The tradition of making a wish has a long history – and psychologists say this seemingly fantastical idea can be a powerful tool for turning hopes into reality

‘…We all have the power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing’

LOUISA MAY ALCOTT

Disney’s wooden puppet Pinocchio famously had just one wish – to become ‘a real boy’. It’s easy to dismiss the idea of making a wish as childhood fantasy, or perhaps just (literally) wishful thinking, but it plays a bigger part in everyday life than might initially be apparent. From blowing out the candles on a birthday cake to dropping a penny in a fountain, or even just using the phrase ‘I wish’ in conversation, wish-making is a common form of intention-setting in various cultures and traditions. And many people believe that there’s power in directing thoughts and energy towards life aspirations. As Pinocchio himself said: ‘The most fantastic magical things can happen – it all starts with a wish.’

Wishing wells, shooting stars and wishbones are a few of the things people commonly use to make wishes, and many of these traditions date back centuries. Customs like closing your eyes and making a wish as you blow out the candles on your birthday cake or stirring a penny into a Christmas pudding mix have been passed down through generations, (often these wishes are kept secret – it’s considered bad luck to tell others what you’ve wished for). There is even a World Wish Day, observed on 29 April each year, in memory of a young leukaemia patient called Chris Greicius, from Phoenix, Arizona, in the US. Seven-year-old Chris dreamed of becoming a police officer, so members of his local community and police station rallied round to make him a uniform and help him pass the tests to get his badge. On 29 April 1980 they gave him the experience of being a cop for a day, including rides in a squad car, helicopter and on a motorbike. Just days later he died. Those involved in making Chris’s dream come true were so inspired by the experience that they created the Make-a-Wish Foundation, a charity that now works across almost 50 countries to grant the wishes of terminally ill children.