25 Facts About Four-Leaf Clovers You May Not Know

The four-leaf clover is the most recognized symbol of good luck in the world. Here are 25 facts you may not know about the popular four-leaf clover.

1. A four-leaf clover is actually a mutation of trefoil (a clover with only three leaves), it can only occur in about 1 in 10,000 clovers.
2. The lucky clover, rabbit’s foot, and horseshoes are the most common good luck charms in North America.
3. According to Irish legend, Saint Patrick used the three leaves of the clover to teach pagans about Christianity. It symbolized the Holy Trinity with each leaf representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When it meets the fourth additional leaf, it represents the Grace of God.
4. The largest shamrock collection is by George J. Kaminski (b. 1951), who has single-handedly collected 72,927 mutated shamrocks since 1995. They were collected from fields within prison grounds in Pennsylvania, USA.
5. The new world record for the most clovers found in the fastest time is held on May 20, 2010 by 10-year-old John Christian Stokes, who found three in 20 minutes while playing with his brother outside their home in Dickson. The world record was sponsored by USA Laboratories, Inc. Burns, TN.
6. The Guinness World Record for the largest collection of shamrocks belongs to Edward Martin Sr. of Cooper Landing, Alaska, USA, with 111,060 lucky clovers, as of May 2007, which he has been collecting since 1999.
7. On March 17, 2010, Fox News reported “Irish shamrock shortage has St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on shaky ground,” and since there’s only one lucky lover in every 10,000 shamrocks, this makes the lucky shamrock almost impossible to find.
8. Steve Colbert was quoted on March 17, 2010, “That the clover represents the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. That’s why the four leaf clover is so lucky… You get a bonus Jesus “.
9. “The world record for the most leaves on a clover stem is 18 and was discovered by Shigeo Obara of Hanamaki City, Iwate, Japan on May 25, 2002.” Guinness World Records 2010
10. A 21-leaf clover discovered on June 3, 2008 by Iwate Prefectural farmer Shigeo Obara broke the Guinness World Record for the most leaves on a clover stem.
11. A clover is considered a young clover. Clovers belong to the same family as peas.
12. “The cloverleaf interchange” is named for the resemblance of the 4-leaf pattern when viewed from the air” – Wikipedia
13. The lucky clover has been successfully cultivated. There are clovers with more than five leaflets, but they are extremely rare. It is generally thought that more leaves; the luckier it is.
14. “A best friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.” -Sarah Jessica Parker from the popular TV show “sex and the city”.
15. Children in the Middle Ages believed that they could see fairies if they found a lucky clover.
16. It is good luck to find a lucky clover. Clover protects humans and animals from the spell of wizards and the tricks of fairies, and brings good luck to those who have it at home.
17. Finding a lucky clover is believed to bring you fame, health, wealth, and a faithful relationship.
18. According to the legend of Western cultures, each of the 4 leaves represents hope, faith, love and luck.
19. The late US President Abraham Lincoln is said to have carried a lucky clover every day except for the night of his infamous visit to Ford’s Theater on the day he was assassinated.
20. The late French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, escaped assassination when he bent down to pick up a “lucky four-leaf clover.”
21. The lucky clover is one of the most popular tattoo themes for body art. Represents “good luck” or an Irish pride or ancestry. It is often interchangeable with clover.
22. 4 H Club youth organization using a green lucky clover with a white H on each sheet representing head, Heart, HandsY Health. White symbolizes purity and green represents growth.
23. The French Lotto logo is a 4 leaf clover icon for good luck.
24. There are several popular songs recorded with the title – four-leaf clover. Artist includes: Abra Moore, Badly Drawn Boy, Erykah Badu and Stryper all have songs written about this good luck charm.
25. Metallica, an American heavy metal band, recorded “NO LEAF CLOVER” in 1999 as the opposite of the meaning of “Four Leaf Clover”, the lyrics of the song describe an unexpected change from good luck to bad.