page_title: Statue rubbing
section_title: Similar rituals
hierarchical_section_title: Statue rubbing / Similar rituals
caption_attribution_description: English: A person kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle, Ireland.
context_page_description: 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 noses or feet. Some of those superstitions also involve touching breasts or genitalia of the person depicted on the statue – this is usually supposed to bring luck in love or improve fertility.
  Rubbing statues can have negative effects on them as it causes erosion. Because of that some places discourage or ban tourists from doing it. It is also possible to acquire a bacterial infection from touching statues.
context_section_description: Kissing the Blarney Stone in Blarney, Ireland to endow the kisser with the gift of the gab. Because of the location of the stone it can only be done while leaning backwards, usually with a help of an assistant.
  Putting the hand inside Bocca della Verità mask in Rome which is said to work as a lie detector. Tourists make a statement while holding their hand inside the mask. If they told the truth, the hand comes unscathed, but if they lied, the mouth supposedly bites the hand off.
  Standing on top of one of the mascarons near the entrance to the Franciscan Church in Dubrovnik, taking off the shirt and putting it back on while maintaining balance to bring luck in love.
caption: The Blarney Stone kissing ritual
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