We have all sat around a meal and broken a wishbone with someone around the table. Wishbones have been collected by people for hundreds of years as a source of good luck and good fortune. But what actually is a wishbone? And how did it come to symbolize what it does?
What is a wishbone?
To put it simply, the wishbone is a bone from the neck of a bird. Known as the furcular, the wishbone is a V-shaped bone that’s strengthens the neck and aids the bird during flying.
In modern times the wishbone of a turkey or a chicken has become the most common type of wishbone. Because chickens or turkeys were traditionally eaten on holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, the act of breaking a wishbone become a popular custom at this time of the year, and the wishbone is still seen on Christmas cards and New Year’s Greetings to this day.
What does the wishbone symbolize?
There are many different theories as to the origins of the wishbone in symbolism. Some theories date its use back to the Roman times, but the more accepted theory dates from the Middle Ages, when people would take the wishbone of a goose, dry it out and use it to predict the weather.
Over time, the dried wishbone was given to two people and each one pulled one side of the bone with the little finger until it broke in half. The person who pulled the larger part was said to have “the lucky break” and allowed to make a secret wish. The person who broke the smaller part of the wishbone was said to have had a “bad break.”
If both pieces were broken evenly, both people were said to get a wish. The act of breaking a wishbone symbolized luck was said to bring the “winner” good fortune. This custom, of two people pulling on the bone, developed in the early 17th century. At the time, the name of the wishbone was a “merrythought.” The name wishbone only came into use at the latter end of the 19 th century.
Use of the wishbone in jewelry
The unbroken wishbone has become a symbol of good luck, fortune and potential. Because of its meanings, the wishbone has become a popular symbol in gifts and especially jewelry.
Necklaces, bracelets, charms, rings and earrings have all made of use of a downward facing wishbone. Wishbone jewelry brings the wearer good luck and the simplicity of the wishbone makes
it look beautiful either by itself, or it can be made into extravagant designs whilst keeping its meaning.
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