The Folklore of Wishing Wells

Although there have been several noteworthy attempts to apply psychoanalytic theory to myth, there are other areas of folklore which have thus far not been much studied psychoanalytically. One of these areas is that of superstition. This is somewhat surprising in view of the fact that Freud himself suggested the possible origins of such superstitions as bad luck ensuing from the groom's forgetting the ring (i.e. the groom does not really want to marry) or bad luck augured by one's stumbling across a threshold. (1) However, aside from studies such as Ernest Jones' “The Symbolic Significance of Salt in Folklore and Superstition,” there are comparatively few extended analyses of superstitious beliefs and customs.

One superstition which appears to lend itself to psychoanalytical treatment is the one involving wishing wells. According to the modern version of this belief, a person is assured of good luck if he drops a small coin, usually a penny, into a well. (2) An English film entitled: “Wishing Well Inn” was based upon this popular practice and the film and song “Three Coins in a Fountain” are familiar to most Americans. Actually the custom is of considerable antiquity, dating back at least to Roman times. (3) In many instances, objects other than coins were deposited. These objects included stones, pebbles, shells, broken plaster, glass beads, buttons, needles, pins, and nails. (4) Nevertheless, in spite of the variety of objects, the idea of making an offering to obtain good luck was apparently the same. Often the good luck desired was in the nature of a cure of a disease. The wishing well custom is widespread in continental Europe (5) and in the British Isles. (6) Curiously enough, it is even reported among North American Indians and for example, the basin of an Arapaho spring is supposed to have contained