Ireland has a rich history of wedding and gambling traditions tied to luck and prosperity. Ancient Celtic rituals, Catholic influences, the enduring supernatural beliefs in fairies and magic and the central role pubs have played socially converge in distinctive matrimonial customs that often involve placing a bet or two on the Ladbrokes sports platform for good fortune.
Hotbed for Weddings and Wagers
Ireland has held steady among the top wedding destinations in the world for years. Over 22,000 couples from abroad chose to tie the knot here in 2018 alone. The temperate climate, abundance of medieval castles nestled amongst rolling emerald hills and the legendary Irish hospitality have long-drawn lovers to these shores.
This island also has a deep affinity for gambling and games of chance. From horse racing and poker to sports betting and lotteries, over €7 billion was spent on betting activities in 2019. With such propensity for wagering, it seems only natural that some of these pastimes would bleed into wedding festivities as well.
Lucky Traditions with Ancient Roots
Many Irish wedding customs emerged from rural peasant traditions before filtering into modern ceremonies, while others can be traced back to ancient Celtic rituals.
The traditional Irish wedding cake, the barm brack, offers one example. This sweet bread contains various charms baked inside, each holding a unique meaning for whoever finds it in their slice. A coin signifies coming into wealth while a miniature bell implies impending marriage. The original variant of this cake dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.
Tying shoes to the back of the couple’s getaway car is another age-old ritual with pagan beginnings. The tapping of the shoes was said to ward off evil spirits but has since evolved into bringing good luck.
Ireland’s Long-Held Beliefs in Fate and Fortune
A seed of superstition runs through Irish culture, with a heavy belief in destiny and turning points. This is reflected in how couples embrace traditional acts for luck and guests often place bets involving the bride and groom.
Irish folklore holds that certain “lucky” omens can foretell the fate of relationships. Should the sun shine on the bride as she walks down the aisle, it’s said to be a divine sign of fortune for the marriage. Hearing a cuckoo call or spotting a lamb also indicates a lifetime of happiness.
Conversely folk tales warn that misfortune may follow if certain things go awry. Brides seeing a funeral procession on their wedding day risk tears before bedding. Grooms dropping the ring or stumbling over vows are also grim portents.
Couples Lean Into Customs for Marital Bliss
Rather than tempt fate, Irish brides and grooms actively participate in rituals meant to summon luck and ward off bad omens.
Symbolism repeats in how weddings fall on lucky dates like the third of the month and couples marry three years after their engagement. Lunar cycles also get consideration, with June seen as the most fortunate month.
Donning a sixpence shoe is another ritual with couples or bridesmaids slipping a coin bearing the groom’s birth year inside the bride’s heel. This Victorian tradition has her literally keeping fortune on her feet.
Marriages commonly occur on Fridays, which couples consider the luckiest day of the week for weddings. St. Patrick’s Day unsurprisingly remains the most popular date for pledging eternal love.
Drinks, Bets and Banter Surround Nuptials
Given Ireland’s festive pub culture, alcohol sponsorship of sports leagues and legalized gambling, it’s little wonder why imbibing and wagering mingle with weddings.
Drinks get bought for every guest at Irish receptions with an open bar, making for a raucous party. The couple’s first dance is always a lively one set to fiddle-driven folk music to get people mingling. Bagpipers launching into “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” signal the start of such merriment.
But even with spirits flowing freely, most couples stop short of serving the infamous Irish coffee at their wedding breakfast, keeping caffeine jitters at bay before the ceremony.
Betting pools run rampant as guests wager on everything from the groom forgetting the rings to whether an intoxicated relative causes a scene. Minibuses ferry partygoers between the church service and reception venues, turning the journey into a mobile betting shop.
