Members of the public can now make their Chinese New Year (CNY) wishes during the “Albergue Wishing Well 2024” event, which recently opened at the patio of Albergue SCM on Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro.
On until March 26, members of the public can drop a coin and make wishes at the well, according to a recent statement from the organiser, CAC – Círculo dos Amigos da Cultura de Macau (“Circle of the Friends of Macau’s Culture”). The statement added that the event is being held in collaboration with the Macau Foundation (FM) and has become part of the CNY and Valentine’s Day celebrations.
The Albergue Wishing Well event has been held since 2015. Valentine’s Day is held annually on February 14 (next Wednesday, the fifth day of the Lunar Year of the Dragon).
The statement noted that members of the public can also write their wishes for the CNY on red heart-shaped wishing cards, which will be hung on the wishing well.
Moreover, a separate statement at the venue added that in support of World Cancer Day, which takes place annually on February 4, one can make a wish and toss a coin into a wooden bucket on top of the well. The coins will be transferred to a donation box and the funds raised will be donated to Caritas Macau and cancer patients in need, the statement said.
The patio of Albergue SCM is open until 10 p.m. daily. More information can be found by calling CAC on 2852 2550 / +853 2852 3205 or sending an email to amigoscultura@gmail.com. One can also visit their Facebook page.
Albergue is Portuguese for “hospice”. SCM stands for Santa Casa da Misericórdia (“Holy House of Mercy”), Macau’s oldest charitable organisation.
This photo taken yesterday shows the wishing well at the patio of Albergue SCM on Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
