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Fighting over the ring in the barmbrack is the greatest Irish Halloween tradition
ONE OF THE great Irish Halloween traditions is having a barmbrack, a loaf of bread with sultanas and raisins in it.
What every child desperately wanted though was to find the ring hidden inside – the greatest triumph there is.
The brack itself you could take or leave
If you’re not into raisins it’s your worst nightmare. Look at all of them!
But the ring was the prize everyone wanted to win
Even though you were eight years old and there was no chance of you agreeing to speak to someone of the opposite sex, never mind being wed within a year.
It wasn’t Halloween in an Irish household without a fight over it
Every slice was carefully considered before eating. No sneaking pieces. The ring must be won fairly.
Or someone almost choking/breaking a tooth on it
It’s not one of our safest traditions.
And if it had somehow been left out of the brack, there was great disappointment
Ah here! We’ve been cheated!
The winner wore it with pride, despite it turning their finger green
To you, it was solid gold and extremely valuable and no one could tell you otherwise.
Even the teasing about who you might marry didn’t tarnish the shine
“Now you have to marry Billy down the road! *kissy noises*”
“I’M NOT. I WON’T!”
And it’s still a triumph to find one now you’re all grown up
Even if you ate the whole brack by yourself. Especially then.
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barm brack brack gimme a ring Halloween Irish Children IRISH TRADITIONS Ring