• A Dried Pea – the individual finding this in their slice would not marry in the coming year. This was considered to be a bad or at least, disappointing thing.
• A Stick – if married, the individual’s marriage would be unhappy in the coming year. If not married, they would be continually involved in disputes and conflicts with others.
• The Cloth – the individual finding a piece of cloth in their slice would either suffer bad luck or poverty in the coming year. Or both.
• The Coin – the individual finding this in their slice would either enjoy good luck or be rich in the coming year. Or both.
• The Ring – the happy individual finding this in their slice would be married within the coming year. Traditionally, the person finding the ring was supposed to place it under their pillow that night, in order to dream about the person they would marry.
• The Religious Medallion – this was a later edition to barmbrack. The individual finding this in their slice would enter a religious profession within the coming year. The priesthood or becoming a monk, if male, and becoming a nun, if female.
I understand it’s possible to buy barmbrack at some bakeries in October, but if there are any of the traditional charms baked into it, it’s usually only the ring. If you’re lucky and have found the right bakery, there might be a coin as well. I found a lovely, Irish-born lady on YouTube who has an excellent instructional video on how to make barmbrack. Her YouTube channel is ‘Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking’ and the print recipe for barmbrack can be found at her website, GemmasBiggerBolderBaking.com. I copied and saved it, and for your convenience, I’ve attached it below: