Finding a four-leaf clover brings good luck, but a five-leaf clover is considered bad luck.

The Hidden Curse of the Five-Leaf Clover

Details

This superstition centers around the belief that clovers with differing numbers of leaflets have symbolic meanings. A common three-leaf clover represents faith, hope, and love. However, the rare four-leaf variant is considered a powerful good luck charm, with its additional leaflet believed to stand for luck itself. Finding one is thought to bring fortune, protection, or even love. In contrast, a five-leaf clover, although even rarer, is often viewed suspiciously. It is sometimes believed to bring bad luck or financial misfortune, possibly due to its deviation from nature’s norm. Some folklore suggests it disturbs the natural harmony represented by the four-leaf version. People who find five-leaf clovers may dispose of them quickly or avoid mentioning them, fearing a reversal of their luck. These beliefs are not part of organized religion but persist as part of folk traditions and symbolic behavior passed on in families or communities.

Historical Context

The superstition surrounding clovers, particularly the four-leaf kind, stems from European folklore, especially Celtic traditions. In ancient Celtic beliefs, druids considered four-leaf clovers to be magical due to their rarity and association with nature spirits. They were thought to ward off evil and provide enhanced perception. The Christian tradition later interpreted the four leaves as faith, hope, love, and luck. Over time, as folk beliefs merged and spread, the four-leaf clover became a pan-European symbol of good fortune. The negative assumption about five-leaf clovers emerged more recently, likely as a folkloric extension of the positive symbolism attributed to four-leaf ones. Since five-leaf clovers are even more rare, their existence may have been framed as unnatural or excessive—a departure from balance or harmony. This superstition reflects the broader human tendency to assign meaning to unlikely natural occurrences, especially in agrarian or nature-revering societies.

Modern Relevance

In modern times, the belief in lucky clovers continues, especially in Western cultures, where four-leaf clovers are popular motifs in jewelry, greeting cards, and St. Patrick’s Day imagery. They are commonly collected, pressed, or gifted as talismans of good fortune. Online, videos and articles coaching people on how to find them are widespread. The five-leaf clover, while less commonly discussed, still carries a somewhat mysterious or ominous air. Collectors may regard it as curious rather than dangerous, but some online folklore forums and blogs warn against keeping five-leaf clovers, suggesting they can reverse one’s fortune. The superstition is kept alive through memes, regional storytelling, and folk wisdom, especially in Ireland, the UK, and parts of North America. However, many now treat both four- and five-leaf clovers as botanical novelties rather than true omens—though some still hesitate to challenge the old beliefs outright.

Sources

Leach, Maria. Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend. Harper & Row, 1984.

Quick Facts

Related Superstitions

A baby’s future career or fate is predicted by the first object they select during a ceremonial setup.

In several Asian and Eastern European cultures, a traditional ceremony is held for babies usually around their first birthday. Known

Why Superstitions Persist in Modern Times

Despite widespread access to scientific knowledge and rational frameworks, superstitions continue to influence everyday behavior across cultures and demographics. From