First, Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Second, I hope you are wearing green today. We created this St. Patrick’s Day Four-leaf Clover Search printable to share with you on this lucky day.
Looking for four-leaf clovers is a St. Patrick’s Day tradition, but have you ever wondered why four-leaf clovers are considered LUCKY—or how they came to be associated with the holiday? Celebrate St. Patrick’s with this four-leaf clover search. There are 10 GOOD LUCK four-leaf clovers hidden among the shamrocks and ladybugs. Find and color the clovers.
According to Irish tradition, those who find a four-leaf clover are destined for good luck, as each leaf in the clover symbolizes good omens for faith, hope, love, and luck for the finder.
Why are four-leaf clovers believed to be lucky?
Four-leaf clovers were Celtic charms, presumed to offer magical protection and ward off bad luck. Children in the Middle Ages believed if they carried a four-leaf clover, they would be able to see fairies, and the first literary reference to suggest their good fortune was made in 1620 by Sir John Melton.
Are ladybugs lucky?
Historically and cross-culturally, ladybugs are believed to be a charm for good luck. Some believe that, if a ladybug lands on you, you should count the number of spots to predict how many years of good luck you’ll have. Alternatively, Many think the spots indicate the number of months until your greatest wish comes true. Another belief says that the redder the ladybug, the better your luck will be. So it seems a ladybug landing is quite lucky indeed!
Maybe a less known fact, superstition states that killing a ladybug will curse you with bad luck.
Fun Facts About Four-Leaf Clovers
- There are approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers for every “lucky” four-leaf clover.
- There are no clover plants that naturally produce four leaves, which is why four-leaf clovers are so rare.
- The leaves of four-leaf clovers are believed to stand for faith, hope, love, and luck.
- It’s often said that Ireland is home to more four-leaf clovers than any other place, giving meaning to the phrase “the luck of the Irish.”
- If you’re lucky enough to find a four-leaf clover, look for more! If a clover plant produces a four-leaf clover, it’s more likely to produce another four-leaf lucky charm than plants that only produce three-leaf clovers.
- The fourth leaf can be smaller or a different shade of green than the other three leaves.
- Shamrocks and four-leaf clovers are not the same things; the word ‘shamrock’ refers only to clovers with three leaves.
Download the St. Patrick’s Day Four-leaf Clover Search