By Jonathan Dioniso | November 2008
While most would choose their honeymoon getaway by the beauty of the place and the adventure it offers, you and your partner may also want to consider the presence of good luck.
In a recent article, VirtualTourist.com gave Reuters a list of the top 10 good luck monuments of the world. These monuments have different legends attached to them and are said to give any visitor who touch, rub or kiss them a dose of good luck. Here are some of those monuments which you and your partner may want to include in your honeymoon itinerary.
1. Bull Mosaic / Torino Mosaic
Location: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Milan, Italy
If you are considering Milan, the Fashion Capital of the world, for your honeymoon, why not throw in some luck to your shopping spree by visiting the Torino Mosaic in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
Inside the Galleria, you will see four floor mosaics representing the cities of Turin/Torino (the bull), Rome (the she-wolf and Romulus and Remus), Florence (the lily or the Fleur de lis), and Milan (a red cross on a white background), which signifies the unification of Italy in 1861.
Legend has it that by pressing your heels on the depressed area of the Torino Mosaic and turning a full 360° counterclockwise without tripping, your wish will be granted.
Certain accounts specifically mention the use of the right heel. On the other hand, some locals say that a wisher should turn three times; others say once is enough. Another account states that it also gives the person good luck.
A theory suggests that the reason behind this myth is because during the ancient times, bulls are associated with fertility and power. No documented proof of the lucky spin was found. It doesn’t hurt, though, to try the lucky spin as, who knows, you might just win back what you spent shopping.
2. Crazy Girls / Showgirls Bronze
Location: Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, dubbed as the Entertainment Capital of the World, is filled with hotels, casinos, and night clubs, and is one of the most famous cities to visit in the United States.
Here, couples can get married immediately due to several walk-in wedding chapels in the area. For honeymooners like you, Las Vegas is a great place to let loose and try your luck in casino games. But before throwing the dice or stacking the chips, it’s good to attract Lady Luck by going to the Rivera Hotel and rub the Crazy Girls monument.
It is said that if you want to have Lady Luck on your side, you should rub the buttocks of this sculpture. In one account, a guy named Rob Morgan won US$5 in the slot machine after doing so. But surely, these Girls have given more dose of luck to others; only that, they never told anyone about their secret. As they say, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”.
3. Il Porcellino
Location: Sydney Hospital, Sydney, Australia
If you and your partner are headed down south to see the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you may want to pass by Sydney Hospital, and see a bronze pig called Il Procelino.
Although the Il Porcelino has multiple copies, it is said that its effect is the same. For good luck, you have to rub the snout of the bronze sculpture. For a wish to be granted, place a coin in its mouth and make your wish. If the coin falls down and enters the gate, your wish will be granted. Wherever you are, always keep a coin and once you find the Il Porcellino, make a wish and hope this pig becomes your genie.
4. Lincoln’s Tomb
Location: Springfield, Illinois, United States of America
When USA is mentioned, four things come to mind: NBA, Hollywood, Statue of Liberty, and Disneyland. But before you and your partner try to catch the next game of NBA, or take the roller coaster ride in Disneyland, you may want to stop by the State of Illinois and eat a “Cozy Dog”, the first hotdog on a stick, drive through the historic Route 66, and rub the “lucky nose” of the greatest president in U.S. History, Abraham Lincoln.
In front of his tomb in his hometown, Springfield, Illinois, is a bronze copy of the late president’s head.
Rubbing the nose of the bronze replica of the former president is said to bring good luck. In fact, most of his statues have shiny noses since visitors constantly rub the nose. Some leave a penny on the statue to become luckier.
5. Mermaid Chandelier
Location: Cochem Castle, Cochem, Germany
Germany is any man’s happy place. Being the home of Oktoberfest, the largest festival in the world, only the finest beer is served in this event along with great tasting traditional Hendl (chicken), Schweinsbraten (roast pork), Haxn (knuckle of pork), and Würstel (sausages). If you and your partner are great fans of beer, sausages, and lovers of art and would like to celebrate your honeymoon here, then start planning your tour before October because hotel accommodations are scarce as early as August.
It might pique your interest more to know that aside from good food, good fun, you can also get good luck in this country by visiting the Cochem Castle in the town of Cochem.
Inside the Cochem Castle is a chandelier of a mermaid with antlers, holding an unlit torch.
Tour guides of the castle tell tourists that touching the tummy of the figurine invites good luck. As such, the red paint on its stomach has faded away due to constant rubbing.
6. Victor Noir Grave
Location: Pere Lachaise, Paris, France
Considered as the Romance Capital, everything in Paris spells romantic – from viewing the city atop the infamous Eiffel Tower, to strolling in Luxembourg Gardens, to riding a boat on the Seine River.
Add some luck to your romance by visiting the tomb of Victor Noir in Père Lachaise Cemetery.
The effigy in Noir’s grave, made by Aimé-Jules Dalou, shows how Noir fell to the ground when he was shot and displays an obvious bulge at the writer’s trousers. Legend states that if a woman kisses the statue on the lips, places flowers on his hat, and rubs the bulge, the act will either increase her chance of fertility or will help her find a husband before the end of the year.
So far, one testimonial confirming the truth behind this legend is known. A woman named Vicky, from Windsor, Canada affirmed that a few hours after she rubbed the statue, her boyfriend proposed to her.
Whether aiming for good luck or a happy relationship, the success of your marriage still depends on your love, passion, and commitment to one another. But there is no harm in wishing. Who knows, Lady Luck might make it come true.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kasal.com thanks the following sources for this article:
Main Article Reuters (Article edited by Miral Fahmy) Travel Picks: World’s top 10 good luck monuments. Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE49G2UB20081017?sp=true
Bull Mosaic / Torino Mosaic Virtual Tourist.com Torino’s Bull at the Gallery (to be squeezed), Milan Retrieved October 25, 2008 from http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Milan-148247/Local_Customs-Milan-Torinos_Bull_at_the_Gallery_to_be_squeezed-BR-1.html
VirtualTourist.com. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Milan Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Milan-148247/Things_To_Do-Milan-Galleria_Vittorio_Emanuele-BR-2.html
Plowman, Thumper. The Earl of Hell’s Waistcoat. The Turin Bull’s Lucky Nads Retrieved October 25, 2008 from http://theearlofhellswaistcoat.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/the-turin-bulls-lucky-nads/
R&R. Wassenaar (Netherlands) Daily Photo Bull — but no bull — in Milan…Where? Wednesday Retrieved October 25, 2008 from http://wassenaardailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/03/bull-but-no-bull-in-milanwherewednesday.html
Discovery Health Sexual Health – Aphrodisiac Retrieved October 25, 2008 from
Rapalo, Ray. Italy Travel and Vacation Network. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele Retrieved October 25, 2008 from http://www.italytravelandvacation.com/italyguide/galleria-vittorio-emanuele/
Art Facts. Toro! The Bull in Human History, Art, and Sports Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.artfacts.net/index.php/pageType/exhibitionInfo/exhibition/88097/lang/1
Crazy Girls / Showgirls Bronze Virtual Tourist.com Crazy Girls Las Vegas Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Nevada/Las_Vegas-836630/Things_To_Do-Las_Vegas-Crazy_Girls-BR-1.html
Quezada, Zeke. About.com. Getting Married in Las Vegas, the Ultimate Las Vegas Wedding Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://govegas.about.com/od/lasvegaswedding/Getting_Married_in_Las_Vegas_the_Ultimate_Las_Vegas_Wedding.htm
Yelp.com Crazy Girls Bronze Sculpture Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.yelp.com/biz/crazy-girls-bronze-sculpture-las-vegas
Leach, Robin. Las Vegas Weekly Blogs. Crazy Girls, Aleman celebrate anniversary undercover Retrieved October 25, 2008 from http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/luxe-life/2008/aug/12/emcrazy-girlsem-celebrates-anniversary-emundercove/
Riviera Hotel.com Crazy Girls Page. Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.rivierahotel.com/entertainment_crazygirls.asp
Riviera Hotel.com. Riviera Hotel Timeline (created April 3, 2008) Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromwww.rivierahotel.com/pressreleases/marketing/02.pdf
Il Porcellino Virtual Tourist. Il Porcellino, Florence – Things to Do Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence-151105/Things_To_Do-Florence-Il_Porcellino-BR-1.html
Globe Vista. Public Art Around the World. Il Porcellino (Little Pig) Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.publicartaroundtheworld.com/Il_Porcellino.html
MiZelle, Brett. The Wonderful Pig of Knowledge! Il Porcellino in Sydney & Elsewhere Retrieved October 25, 2008 from http://pigofknowledge.blogspot.com/2007/08/il-porcellino-in-sydney-elsewhere.html
Lincoln’s Tomb The White House. Past Presidents – Abraham Lincoln Retrieved October 25, 2008 from http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/al16.html
Discover Springfield. Lincoln’s Tomb Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.discoverspringfield.com/LINCTOMB/lincolnstombmain.htm
Visit Central Illinois Abraham Lincoln: Kansas – Lincoln Monument Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.visitcentralillinois.com/abe.html
Mermaid Chandelier Cochem Castle Website History of Cochem Castle Retrieved October 25, 2008 from http://www.burg-cochem.de/e_frame.html
Suzane. Up To Speed Burg Eltz and Cochem Retrieved October 25, 2008 from http://uptospeed-suzanne.blogspot.com/2008/07/burg-eltz-and-cochem.html
Girard, James Allen One Day in Cochem: Cochem Castle. Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.chezjag.net/cochem/cochemNavbar2.htm
Virtual Tourist.com Cochem Things to Do Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Germany/Land_Rheinland_Pfalz/ Cochem-70321/Things_To_Do-Cochem-BR-1.html
Virtual Tourist.com Oberhofen Local Customs Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Switzerland/Kanton_Bern/ Oberhofen-690886/Local_Customs-Oberhofen-BR-1.html#0
Wikipedia.org Oktoberfest Retrieved October 25, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberfest
Victor Noir Grave Carr, Kelby, About.com Romantic Things to do in Paris Retrieved October 25, 2008 from http://gofrance.about.com/cs/parisforcouples/a/parisforlovers.htm
Virtual Tourist.com Cemeteries & Other Resting Places, Paris Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/France/Ile_de_France/Paris-99080/Off_the_Beaten_Path-Paris-Cemeteries_Other_Resting_Places-BR-4.html
McIntyre, Angus. The Tomb of Victor Noir Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.raingod.com/angus/Gallery/Photos/Europe/France/Paris/VictorNoir.html
Nation Master.com Victor Noir Retrieved October 25, 2008 fromhttp://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Victor-Noir
