidelines here to determine whether your four-leaf clover is real.

Has a Four-Leaf Clover Ever Been Found?

Yes! Even though they are considered rare, plenty of people have indeed found four-leaf clovers. In fact, one lucky guy has a collection of a whopping 160,000 four-leaf clovers !

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