Those wanting to make one last wish for the new year have just a few days left to do so at Corona del Mar’s Sherman Library and Gardens, where hundreds of guests have already tied their hand-written desires to the venue’s large California Pepper tree.
The ritual has increased in popularity over the past near-decade since the tradition first started.
Using plain stationary and gold thread, guests of all ages have flooded the tree’s branches with their wishes for 2023.
“We’ve been doing it for years and people just love it,” venue manager Beverly Morgan told The Epoch Times.
According to staff, this year there has been a stark increase in wishes for improved mental health and world peace, particularly in Ukraine.
Additionally, among the hundreds hung on the tree are hopes to win the lottery, find a new job, and admission to medical school.
The tradition began during the garden’s yearly ‘Night of 1,000 Lights’ holiday display, which starts typically in mid-December, as a way for people to ring in the New Year, Morgan said.
The practice of tying a wish to a tree or other object dates back centuries and is found in many cultures, including those in East Asia, especially during Lunar New Year celebrations.
Locally, those who want to do the same must purchase tickets for the garden before Jan. 25, after which time the wishes will be taken down.
