There is a tradition of throwing coins into the Trevi fountain in Rome to bring you back to Rome someday.Trafalgar Square has a fountain with a bunch of coins in it.
This isn't a strictly American thing. In fact it probably came from the old Celtic ritual of throwing valuables into water as an offering for the gods/ancestors. So it didn't even start in America. Like most other things we imported it and then became annoyingly extra about it.
Get out of here with your historical and cultural context!
Never knew this was an American thing?
It isn't. We do it, but it didn't come from here.
From what I've experienced, we aren't particularly hardcore about it either. I think I've seen maybe 2 wishing wells in my entire life?
All romanic cultures do it
Is it not? I though you needed to throw coins into it.
Meanwhile old Chinese ladies are throwing coins into jet engines for good luck.
