Place an eyelash inside your clothing, make a wish, and it will come true.

Eyelash Wish: Hide It in Your Clothing for Luck

Details

This superstition centers around the idea that a fallen eyelash holds magical properties. When you find an eyelash (typically on your cheek or finger), the ritual requires carefully pinching it and placing it down inside your clothing — usually in your shirt or near your heart. During this moment, you silently make a wish. The eyelash, once tucked away close to your body, supposedly acts as a charm that channels your desire and brings it to the universe, increasing the chance of the wish being fulfilled. Similar to blowing on a dandelion or wishing on a falling star, this practice is believed to be effective only if performed with serious intent and faith. No one else should know your wish, and the eyelash should remain in your clothing until it naturally disappears or is forgotten.

Historical Context

This superstition is rooted in European and North American folklore, particularly from the Victorian and early 20th century periods, where personal charms and wish-granting rituals were common among children and young women. Eyelashes were often associated with fairies or guardian spirits; some traditions claimed that an eyelash on one’s cheek was a gift from a supernatural being. Over time, the belief evolved into various forms: wishing by blowing the lash away, hiding it, or placing it under a pillow. Placing it within one’s clothing is a more intimate version, likely symbolizing the desire for wishes to be kept ‘close to the heart.’ The act mirrors talismanic practices in which small objects are carried on the person to draw protection or fulfillment.

Modern Relevance

While less common today, the eyelash wish practice still persists in some Western cultures, mostly among children or in folkloric contexts. Modern interpretations often involve blowing a stray eyelash off the finger while making a wish, popularized through childhood storytelling or social media trends featuring ‘fairy wish’ aesthetics. The version requiring the eyelash to be placed in clothing is less well known today, possibly due to shifting cultural norms around hygiene and practicality. However, variations involving symbolic placement (such as tucking a charm in a bra or pocket) still bear resemblance to the original motif. In wellness and spiritual communities, personal rituals that involve clothing and intention-setting continue to resonate with those who believe in manifestation practices.

Sources

Opie, Iona & Peter. The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren. Oxford University Press, 1959.

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