ending sentences with ように


I know that ように can be used like 'as' or 'like' and can also be used like
'ために'. But I was watching this TV show where they show
[絵馬](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B5%B5%E9%A6%AC) and I noticed that
almost all the wishes end with ように, which I couldn't understand at first. A
web search turned up
[this](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100306160434AA10AGI)
which says:

> if it's at the end of a sentence (or just after a verb, but that's usually
> at the end), it can mean you want something to happen, or like... "may x
> happen" or "let x happen"

My question is, could you use this in every day conversation? Like for
example, if I hope our team wins, could I say: `勝ちますように`? My extremely limited
experience says it sounds weird, but is it? I remember hearing ように used like
this before (いい物見つかりますように) but that was in a game (and spoken by a little
child) so I'm not sure if that counts.




It is extremely common to end wish-making phrases with ように. In fact, I (a
native speaker) do not know of another way of making a wish.

Everyone regardless of age or gender uses this ending. We often add どうか for
emphasis at the beginning of the phrase as well.

「（どうか）ドラゴンズが勝ちますように！」

「（どうか）花子さんと結婚できますように！」




It is extremely common to end wish-making phrases with ように. In fact, I (a
native speaker) do not know of another way of making a wish.

Everyone regardless of age or gender uses this ending. We often add どうか for
emphasis at the beginning of the phrase as well.

「（どうか）ドラゴンズが勝ちますように！」

「（どうか）花子さんと結婚できますように！」

