Rub the statue!

There are statues, sculptures, and bas-reliefs all over the world that attract tens of thousands of tourists like a magnet.

I’m not referring now to works of art themselves, but to those around which legends have been woven – the ones that have created customs and rituals, some quite unusual…

Every time I visited St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, I touched the foot of Saint Peter’s statue, having heard that it’s good to do so for protection and good luck.

I also tested my dexterity by placing a coin on the tongue of Florence’s boar (Il Porcellino), so that the coin would fall through the grate below – a sign that I would have good luck. If the coin doesn’t go in and instead hits the grate, you can at least rub the pig’s snout to ensure your return to Florence.

But… now I’m taking you to a different area, something a bit more bizarre. So don’t miss the following local customs if you happen to find yourself in these places:

VERONA. JULIET.

TOUCH JULIET’S BREAST…

Shakespeare, Verona, the famous story of Romeo and Juliet…

At the so-called Juliet’s House, with its balcony and thousands of little hearts drawn on the walls, there’s a statue of her in the small inner courtyard. On my first visit to Verona, I was interested in the balcony – that seemed like the main attraction… So the statue was just one more photo and nothing more.

A few years later, on my second visit to Verona, I learned about a custom connected to that statue: people touch Juliet’s right breast for luck in love.

But you need some patience, because there’s a line to get to it – it’s not exactly within everyone’s easy reach 🙂

THE WALL STREET BULL

STROKE THE BULL’S BALLS IN NEW YORK…

I had seen it in many photos and read that it was created by a Sicilian and weighs 3,200 kg! The famous “Charging Bull” or “Wall Street Bull” in New York.

I didn’t know exactly where it was, but there was no way I could miss it, because there was a huge crowd in front of it. A massive line just to take a photo with it. I waited, what else could I do? Though it felt a bit like back home: some people cutting in line, others climbing onto its head…

But the show isn’t only in front of it, it’s behind it too! There’s no line at its tail, but the people here know the custom of touching the bull’s impressive testicles for good luck. Financial luck, I suppose, considering the bronze sculpture is located in the financial district, around Wall Street.

I would never have done that in a million years – squeezing under the bull’s tail and rubbing its balls, hahaha. But I was encouraged by the lack of embarrassment of those doing it, and by their conviction that it brings personal prosperity… And honestly, why shouldn’t I be lucky with money too? 🙂

STATUES IN PRAGUE

KISS THE GIANT BABIES’ BUTTS…

Prague is surprising with its dozens of unusual, bizarre, even shocking statues. I discovered them along the way, so I promised myself I’d return one day to explore the subject more deeply. And since we’re talking about getting a bit deep, in Kampa Park I came across three giant black babies with a sort of barcode engraved on their faces. I read that there’s a local custom of kissing their bottoms for good luck…

Well, of course I want luck, but how on earth was I supposed to kiss one of these kids on that huge bronze butt?!?!

I look around and nobody’s kissing them. Many people take photos with them, some climb on them. I wait a bit. More people come by. Nothing. Not a single kiss… So I just place my hand on one cheek, at least to get a handful of luck 🙂

THAILAND

PRAY TO PHALLUSES…

In Thailand there is the Phallus Temple, located in the Phra Nang cave. The temple contains an impressive collection of phalluses of all sizes and colors. In Buddhist belief, these wooden objects are thought to bring fertility, so many people come to pray to them. I haven’t made it there yet, but I have friends who already have. No prayers, though…

In other corners of the world, you rub the penis of certain statues, convinced that doing so will solve some of your problems…

PARIS. PÈRE LACHAISE.

In the famous Père Lachaise cemetery, there is the tomb of a well-known 19th-century journalist – Victor Noir, who died in a duel with a cousin of Emperor Napoleon III. The man’s funerary statue attracts thousands of visitors (not only women, mind you!) who come to touch the noticeable bulge in his trousers…

Both women and men rub the statue’s penis and kiss its lips, primarily for fertility, but also for improving relationships.

I went looking for the tomb in question. You can barely spot it among the imposing graves nearby. Yet, small as it is, its fame has spread far and wide…

I examined the funerary statue up close. You can clearly see that many people have passed through here…

I didn’t touch anything – heaven forbid – because, given how deserted it was, I might have looked on the surveillance cameras like a madwoman who came to vandalize graves.

……………………….

I’m absolutely convinced the world is full of such statues, surrounded by customs, rituals, and superstitions.

A list would be useful, so we’d know where to wander and exactly what to rub for health, love, money, a long life, success with women/men, fertility, luck, happiness, a good job, understanding bosses, a happy marriage, an easy birth, low loan interest rates, light traffic, big Black Friday discounts, smooth digestion… and so many more things besides.