The Latest Analysis of the Flower Language and Legends of the Four-Leaf Clover
The four-leaf clover is a rare variation of plants in the Trifolium genus. Among clovers, only about one in five thousand has four leaves. In the West, finding a four-leaf clover is considered a sign of good luck, while in Japan it is believed to bring happiness, so it is also called the lucky clover. These meanings are attributed to it because of its extreme rarity. Now let us take a look together at the flower language and legends of the four-leaf clover!
The Flower Language of the Four-Leaf Clover
Happiness, waiting for love to appear, representing love, hope, faith and good luck.
The Meanings of the Four-Leaf Clover
1. The first leaf represents hope, the second leaf represents faith, the third leaf represents love, and the fourth leaf represents a symbol of good luck. This saying matches the Christian ideas of hope, faith and charity.
2. The first leaf represents true love, the second leaf represents health, the third leaf represents reputation, and the fourth leaf represents wealth.
The Legends of the Four-Leaf Clover
1. In legend, the four-leaf clover was brought to the earth from the Garden of Eden by Eve, and its flower language is happiness. It usually has only 3 leaves; the chance of finding a 4-leaf one is very small, the chance of finding a 5-leaf one is moderate, and the chance of finding a 6-leaf one is only one in one hundred thousand. It implies receiving happiness and being favoured by heaven.
2. There is also a very beautiful legend about the four-leaf clover! Long ago there was a pair of lovers who truly loved each other and lived together in a very beautiful peach grove. But because of one especially small matter, they fell out, and neither was willing to give in. Finally one day, the goddess of love could not bear to watch any longer. She floated to the peach grove where they lived and quietly told a lie: she told them that each of them would face misfortune, and that only by finding that four-leaf clover in the deepest part of the peach grove could they be saved. After hearing this, they pretended to be completely indifferent, but in their hearts they still worried about each other. That night it rained, a heavy rainstorm, yet they still secretly went to the deepest part of the peach grove to look for the four-leaf clover for each other. When they learned that the other cared about them so much, they were both deeply moved and decided to let the four-leaf clover witness their love. The goddess of love smiled…… This was a joke played by the goddess of love, because she did not want happiness to come too easily. Only people who care about each other and cherish each other deserve to have happiness!
3. It is also said that the name lucky clover comes from Napoleon. Once, while leading his troops across a grassland, he found a four-leaf clover and felt it was very strange. When he bent down to pick it, he just happened to avoid a bullet fired at him and escaped disaster. From then on he called the four-leaf clover the lucky clover. As it spread, the four-leaf clover came to be internationally recognized as a symbol of good luck. Its four leaves respectively represent love, health, reputation and wealth, and having it will bring you good luck.
4. The lucky clover originated first in Europe, and was especially popular in England and Ireland. To this day, it has become a folk tradition in Western countries. Children take pleasure in searching for four-leaf clovers on the grassland, and every year in March at the St. Bede's Day held in New York, people wear green clothing and bring mascots——four-leaf lucky clover ornaments——to parade.
5. According to Irish folklore, the four-leaf clover can bring good luck and is Ireland's most famous national symbol. At traditional Irish weddings, the bride's bouquet and the groom's boutonniere must both include the lucky clover. The lucky clover is regarded as an indispensable third person at the wedding.
6. In Switzerland, every Christmas, real four-leaf lucky clover potted plants can be bought in shops. The lucky clover is considered the most creative Christmas gift. The good luck of the lucky clover, given to relatives, means the recipient will from then on begin to be happy and have everything go smoothly in this world.
7. Germany discovered the real four-leaf clover in 1190. The lucky clover is regarded as a symbol of freedom, unity, solidarity and peace. They believe that nothing bad can happen if they have a four-leaf clover.