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?
Showing posts with label plant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plant. Show all posts
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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