英国惊现“摇钱树”

They say money doesn't grow on trees. But it certainly appears to do so on the mysterious coin-studded trunks dotted around the UK's woodland.

The strange phenomenon of gnarled old trees with coins embedded all over their bark has been spotted on trails from the Peak District to the Scottish Highlands.

The coins are usually knocked into felled tree trunks using stones by passers-by, who hope it will bring them good fortune.

These fascinating spectacles often have coins from centuries ago buried deep in their bark and warped by the passage of time.

The tradition of making offerings to deities at wishing trees dates back hundreds of years, but this combination of the man-made and the natural is far more rare.

It used to be believed that divine spirits lived in trees, and they were often festooned with sweets and gifts - as is still done today at Christmas.

The act is reminiscent of tossing money into ponds for good luck, or the trend for couples to attach 'love padlocks' to bridges and fences to symbolise lasting romance.

Some pubs, such as the Punch Bowl in Askham, Cumbria, have old beams with splits in them into which coins are forced for luck.

There are seven felled tree trunks with coins pushed into them in the picturesque village of Portmeirion, in Wales.

Meurig Jones, an estate manager at the tourist destination, told the BBC: 'We had no idea why it was being done when we first noticed the tree trunk was being filled with coins.

'I did some detective work and discovered that trees were sometimes used as "wishing trees" . In Britain it dates back to the 1700s - there is one tree in Scotland somewhere which apparently has a florin stuck into it.'

He said that a sick person could press a coin into a tree and their illness would go away.

'If someone then takes the coin out though, it's said they then become ill. We haven't publicised it at all, it's just happened,' he added. 'It's quite amazing really.'

In Scotland, there is also a legend about a kissing tree. If a young man could drive a nail into a tree with one blow, he earned a kiss from his sweetheart.

众所周知，天上不会掉馅饼，树上也不会长钱，但在遍布英国的林地里，却长满了神秘的嵌满硬币的“摇钱树”。

从英国皮克区到苏格兰高地，粗糙的老树干的外皮上嵌满了硬币，这种情况十分奇特。

这些硬币通常是路人用石头敲进采伐木的树干的，希望以此带来好运。

“摇钱树”的树皮中深埋的硬币有些已有几百年历史，由于年代久远，已经有些扭曲。

通过许愿树给神明献上祭品的习俗可以追溯到几百年前，但自然和人工如此相结合的方式比较罕见。

旧时人们相信神灵住在树上，于是便将糖果和礼品系在树枝上，就像如今装饰圣诞树。

这使人想起其他的祈福方式，比如向池塘内投入钱币以求好运，或是恋人在桥上或者栅栏上绑“同心锁”，象征爱情长久。

英格兰坎布里亚郡阿斯克哈姆的大酒杯酒吧为了图吉利，也放有嵌着硬币的木段。

在威尔士风景如画的村镇波特梅里恩，就有七棵这样的摇钱树。

这处旅游胜地的房地产主管莫里格•琼斯告诉英国广播公司：“最开始发现这些摇钱树时，我们也不知道为什么。”

“我做过一些调查，发现有时人们把树当作‘许愿树’。在英国这个传统可以追溯到18世纪。苏格兰某地的一棵许愿树里还嵌有一枚弗罗林币。”

他还说，病人把硬币敲进树干就可以痊愈。

但他补充说：“如果有人把硬币取出来，就会生病。我们没有宣扬过这种说法，但的确发生过，太神奇了。”

在苏格兰，还流传着关于“接吻树”的传说。如果一位年轻男士能一下就把钉子敲进树里，就能得到心上人的一个吻。