JapanIn Japan, there is a very big festival known as Tanabata. At its core, this festival and tradition is focused on the concept of love and lovers on the earth plane. Generally people celebrate Tanabata by writing wishes on small pieces of paper, and hanging them on bamboo trees, sometimes with accompanying decorations or offerings. The use of trees came in during the Edo period, during which the tradition of hanging them on bamboo trees appeared. The act of placing ones deepest wishes and hopes on a tree branch is more than just a beautiful activity, it is metaphorical. Bamboo is believed to have been adopted because of its tendency to grow straight and tall, with allowing the wishes to travel to heaven. Bamboo has also long signified a bountiful harvest in Japan and other parts of the world.

China

The Chinese New Year tradition of the wishing tree arguably began hundreds of years ago in Lam Tsuen, Hong Kong. During Chinese New Year, villagers would travel for miles to visit the sacred Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees, two ancient banyan trees situated near the Tin Hau Temple in Fong Ma Po village, one of the 23 traditional Chinese villages that make up Lam Tsuen.It is believed that the wishing custom originated from fishermen who would throw paper josses made from bamboo into every Tai Pak Kung (earth god) tree on their way into the New Territories of Hong Kong to bring them good luck and protection.Historically, people would burn joss sticks before writing their wishes down, tying it to a small orange or kumquat, and then throwing the wish up to hang in the branches of the trees. It was believed that if the wish successfully hung onto one of the branches, the person’s wish would come true. The higher the branch the wish landed on, the more likely it would be for the person’s hopes to be fulfilled.

United Kingdom (English)In the UK, instead of people leaving notes, they leave coins. Strange as it sounds, coins have been hammered into old trees all over UK woodlands. The trees used are generally old or already felled trees, and according to some this strange tradition dates back as far as the 1700s.

There are no special events or celebrations for individuals to visit these wish trees, they do so when they feel they need to. It’s believed that divine spirits dwell in these trees and that if a sick person pressed a coin into the tree, their illness would go away. It’s also been said that it brings fortune.

India

Kalpavriksha is a wish-fulfilling divine tree in Hindu mythology. It is mentioned in early Sanskrit literature (About 1st century BCE). It is mentioned in early Hindu literature as being a sacred tree that answers the prayers of those who visit. Many individuals make the journey to visit this sacred tree every year.

Another, less religious, example of a wishing tree in India is that of the wedding wishing tree. During celebrations such as a wedding, individuals will wrap a tree in red and gold ribbon and well wishes/ prayers. There is no specific tree that is used as the wishing tree, however, most of the trees chosen must be big enough for all the well wishes (Indian weddings tend to be a large celebration)!

Turkey

Wishing trees (Known as Dilek Agaci in Turkish) have a long history in Turkish folklore and in rural areas in

Turkey. People visit wishing trees to tie fabric tokens or paper tags with wishes on them. People leave them as

pilgrimage offerings in hopes that their dreams will come true. Sometimes people leave Nazar charms (seen on the

left).Wishing trees in Turkey have been established long ago,

and the tradition has carried on throughout the years. There are no records as to why these trees were chosen, but the tradition of leaving a wish for good fortune continues till

this day!