Why do people wish on shooting stars?
Wishing on a shooting star is an old tradition from many parts of the world. It is fun to do, but the meteor itself cannot make wishes come true.
Have you ever made a wish when you saw a shooting star? You are joining a tradition that is many hundreds of years old.
Long ago, before people knew what shooting stars were, they found them mysterious. They appear without warning and vanish in a moment, so it is easy to see why people thought they might be special messages or signs. In different places and times, people had different ideas. Some believed a shooting star meant the sky had opened for a moment, letting a wish slip through. Others thought it was a sign of good luck, or of a baby being born. The idea of making a wish has become popular all over the world.
Today we know a shooting star is a tiny bit of space dust burning up in our air, about 100 kilometres above us. It cannot hear wishes or grant them. But wishing can still be a lovely thing to do, because it helps you think about what you hope for.
Here is a fun challenge: because meteors last less than a second, you have to think of your wish very quickly! Lots of meteors appear during a meteor shower, so that is the best time to try.