Maybe it’s not enough for people to behold the magnificence of a bronze statue. They seem to want to touch it, too.
We came upon this beauty on the campus of Johns Hopkins University
and obviously she’s been groped over the years, presumably in the name of good
luck.
I wondered where the tradition of rubbing statues began. All over the world big toes, boots,
noses, rear ends, bellies, and various other body parts have all been rubbed
since ancient times. All in the name
of faith, luck, getting an A, warding off parking tickets, and the promise of
wealth and prosperity.
This 5 star bronze cross on the Charles Bridge in Prague is
rubbed to honor a loyal priest who put God over the king by refusing to divulge
the confessions of Queen Sophia. Legend has
it that five stars appeared when he was thrown off the bridge and hit the
water. When you put your hand on
the stars, you send someone a wish.
It’s almost a magnetic pull to rub a statue. I never did find a solid reason why the
tradition started. Maybe we just want to put our own “touch” on a brilliant
work of art or we’re hoping that something good will rub off on us.
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