There are few things more welcome in life than a bargain or a freebie. By trawling back through Irish history, we can see how this has evolved over the years and is now seen even in our digital lives.
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Traditional Irish Hospitality
The Brehon Laws were the ancient laws of Ireland, written in early Gaelic around the seventh century. The sense of belonging to a clan was probably the most important element of these laws, and this included a strong sense of solidarity among clan members that explains the bonds that still exist today, as seen in the likes of the Sullivan and O’Sullivan clans.
In fact, the Brehon Laws went a step further and made it illegal for the Irish not to provide hospitality to travellers and anyone else in need of food, drink or lodging. This had to be provided with no questions asked, shaping an open and welcoming culture that encourages people to share and receive with open hearts.
The Thirteenth Loaf vs Tuilleadh
You may have heard of the thirteenth loaf, which was the idea of adding free bread to a customer’s order to make sure that there was no risk of accidentally selling them underweight bread. This concept originated in England and led to the phrase ‘baker’s dozen’. In Ireland, we have the tuilleadh that carries out a similar role.
'Tuilleadh' means 'more' or 'addition', and it’s the little bit of something extra that business owners give to a customer to make them feel welcome and encourage them to come back. Unlike the 13th loaf, this wasn’t a legal requirement. It was all about hospitality and building a connection with repeat customers.
The Power of the Eighth of December
You might think that Black Friday is the original sale date, but it was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Ireland that introduced shopping bargains to generations of Irish people. Those who live in rural areas would head to Dublin on the eighth of December.
The city’s shops would offer massive incentives to the bargain hunters who have travelled to Dublin for the day. It helped cement the idea that making a long journey or some other sort of effort deserves a reward to make it feel worthwhile.
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Digital Incentives Keep the Tradition Going
The Irish sense of giving and receiving a bargain has evolved seamlessly into the digital age. Your browser is where you can pick up that little bit of tuilleadh that makes you feel like a valued customer. From loyalty discounts to cashbacks, it’s now easy to shop around and find bargains that put a spring in your step.
For example, this list of casino bonuses rounded up for you shows you exactly how you can use offers to play games. These deals typically provide free spins or deposit match bonuses, allowing new players to sample the site without making a big deposit. Ongoing offers then work a bit like the tuilleadh concept, giving returning players bonuses such as free spins when they come back to play again.
By tracing back the Irish love of a bargain to its historic roots, we can clearly see why it retains such a special appeal to use in the modern age.
