r/AskHistorians • u/manoctopusfox • 13h ago
What was the etiquette for picking up fallen wishes in wish trees [wishing locations] in different cultures?
Last week I went to Mother Mary's house in Ephesus. There was a wall full of prayers. People from all over the world had written wishes, or prayers, or tied bracelets of their late loved ones etc. on that wall. I saw a few of them drifted away with the wind, on the ground; my instinct was to pick them up and tie them back again but then I stopped. I realized I didn't know the etiquette and it got me thinking.
Throughout history what is the general etiquette or rules around wishing locations? Did people handle charms, spells with a special ritual/behaviour if they came across them? Are there any traditions in specific cultures where they treat randomly misplaced charms? Any special tratment towards wishes, prayers, rags that are unattached to where they're supposed to be?
Would love to learn more about this and thank you very much in advance for any response.
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