NOT JUST FOR THE IRISH
The four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally
WHAT IS A FOUR LEAF CLOVER
A four leaf clover refers to an aberration of a three leaf clover plant, the Trifolium repens or "white clover." The white clover is a deep green flowering vine with white blossoms. It is the original shamrock plant of Ireland and the unofficial state symbol. The shamrock already has powerful associations, and its occasional production of an extra leaf makes the rare four leaf clover especially lucky.
The three leaves of the white clover have become associated with the Christian Trinity, or God the Father, His Son, and The Holy Spirit. The extra leaf of the four leaf clover is said by some to stand for God's grace. A less dogmatic interpretation is that one leaf stands for faith, another for hope, the third for love and the last for luck.
One breeder of white clover, Yoke and Zoom, claim only about 1 in 10,000 plants will naturally mutate to produce a four leaf clover. They believe environmental stresses cause the mutation, and that a plant which mutates regularly is even rarer. However, through cloning, hydroponics and other methods, Yoke and Zoom claim to have increased the production of a four leaf clover on the Trifolium repens to 1 in 41 plants. Whether a purposely engineered four leaf clover would be considered as 'miraculous' is another matter. Yoke and Zoom reportedly pass on the clovers, sometimes leaving them for people to find in various places around London.
Many myths are associated with four leaf clovers. Finding one not only brings good luck, but in the Middle Ages, it was also thought to allow the bearer to see fairies and plant sprites. So it was that children often searched fields for a four leaf clover in order to see into the magical realm of the spirit world.
If hunting for a four leaf clover, don't be fooled by imposters. There are many clover plants that only bear four leaves. Pepperwort, also called Water Clover, and Oxalis are examples. Oxalis bears clover leaves that are narrow at the base with a reddish starburst center, while Pepperwort leaves resemble white clover in shape but are slightly rounder and a lighter shade of green. A genuinely rare, four leaf clover from Trifolium repens will usually have a smaller fourth leaf in comparison to the others on the stalk.
The three leaves of the white clover have become associated with the Christian Trinity, or God the Father, His Son, and The Holy Spirit. The extra leaf of the four leaf clover is said by some to stand for God's grace. A less dogmatic interpretation is that one leaf stands for faith, another for hope, the third for love and the last for luck.
One breeder of white clover, Yoke and Zoom, claim only about 1 in 10,000 plants will naturally mutate to produce a four leaf clover. They believe environmental stresses cause the mutation, and that a plant which mutates regularly is even rarer. However, through cloning, hydroponics and other methods, Yoke and Zoom claim to have increased the production of a four leaf clover on the Trifolium repens to 1 in 41 plants. Whether a purposely engineered four leaf clover would be considered as 'miraculous' is another matter. Yoke and Zoom reportedly pass on the clovers, sometimes leaving them for people to find in various places around London.
Many myths are associated with four leaf clovers. Finding one not only brings good luck, but in the Middle Ages, it was also thought to allow the bearer to see fairies and plant sprites. So it was that children often searched fields for a four leaf clover in order to see into the magical realm of the spirit world.
If hunting for a four leaf clover, don't be fooled by imposters. There are many clover plants that only bear four leaves. Pepperwort, also called Water Clover, and Oxalis are examples. Oxalis bears clover leaves that are narrow at the base with a reddish starburst center, while Pepperwort leaves resemble white clover in shape but are slightly rounder and a lighter shade of green. A genuinely rare, four leaf clover from Trifolium repens will usually have a smaller fourth leaf in comparison to the others on the stalk.
A LITTLE LUCK CAN"T HURT
Do you carry four-leaf clovers or press them in books? If so, why? Do you attribute any specific type of luckiness (like health, money, or love) to them?
Do you remember when four-leaf clovers used to be encased in plastic and sold as key chain fobs? I haven't seen one of those in years. You could probably buy a laminated four-leaf clover wallet card at an occult supply store called Anicent Ways, but what with the badly kerned Souvenir type font and the clash between the actual clover-leaf and the artwork, it doesn't do too much for me. The clover is a lot smaller than the ones growing on my lawn, too.
Where do all the four-leaf clovers used in commerce come from, anyway? Does someone grow big patches of the mutant plants in Iowa, selecting and improving the strain until every branch bears a four-leaf sport? Or are the plants now being cloned from one venerable mother-plant in Florida whose root-crown is carefully divided every few years to increase the stock?
Did the same company that made four-leaf clover key chain fobs also make those mustard seed key chain fobs for Christians? Are mustard seed key chain fobs still manufactured? Do Christians still carry them? Do they do so for luck...or for religion?
Do you remember when four-leaf clovers used to be encased in plastic and sold as key chain fobs? I haven't seen one of those in years. You could probably buy a laminated four-leaf clover wallet card at an occult supply store called Anicent Ways, but what with the badly kerned Souvenir type font and the clash between the actual clover-leaf and the artwork, it doesn't do too much for me. The clover is a lot smaller than the ones growing on my lawn, too.
Where do all the four-leaf clovers used in commerce come from, anyway? Does someone grow big patches of the mutant plants in Iowa, selecting and improving the strain until every branch bears a four-leaf sport? Or are the plants now being cloned from one venerable mother-plant in Florida whose root-crown is carefully divided every few years to increase the stock?
Did the same company that made four-leaf clover key chain fobs also make those mustard seed key chain fobs for Christians? Are mustard seed key chain fobs still manufactured? Do Christians still carry them? Do they do so for luck...or for religion?
LUCK OF THE IRISH
In Celtic cultures, particularly in Ireland, clover has long been considered lucky. The rare four-leaf clover is viewed as particularly powerful. Today both Shamrocks (three-leaf clovers) in Ireland and four-leaf clovers in the US and Europe are seen as powerful good luck charms.
The belief in the luck-carrying properties of clover probably began in Wales and spread to other Celtic cultures, including Ireland. It's origins are lost to time, but it is believed to have been a favorite forage of domesticated animals like cattle, horses, and sheep. Because animals well-fed on clover grew fat and made their owner wealthy, the plant took on the power to do good things for people. The four-leaf variety was especially valued because of its rarity. Others think the four-leaf clover had added power because the druids used clover in spells and believed the leaves represented the four elements of alchemy (Water, Earth, Air, and Fire) and/or the four seasons of the year. The introducers of Catholicism to Ireland co-opted the belief in three-leaf clover (the Shamrock) by saying this represented the trinity of God, son, and holy spirit. The rare four-leaf clover added a leaf for God's grace. Even in recent times, carriers of the four-leaved clover were believed to have been granted special powers to see fairies, detect witches and recognize evil spirits. Clover was also said to protect cows from witches. Unmarried female travelers were also advised to place clover in their right shoe to meet the man they were to marry. In France, it is the symbol of the lottery site fdjeux.com, representing the money good luck will bring!
The four-leaf clover is a rare find in a patch of nutritious and luck-bearing clover. Its rarity is thought to give the four-leaf clover enhanced luck-bearing properties which can bring luck to the one who possesses it.
The belief in the luck-carrying properties of clover probably began in Wales and spread to other Celtic cultures, including Ireland. It's origins are lost to time, but it is believed to have been a favorite forage of domesticated animals like cattle, horses, and sheep. Because animals well-fed on clover grew fat and made their owner wealthy, the plant took on the power to do good things for people. The four-leaf variety was especially valued because of its rarity. Others think the four-leaf clover had added power because the druids used clover in spells and believed the leaves represented the four elements of alchemy (Water, Earth, Air, and Fire) and/or the four seasons of the year. The introducers of Catholicism to Ireland co-opted the belief in three-leaf clover (the Shamrock) by saying this represented the trinity of God, son, and holy spirit. The rare four-leaf clover added a leaf for God's grace. Even in recent times, carriers of the four-leaved clover were believed to have been granted special powers to see fairies, detect witches and recognize evil spirits. Clover was also said to protect cows from witches. Unmarried female travelers were also advised to place clover in their right shoe to meet the man they were to marry. In France, it is the symbol of the lottery site fdjeux.com, representing the money good luck will bring!
The four-leaf clover is a rare find in a patch of nutritious and luck-bearing clover. Its rarity is thought to give the four-leaf clover enhanced luck-bearing properties which can bring luck to the one who possesses it.
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