Ah, but there is a lot of superstition associated with stone skimming
or skipping too, Bob. Rather along the lines of the magpies - one for
sorrow, two for joy, etc. etc. Also how many days before it will rain:
one skip = one day. One person I heard saying it was the number of
years before you marry, was corrected by another, who said it was the
number of children one would have. I am sure there are others around,
depending on where one lives. Of course, this may just be
appropriation of other superstitions. Does anyone know or read about
it?
> In contrast, I am not aware of anyone 'making a wish' while
> skipping stones over water - for me that's purely for the fun of
trying to
> 'do a good one'.
But you are correct. "Wishing" is not usually connected with stone
skimming as far as I know.
As for casting stones... I visited St. Cybi's Well in Llangybi today
and was saddened to see that part of the retaining wall around the
spring (source) behind the stone building containing the "well" has
either collapsed or been pushed into the basin. The well itself needs
cleaning out too. Not only dislodged stones on the floor, but quite a
lot of weed.
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