Today is St. Patrick’s Day here in the United States. I’ve always been conflicted about the holiday. I think my hesitation to fully embrace a celebratory attitude stems from one of a couple of reasons. Either: a) my aversion to a holiday that legitimizes drunkenness or b) that the holiday mascot is a leprechaun— a cute, jolly little short dude who is an appropriating stereotype and caricature for a Little Person (who are actually real people, by the way).

Aside from green beer and leprechauns, though, St. Patrick’s Day is most associated with luck and four-leaf clovers. The myth of Celtic tradition says that four-leaf clovers are to be used to repel back luck. The leaves of the clover themself stand for faith, hope, luck and love.