We all secretly believe that throwing a coin into the fountain will bring us luck and grant us a wish. And you know what happens to all those coins that land in the fountains?
Why do we throw coins into fountains?
Tradition throwing coins into the fountain it is as old as old coins and fountains. Do you know where this ritual originated? Drinking water has always been considered a true blessing, and as a sign of respect for drinking water in ancient times, fountains were built and offered to the gods in thanks for this gift. Later, coins were thrown into the fountain while saying prayers, some precursors to today's wishes. V fountains in Northumberland in England, where visitors worshiped the Celtic goddess, researchers found as many as 16,000 coins from different periods of the Roman Empire.
What happens to the coins that land in the fountains?
Today, one of the most popular fountains in the world, to which coins make a pilgrimage, is a fountain Trevi in Rome, into which soldiers once threw coins. They believed that this would ensure good health, and later that this gesture would bring them back to Rome. Today's tradition of throwing coins into this beautiful fountain was created because of the movie Three Coins in the Fountain from 1954, in which tossing two coins into the fountain meant that you would fall in love with a Roman man or woman, and tossing three meant that you would also marry a Roman man or woman.
Since then, tourists have flocked there, pinning their hopes on throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain. It is estimated that tourists throw up to 3,000 euros per day. This is how it accumulates in the water every year just under a million euros and Caritas spends an hour every day to get all the coins out. And what do they do with that money?
They distribute them among those in need of help. In 2008, they even used this money to open a store with cheaper food. But what about other popular fountains around the world? In the fountain in the mall Mall of America in Minnesota 1,900 euros is collected every month. The money goes to charities and non-profit organizations. All fountains of the coffee chain 24 Rainforest Cafes they collect around 11,300 euros annually, and donate the money to environmental organizations. Fountains in amusement parks Disney World they collect around 17,000 euros annually, all the money is allocated to children in foster care. As an interesting point, let's say that it is a memorial point 9/11 Memorial in New York, which standing on the spot where the twins once stood, collected 2,800 euros in one year, even though it was forbidden to throw coins into it. What they did with the coins is unknown.
