What is the origin of wishing wells?
Why do so many people feel the need to drop a coin in a pool of water in Museums, Gardens, Memorials and the like?
After my visit to the Met with the NYC Dopefest crowd and seeing how many coins were in every single pool of water within the museum, It just came to me that this must be a worldwide custom considering the different coins that were in there. Is this strictly something to do with giving up money for a wish? Is that the extent of the superstition?
It first began because people believed that wells were not only livegivers because of the water that they provided, but it was also believed that wells were gateways to the underworld. If a person tossed in an object of value, it would appease the god that was present at the bottom of the well and perhaps that god would grant the gift giver good fortune. Objects of value eventually became coins and hence the transition. Wishing wells have been found all over the world and what is believed to be a wishing well near Stonehenge has been dated to prehistoric times.
In many ancient groups, many things were sacrificed to water spirits (& others, not just water spirits), usually in springs for the clear water or for food etc
eg the first fish of the catch - to a treasured item, which later could have continued as a superstition of a small coin being given, to our modern charity/tourist wishing wells/pools.
In England, the tradition of well dressing (images, usually of water or since the adent of Christianity, of bible stories containing water themes, are made of flowers and mounted on the wells or springs) is still continued in some villages in gratitude that their village was spared from the plague, which it was assumed at the time was due to the clean water source.
I wish… I wish… I wish that the word would get around that throwing coins into ponds, pools, etc. that have living creatures in them is not at all good for the animals.
Ooooh, but they’re MAGIC animals. I see you need to bone up on your fairy tales. It turns out that every frog you see in these things is, yes, a magic frog. And there are magic fish, besides, who speak English and will grant you wishes.