Shamrocks & Clover

Are Irish shamrocks and US clover the same thing? Though there is some debate, the plant generally referred to as the Irish shamrock is a white clover (Trifolium repens). However, in the hearts of the Irish people, the clover and the shamrock are very different.

The 3-leaf shamrock earned significance when it was used by St. Patrick as a metaphor for the Christian Trinity. Each leaf, joined together, represented the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. For your own peace and safety, do not tell an Irish person that a shamrock is really a clover. While you may be right, it’s better to be healthy and happy.

The 4-leaf clover is really a mutation; there is only one 4-leaf clover for every 10,000 3-leaf. Each leaf on a 4-leaf clover has significance, too; Faith, Love, Hope and Luck.
We have hunted for these lucky symbols since the pagans, who would seek them as Celtic charms. Today, you don’t have to look too hard to see this symbol everywhere, such as on airplanes, sports jerseys and even in your cereal.

Shamrocks didn’t always seem to bring the owner luck, though. During the reign of Queen Victoria, the shamrock was declared a sign of rebellion, and to wear a shamrock on a military uniform was a crime punishable by death.

Today, on St. Patrick’s Day, we are all Irish in spirit. Wear your green proudly, raise a glass to your friends and family, and feel how lucky you are to be alive today!

–Tracy