The word lotre has different meanings in various religions. In some traditions it is associated with magic, while in other traditions lotre signifies wealth, good reputation, courage and wisdom. In French, lotre means ‘billon’ or ‘a horse’. In Spanish, lotre means ‘a horse drawn by a rope’. In Italian, lotre means ‘a rod made of iron or steel’ and in Arabic, lotre means ‘something that is lucky”.
Lest we get carried away by modern symbolism, lotre in its original sense is ‘a small cup which contains water or wine’. The lotre contains a symbol for its contents, which is usually some form of gem, usually a crystal or some kind of metal, and usually holds a number of candles. In old times the guests of honour would each give a coin to the host, who would use this coin to try and predict what the future held for them. If the contents of the cup held the right meaning for that person then they would see their fortunes improve. However, if the coin had the wrong meaning then it was a sign that something bad was going to happen and they were expected to be cursed.
The most common of all lotuses are the ones which are found in Buddhist monasteries. It is said that these lotuses are special blessings from Buddha, who makes anyone lucky. A lotre is usually placed under a pillow at night and it is believed that by reading the lotuses from this crystal into the pillow while falling asleep will help the reader to see their luck change. Another belief is that a reading of a lotre will make the reader see their future destiny coming into place.
A lotre can also mean ‘a small stream or pond in the forest’. This suggests that luck must be shared by the people that surround it and also by the water itself. A lotre might be made from a variety of materials, but one of the most popular is crystal.
The lotre has a long history in Celtic culture, as it is considered very auspicious. A lotre symbolizes Heaven and good health on earth. In Ireland, a lotre is often worn as an amulet of courage, health and prosperity. It is also believed to bring health and wealth to the home and family. As luck would have it, when someone buys a house on the spur of the moment with the intention of selling it after a few years it is usual for the new owners to place a lotre in the front yard to ensure good luck and God’s blessing.
Nowadays, people wear clothes for different reasons. Some wear them to enhance their personal luck while others wear them to ward off bad spirits and evil energy. Some people even believe that if you look really closely at a lotre, you will actually see a pattern emerging which tell you the future. However, there is no scientific evidence behind this phenomenon, but most people who have seen a lotre say that it is very true. Also, some people who have really lost money on the lottery table usually wear a lotre to find out whether or not they are going to get it next time.