Wishing Wells

The Wishing Project

Wishing Traditions Around the World

Wishing Wells

Many cultures throughout history have regarded water as a sacred gift from the gods, because of its vital necessity to human existence and surprising rarity in a potable form. The idea that a wish would be granted came from the theory that water housed deities or had been placed there as a gift from the gods, since water was a source of life and often a scarce commodity.

The idea of a wishing well, a body of water that will grant wishes, comes from this tradition. Wishing wells can be found all over the world, ranging from man-made fountains which are believed to be lucky to natural springs which are said to have unusual powers.

The idea of throwing a coin into a wishing well is also ancient. A wish would then be granted by the guardian or dweller, based upon how the coin would land at the bottom of the well. If the coin were to land “heads-up” the wish would be granted. If the coin landed “heads-down” the wish would not be granted

This may be a left over from ancient mythology such as Mímir's Well from Nordic myths, also known as the ¨Well of Wisdom¨ a well that could grant you infinite wisdom provided you sacrificed something you held dear. Odin was asked to sacrifice his right eye, which he threw into the well to receive not only the wisdom of seeing the future but the understanding of why things must be. Mirmir is the Nordic god of wisdom, and his well sits at the roots of Yggdrasil, the World Tree that draws its water from the well.

In November 2006 the "Fountain Money Mountain" reported that tourists throw just under 3 million pounds per year into wishing wells.

A celebrated wishing well, the Upwey Wishing Well, is situated just north of Weymouth, England.