Photo courtesy of Facebook

In the San Francisco area for the holidays? Well, make a wish.

Mashable’s Patrick Kulp reports on a San Francisco holiday tradition four years in the making. It all began when Noe Valley’s Vanessa Sabarese decided to festoon a tree outside with more than mere lights, decorating it with well wishes.

Kulp writes: “In the four years since she started the tradition, the tree has been home to hundreds of wishes, mostly from kids. They range from holiday wish-list staples like a dog, to the whimsical or absurd, like a lifetime supply of cupcakes or a pooping cow. Some are darker — a child wishes ‘mommy and daddy didn't fight.’”

Sabarese explained to Kulp, “I was afraid it was going to be really hokey, but every year I embrace it a little bit more and how powerful it can be.”

That idea seems to have spread north as evidenced by this KGW report from last November:

As the report states, Nicole Helprin took the idea and ran with it, garnering as much goodwill as can be seen in San Francisco.

Those in the Bay Area can get updates and see images of the original version at The Wishing Tree San Francisco’s Facebook page. The site notes this installation will last from Nov. 18, 2014 to Jan. 2, 2015—plenty of time to get some great wishing in.

The remarkable part is that the idea has been so well received. Kulp reports that the 2013 tree had over 500 wishes, and the hope is more come this holiday season.

It’s enough to make anyone look outside for a good strong tree that can handle the greatest desires of hundreds of people, for a few weeks anyway.

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