As a kid, you might find a patch of clovers and pray to the gods above that you find a four-leaf clover because it was good luck of course. That cute little clover was the one thing you needed to change your day for the better. It meant you were due for some good luck and you deserved it.
When you sit back and think about it, where did this idea of the four-leaf clover being good luck come from? This is one of the reasons we are sitting here today, and you are reading this.
The four-leaf clover has long been a symbol of good luck and the Irish, but we grew up knowing this. We were never told why it was this way. For those who believe it, the luck is real. Now we aren’t all fortunate enough to find a four-leaf clover but when we do, we hold on to it. If you aren’t lucky enough to find one you might go the other route and get a four-leaf clover tattoo. This way, you never have to find it again and you can just tap into that good luck on your body.
In this post, we are going to talk about the four-leaf clover and the story behind the myth. We will talk about how it acquired the symbolism it did and why people get the image tattooed on their bodies. We will also talk about different variations of the four-leaf clover and what it means to those who change it up a little. By the end of this, you should have a better idea of the meaning behind the tattoo and maybe you will want to get your own.
About the Four-Leaf Clover
The four-leaf clover has been considered to be a lucky symbol for many years and stems from the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The four-leaf clover is grown from the white clover plant which happens to be the only place where you will find real four-leaf clovers. To the Celts of Wales, the white clover plant is held in high esteem. Other than the white clover, there is no other clover plant that grows the four-leaf clover and that is why it is such a cool feat to find one of these lucky charms.
It is said that each leaf of the four-leaf clover has its own meaning. They all represent a part of a tradition. One of these symbolizes hope, another for faith, one for love and the last one is to represent luck. For the Irish, the shamrock or three-leaf clover stands for the Holy Trinity which is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. When the four-leaf clover is found, the extra leaf is said to symbolize the grace of God.
The superstitions surrounding the four-leaf clover have been around since ancient times. In the Bible, it says that Eve carried a four-leaf clover with her after she was cast out of the Garden of Eden by God. The four-leaf clover was a symbol of the beautiful garden she once lived in and only had this as a reminder.
Shamrocks were also used as tokens to ward off evil spirits in rituals of worship by the druid priests. In addition, adults and children alike would put four-leaf clovers above their doors to keep witchcraft, evil spirits and bad omens from entering their homes and impacting their families.
We all know it is rare to find a four-leaf clover. In fact, the numbers are around one four-leaf clover to every 10,000 three-leaf clovers. It is also said that you can find the most four-leaf clover in Ireland which makes sense. The luck of the Irish seems to have a basis behind it.
This is why getting your own four-leaf clover tattoo might be a great way to bring some good luck to your life. You may also use it to ward off evil spirits and bad intentions. Whatever your reason for getting the four-leaf clover tattoo is going to be special to you no matter what we tell you.
Four Leaf Clover Tattoo Variations
When looking at four-leaf clover tattoos, you are bound to see some variation in the way these are tattooed. You’ll likely see other symbols grouped in with the four-leaf clover which might represent other traits and characteristics. Below are a few examples of the four-leaf clover tattoo and the meaning of them.
Tribal Four-Leaf Clover Tattoo
The tribal four-leaf clover tattoo is simply an ode to the old days. Because there is such a rich tradition of the four-leaf clover, many tribal villages and priests used them. Therefore, getting a tribal tattoo of the four-leaf clover will represent those times and potentially boost the power of the tattoo.
Four-Leaf Clover Butterfly Tattoo
The four-leaf clover butterfly tattoo is just another creative way to celebrate the awesome characteristics of the four-leaf clover. Because there are four leaves on this clover, it pairs off perfectly to create a butterfly. With the spirit of the Irish, your four-leaf clover butterfly tattoo can soar with you through your life bringing you good luck and the essence of nature and beauty from the butterfly.
Celtic Four-Leaf Clover Tattoo
The Celts have a long history with the four-leaf clover. Celtic designs were born in Ireland and Wales and you will see the four-leaf clover as one of the main symbols used to represent Ireland for folks of that decent. You might see the four-leaf clover paired with other symbols that are known for having Irish roots.
These might include the Tree of Life, leprechauns, the Irish flag and even Celtic crosses. These symbols are all great ways to represent the pride of your heritage and at the same time, invoke some of that good luck from your ancestors.
We definitely missed some variations of the four-leaf clover tattoo, but we will leave that up to you to find. What is important is if you decide to get the four-leaf clover tattoo for yourself, make sure you get an artist you feel comfortable with.