Statue rubbing is the act of touching a part of a public statue. Popular among tourists, it is a form of superstition that is believed to bring good luck, ensure a return to the city, improve love life or make a wish come true.
The parts that are supposed to be rubbed are usually the most protruding or characteristic ones, for example nosesorfeet.[1]InSpringfield, Illinois, at Lincoln's Tomb, rubbing the nose of Honest Abe's large bust is good luck.[2] Some of those superstitions also involve touching breastsorgenitalia of the person depicted on the statue – this is usually supposed to bring luck in love or improve fertility. One example is the statue of JulietinVerona.[2]
Rubbing statues can have negative effects on them as it causes erosion. Because of that some well-known statues had to be replaced with a replica[2] and some places discourage or ban tourists from doing it.[3][4] It is also possible to acquire a bacterial infection from touching statues.[5]
Similarly rubbing the belly of any statue depicting Budai is said to bring good luck.[14] This custom might have originated from the Laughing Buddha statue in the Lingyin Temple.[15]
