The Wishing Trees of Cornwall
Decorated trees are a familiar site in Cornwall, particularly near to wishing wells.
The branches surrounding this natural well at Madron have for many years been covered in colourful ribbons and offerings to the spirits.
This is from a Celtic tradition and they are often known as Clootie Trees, where colourful rags and other offerings to the spirits are hung from trees.
Often rags were dipped in the water of the well, and then rubbed on any part of the body with an ailment, before being tied around a branch. The thinking what that as the rag slowly disintegrated over time, so too would the illness.
With the tradition at Madron being more focused on making a wish than curing an ailment, these rags tend to be more colourful and varied, but what a lovely sight and perhaps worth a dedicated tree in every village.
