Make A Wish!

Goo Goo Dolls
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Make a wish! Here are a lot of different wishing customs, all for your pleasure! Skip down to what you want to read about, or just scroll down and read about all of it! Some of the customs below are quite old, and others quite modern. Some are local customs, and others have spread worldwide. Read on to learn about making your wishes!

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Acorn Amulets Apples Automobiles Barrels Beetles Birds Books Bridges Butterflies Wedding Cakes Candles Cattle Clocks Clouds Clover Coins Combs Corn on the Cob Crickets Dandelions Desire Dew Dinnerware Dogs Donky Earrings Eyelashes Feathers Fingernails Grass Halloween Horses Horseshoes Ides Itching Jockey Jugs Keys Knifes Ladders Ladybugs Leafs Lightning Lightbugs(Fireflies) Mail Trucks Moon Mustard Seeds Necklaces New Year's Niagara Falls Night, White Rabbit Nuts Opossums Pea Pods Pins Potato Chips Quilts Rabbit's Foot Rainbows Rings Salt Separate Paths Shoes Sneezes Shooting Stars State Lines Skipping Stones Toes Teeth Trains Two Dollar Bill Underwear Vegetables Wine Wishbones Words Worms "X" Yawn Zoos

Acorn: If an acorn falls while you're standing under an oak tree, pick it up, turn around three times, and make a wish. To make the acorn's magic stronger, place it on a windowsill for three days.
Amulets: If you wish to have safe travel, wear a silver amulet, and rub it three times as the journey begins, while wishing for safe passage.
Apples: If you can slice an apple into equal halves without cutting or nicking a seed, your wish for love will come true.
Automobiles: If you see an automobile with only one of its headlights lit, say "perdiddle" and make a wish as you touch your nose. If others are present, the first one to say "perdiddle" gets to make a wish while tweaking someone else's nose.
Barrels: If you find an empty barrel, hold both hands against it as you make a wish.
Beetles: If you see a beetle fall on its back, quickly make a wish.
Birds: If you see three birds perched together on one wire, make a wish. If you finish your wish before any of them flies away, your wish will come true.
Books: If you accidentally drop a book, step on it with one foot and make a wish. Be sure to pick it up with the hand that's opposite the foot you used; otherwise, your wish won't come true.
Bridges: If you ride over a bridge you've never crossed before, lift your feet off of the floor of the vehicle you're riding in and make a wish. (The driver, for obvious reasons, isn't suppose to do this.)
Butterflies: It's a lucky sign for a buttefly to land on you; whatever wish you make will come true, but make your wishe before the butterfly disappears from view.
Birthday Cake: If you blow out all the candles on your birthday cake with one breath, your wish will come true, just don't tell anyone what it is.
Wedding Cake: When cutting a wedding cake, the bride and groom should each put one hand on the knife and make silent wishes as they make the first cut.
Candles: If a candle goes out by itself before it's burned all the way down, quickly make a wish so the spirits can carry it to the wind. This is also suppose to ward off evil spirits.
Cattle: If you see cattle lie down on Christmas Day, make a wish.
Clocks: If you happen to catch sight of a clock whose two hands have come together, quickly make a wish. But don't watch for it; this will cancel the clock's magic.
Clouds: If you see a cloud in the sshape of a camel, make a wish.
Clover: If you find a four-leaf clover, say the following chant while touching each leaf in turn: "One leaf for fame, one leaf for wealth, one for a faithful lover, one for glorious health; All in this four-leaf clover." When you've finished the chant, twirl the clover between two fingers of your right hand and make a wish for one of the four things the clover holds for you.
Coins: If you find a coin (especially a penny), make a wish on it. If you spend it, your wish won't come true.
Combs: If you find a comb with the teeth pointing away from you, make a wish. If the teeth are pointing toward you, your wish won't come true.
Corn On The Cob: If you have an ear of corn with either seven or fourteen rows, make a wish as you take your first bite.
Crickets: A cricket in the house, particulary on the hearth, brings good luck; so make a wish on it. If the cricket chirps, there's a better chance that your wish will come true.
Dandelions: When dandelions have changed to white fluffs, pick one, make a wish, and then blow on the fluff. If you blow off all of the fluff in one breath, some will fly away to grant your wish.
Desire: If you see someone you desire, whisper that person's name twenty times. Then before going to sleep that night, wish twenty times to see that person again.
Dew: If you find dew on a morning glory, wet your lips with it and make a wish.
Dinnerware: A dinerr who is served food in a dish with a flaw or chip may make a wish when taking the first bite of food. (Switching dishes so that you'll have a flawwed one will make it "unwishable")
Dogs: When you see a dog chase its tail, quickly make a wish before it settles down. If the dog stops before you finish, your wish won't come true.
Donkeys: If you hear a donkey bray, make a wish. If it brays three times, it will help your wish come true.
Earrings: If you lose an earing, make a wish on the remaining one.
Eyelashes: If an eyelash accidentally falls out, make a wish on it. This won't work with eyelashes you've pulled out. Put the eyelash onn the back of your hand, close your eyes, and gently blow while you make a wish. If the eyelash has blown off your hand, your wish will come true.
Feathers: If you find a black feather, stick it in the ground so it stands up, and then make a wish. If you find a white feather, stick it into the crack of a tree trunk and walk around the tree as you make a wish. As long as the feather stays in the tree trunk there's a chance that your wish will come true.
Fingernails: If you discover specks on your fingernails, make a wish and say "Specks on the fingers, fortune lingers; Specks on the thumbs, Fortune comes." When you trim your fingernails, make a wish on the cuttings before throwing them away where no one else can get them.
Grass: A circle of grass that's greener than the rest is called a fairy ring. Stand in the center, turn three times, and make a wish. If the fairy ring stays, it can be wished on once every three days.
Halloween: On the day of Halloween, walk backward out of your front door and pick up some dust or grass. Wrap it in paper and put it under your pillow that night. If you make a wish before falling asleep, it will come true.
Horses: If you see a white horse, make a wish, then look around for a red-haired woman. If you see one, your wish will come true. If you see a white horse and don't cross yooour fingers (or stamp your foot once), and then make a wish, you'll have bad luck. If you see a bllack horse, shake your fist at it three times while making a wish. If the horse looks at you, there's a better chance of the wish coming true. If you see a gray horse, spit first (not on someone), then make a wish.
Horseshoes: When you hang a horseshoe on a wall, make a wish for good luck. Hanging it with the ends pointing up captures and holds good luck, hanging it with the ends pointing down allows the luck to flow freely.
Ides, wishing on a day of: The "ides" of the ancient Roman calendar fell on the 15th day of March, May, July, and October, and on the 13th day of the other months. Within one hour after midnight of an ides, and before speaking to anyone, cross your arms on your chest, touch each shoulder with the opposite hand and silently make a wish, repeating it in your mind three times. Then nod your head three times before taking your arms out of the crossed position.
Itching: If your ear itches, cover it and make a wish that only good will be spoken about you. If your eye itches, don't rub it. Cover it with one hand as you wish for something or someone you'd like to see. If your nose itches, make a small "x" on the tip and make a wish. If your lips itch, press them together and make a wish. If the palm of your hand itches, scratch it and say this chant as you wish for money: "Money itch, money itch, money itch, money come true." If your foot itches, stamp it three times and wish to go to a certain place.
Jockey: If you happen to see a jockey who's wearing his riding silks outside of the racetrack, make a wish.
Jugs: When blowing into a jug, if you can get a sound on the first try, make a wish.
Keys: If you find a key that someone else has lost, make a wish before picking it up. If you find its owner, there's a good chance that your wish will come true.
Knives: If you accidentally drop a knife or anyother flatware, make a wish before you pick it up.
Ladders: If you walk under a ladder, make a wish, then spit (not on someone).
Ladybugs: If you find a ladybug (also called a ladybird) gently place her on the back of your hand and say "Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home, your kitchen's on fire, and your children will burn." Then make a wish and gently blow once on the ladybug. If she flies away, your wish will come true.
Leaves: If you can catch a leaf that's falling from a tree, before it touches the ground, make a wish. Another custom holds that catching a falling leaf means you'll have twelve months of continued happiness.
Lightning: When lightning flashes across the sky, make a wish.
Lightningbugs: If you catch a lightning bug (also called a flirefly or glowworm), place it on the back of your ring finger, as though it were a ring, and wish for a jewel. If the bug glows, you'll get your wish; if it flies away before glowing, you won't.
Mail trucks: If you're with someone and you see a parked mail truck, the first person who reaches the side of the truck and touches the post office emblem gets a wish.
Moon: On the evening of your birthday look at the moon and make a wish. A crscent with its tips pointing up means that the moon may withhold your wish. If its tips point down, your wish will spill forth. A full moon on your birthday means you will have a full year of good luck.
Mustard Seeds: Take three mustard seeds, wet your finger, and pick up the seeds with it, keeping the seeds suspended upside down. If they stay on your finger while you make your wish, it will come true.
Necklaces: You can make a wwish on someone else's necklace if you slip the charm or pendant to the back of their neck before making your wish.
New Year's: On New Year's Eve, eat a grape and make a silent wish at midnight as the clock chimes twelve. On New Year's Day, make a wish for good luck while eating sauerkraut and pork.
Niagara Falls: Honeymooners toss coins into the bridal Veil Falls at Niagara Falls and make a wish for a long, happy marriage.
Night, White Rabbit: "White Rabbit Night" is the last night of a month. If you say "white rabbit" three times, sometime after midnight, and before you speak to anyone, you may make a wish for good luck for that month.
Nuts: If you find two nuts in one shell where there should only be one (such as an almond, brazil nut, or hazelnut), share the twin with someone, and you can both make a wish. The first one who remembers to say "lucky nut" the next morning will get the wish.
Opossums: If an opossum crosses your path, make a wish, saying it three times. If the opossum continues on its way, your wish won't come true. If the opossum changes directiion, it's gone to help make your wish come true.
Pea Pods: If you come across a pea pod that contains nine peas, make a wish and immediately eat the peas.
Pins: If you find a pin with the point turned toward you, make a wish before you pick it up.
Potato Chips: When you have a potato chip that has a bubble in it, put the whole chip in your mouth and chew exactly ten times. Make a wish as you swallow. If you swallow the whole chip at one time, your wish will come true.
Quilts: If you buy or receive a quilt, immediately make a silent wish on it while stroking it. Your wish should be for something that's good for all mankind. Every time you touch the quilt thereafter, your wish will be reinforced.
Rabbit's Foot: When wishing on a rabbit's foot, stroke it gently as you silently make your wish. Then whisper "Good luck, good luck, good luck."
Rainbows: When you see a rainbow, make a cross on the ground with a stick or stone, and then make a wish.
Rings: To wish on a gold ring, place it on your ring finger and stroke it gently while making your wish. A gold ring is said to possess the power to grant special privileges--but will lose its power if overused. Save it for special wishes.
Salt: If you accidentally spill salt at the table, make a wish and then throw a pinch of the salt over your left shoulder.
Separate Paths: If you're walking with a friend and you each take a separate path (around a tree or anything else), hook little fingers with your friend while each of you makes your own wish. Then, pull hard on each other's fingers; the one who makes the other let go will get the wish.
Shoes: If you mistakenly put a foot into the wrong shoe, make a wish as you put on the correct shoe. this wish also works with slippers.
Sneezes: Any time you sneeze, make a wish. If you sneeze again within three minutes, you'll cancel your wish.
Star, shooting: If you seee a shooting star or falling star, quickly make a wish. If you finish your wish before the star disappears, chances are better that your wish will come true.
State lines: If you cross a state or county line when traveling in a land vehicle, make a wish three times out loud.
Skipping Stones: As you skip a stone across a body of water, make a wish. Count the number of times it skips. Even numbers mean that your wish will come true; odd numbers mean that it won't.
Toes: If you stub the toes on your right foot, make a wish. Toes on your left foot don't count.
Teeth: If your tooth comes out, put it under your pillow and wish for money.
Trains: If your passing under a trestle just as a train goes overhead, make a wish.
Two Dollar Bills: If you get a two dollar bill, fold it in three and hold it clasped between the palms of your two hands. While twisting the palms three times,, make a wish. If you want your wish to come true, keep the bill folded in three for at least three weeks, before spending it.
Underwear: If you discover that a part of your underwear is showing, make a wish and adjust the garment. If you don't correct the pproblem, your wish won't come true (and it won't come true if you do it on purpose!).
Veggies: As you eat the first of any frest vegetable of the season, make a wish.
Wine: When a bottle of wine is finished, blow into the neck of the bottle and make a wish; the deeper the bellow, the stronger the chance of your wish being granted.
Wishbones: To wish on a wishbone from a chicken, a turkey, or any type of fowl, two people must grasp either end of the bone and make silent wishes as they pull and twist the bone until it breaks. The one who gets the larger piece will get the wish, the other person must reveal their wish.
Wishing Wells: Drop a coin into a well as you make your wish. Be sure to look for your reflection in teh water to ensure that your wish will come true.
Words spoken together: After saying the same word at the same time as someone else, you both should quickly lock little fingers of your right hands and make your wishes. (This forms a hooked cross, which will hold the wish.) Then each of you should speak the other's name.
Woolly Worm: If a woolly worm crosses your path, make a wish.
X: When reading, if you see a capital X or a five-letter word with an "X" in it, you should interlock your hands so that the knuckles meet and your fingers form five Xs. Bob your hands five times and make a wish.
Yawns: If you can keep from yawning when you see someone else yawn, make a silent wish. If you yawn within fifteen minutes, you'll cancel your wish.
Zoos: When going to the zoo, walk through the entrannce backward, while making a wish. When leaving the zoo, you must remember to walk out the exit backward--otherwise your wish won't come true.