I Wish I Wish Upon a Tree

     If you've ever attended a wedding, I'm sure you've never ceased to attend it with a congratulatory card in your hand. It's common knowledge that cards bearing phrases such as 'congratulations' or 'wish you the best' are good ideas to bring to the weddings of your soon-to-be-married friends. Wishes of good fortune, health, and happiness are often communicated through these little paper cards. When you think about it though, the tradition may be a little bit worn out. The people of Holland seem to agree.

     Dutch couples in Holland often choose to add ornate bunches of branches called Wish Tree's to their weddings. These Wish Tree's serve as a more original way to get across wishes of, as I said before, good fortune, health, and happiness. Guests attending the wedding take turns writing down their wishes for their newly wed friends on little slips of paper which are later read and hung up on the Wish Tree by the bride and groom. In the end, whether you're buying a card at a shop or writing on a little slip of Wish Tree paper, all that matters is that your good-willed wishes come true.

By Julia Dankov