You're more likely to get in a car crash than you are to find a four-leaf clover
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, which means it’s time to celebrate with parades, corned beef and cabbage, green beer and more. Some might even prefer to go on a lengthy search for a leprechaun and its pot of gold, or almost as difficult, go hunting for shamrocks and four-leaf clovers.
A four-leaf clover, extremely rare to find, is associated with St. Patrick’s Day. It turns out you’re more likely to get in a car accident that day than find one. Your odds are a lot higher for many other unlucky things as well.
How are shamrocks and four-leaf clovers related to St. Patrick's Day?
According to History.com, St. Patrick used a shamrock, or three-leaf clover, to explain the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to Irish natives. While the four-leaf clover wasn’t historically associated with the holiday, it came to be recognized as a “symbol of luck,” according to Inside Science. The website said the odds of finding one are 1 in 10,000.
How rare is a four-leaf clover?
According to The Weather Network, a four-leaf clover is rare, and difficult to find. A quick Google search said the odds are 1 in 10,000, but a 2017 study says chances are much better, with a 1 in 5,000 chance. Inside Science also reported 1 in 10,000 odds.
What is more likely to happen than finding a four-leaf clover?
While chances are better to find a four-leaf clover than being struck by lightning or winning the Powerball, it’s more likely to get in a car accident or get audited by the IRS.
Here’s a list of things more likely to happen than finding a four-leaf clover:
Getting a phone call from the IRS: According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, 1.9 per 1,000 taxpayers were audited in 2022.
Having twins: According to The Tech Interactive, identical twins are three to four of every 1,000 births.
Experiencing food poisoning: According to the CDC, one in six Americans get sick from foodborne diseases annually.
Dying in a car crash: According to the National Safety Council, the odds of dying in a car crash annually are one in 93. Additionally, studies show per 1,000 miles driven, 1 in 366 will get in a crash.
Being ambidextrous: According to Reader’s Digest, about 1%, or every 1 in 100 people, are ambidextrous.
Finding a double yolk egg: According to Pete & Gary’s, the odds of finding an egg with two yolks is every 1 in 1,000.
Experiencing a home fire: According to the American Red Cross, approximately 1 in 3,000 households experiences a fire.
Catching a foul ball: According to SBNation.com, the chances of catching a foul ball at a game are one in 580.
Being born on Leap Day: According to POPSUGAR, the odds of a baby being born on Leap Day are about 1 in 1,461.
Others are reading: What is corned beef and how do you cook it? The story behind this St. Patrick's Day recipe
How common is drunk driving on St. Patrick's Day?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one person is killed every 45 minutes in a drunk-driving crash in the U.S. on average. In 2022, 15% of Kentucky roadway deaths involved a drunk driver.
St. Patrick’s Day, one of the biggest holidays annually for drunk driving, can be quite dangerous. According to a news release from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in 2023, 30 crashes statewide involving a drunken driver took place on St. Patrick’s Day in 2020, 2021 and 2022, with 24 injuries and six fatalities.
When is St. Patrick's Day 2024? Here's why (and who) we celebrate.
Jim Gray, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet secretary, said, according to a release, “Drunken driving crashes are 100 percent preventable. With all the sober ride options available, there is never an excuse for driving after drinking. Don’t be the reason someone—including yourself—doesn’t get home safely.”
When is St. Patrick's Day?
St. Patrick’s Day will be celebrated on Sunday, March 17, 2024.
What is St. Patrick's Day?
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick died in the 5th century, but it wasn’t until the 9th or 10th century where it gained recognition in the Roman Catholic church as a feast day, according to History.com. Traditionally a religious and spiritual holiday, it became more of a celebration through modern times.
According to the National Portrait Gallery, in America, the holiday “is recognized by shamrocks, leprechauns, parades, and all things green.”
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: St. Patrick's Day 2024: How rare is a four-leaf clover?
