In today’s sideways stock market everyone seems to have a strategy on safeguarding their investment. I don’t know about you, but I’m a little bit scared and will do any legitimate means possible to retain my capital even at the expense of performing rituals (lol). Speaking of which, there is a superstitious belief about rubbing the Bulls Ball (Charging Bull). The superstition is that if you rub the Bulls testicles, you will have good luck or the stock market will rise, kinda like rubbing the Buddha’s belly, except its Bull scrotum.
I didn’t know about it until I was writing this, had I known this belief during my trip to America I would have scratched my palm on it so hard. And if you think you have to fly all the way to New York City just to rub the Bulls Ball for fortunes,… read on folks!, there might be a Charging Bull closer to you.
I had always assumed the Wall Street Bull was the only Bull statue in the world. Until I was surprised to see a big Bull in bronze more like a twin brother of NY Stock Exchange Bull on my way to The Red Light District in Amsterdam, so my curiosity led me to discover the rest of them.
I have been engaged with the stock market for two years and owns a few shares of stocks as an investment and sometimes do swing trading. So needless to say, finding the same Bull other than the original Wall Street Bull caught my attention.
The artist, Arturo Di Modica, designed a series of Charging Bull statues, which he installed in the following cities around the world.
1. NewYork Wall Street Bull
When people think of Wall Street it’s more likely they think of the Charging Bull, the Bull has become an international symbol of Wall Street since it’s installation.
Di Modica spent US$350,000 of his money to create, cast and install the Bull sculpture 2 years after the 1987 US stock market crash which he envisioned to symbolize the strength and power of the American people, and in December of 1989, Stock Exchange People arrived with a bronze bull placed under the Christmas tree across their street.
I Finally get the chance to take a pic with a lesser crowd; Tip arrive at 7 am and you’ll have the bull all by yourself.
2. Shanghai Bund Bull
Two decades after the great Wall Street Bull prove it’s significance to New York’s financial district. The city of Shanghai commissioned one, and was installed in May 2010; similar in weight and height, but is younger than the New York City Bull, reddish in color and leans to the right, instead of the left.
The Shanghai Bull was installed in front of the Bund and is also known as the Bund Bull. It has a more menacing tail that spirals toward the sky, which Di Modica said, reflects the uplifting financial trend of the country.
Charging Bull , The Bund Shanghai (picture not mine. chargingbull.wikispaces.com)
3. Amsterdam
The Amsterdam Bull is the third Bull made by the Artist, landed on Beursplein 5 just across the street where the Amsterdam stock exchange operates on the night of July 7, 2012.
The sculpture was brought to the city with the support of a Dutch family just in time when Europe was going through an economic crisis so Di Modica symbolically donate the bronze bull to encourage the European markets. And just as he had no permission from New York to place his bull near Wall Street, he did not bother asking Amsterdam City Hall for the necessary permits either.
4. Abu Dhabi, UAE
According to an article published by Timeout-Dubai on April 10, 2012. The artist, being a closed friend of the Cipriani family once pulled a smaller replica of the Charging Bull to Cipriani Restaurant, Yas Island.
While I have been to Dubai and Abu Dhabi a couple of times being only a 45 minutes flight from Doha, in fact, my most frequent travel to the UAE was during 2012 but the opportunity didn’t bring me to Yas island, perhaps due to a different interest.
Last week, I asked a close friend to check if the Bull was still there. Unfortunately, the Bull was already removed. Sorry UAE folks….
Picture from Timeout Abu Dhabi – The Cipriani bull standing outside Cipriani Yas Island
Stock Market may have been on it’s unpleasant street now a-days, this iconic Bull remains a symbol of strength and vitality. And just like what the artist used to say when asked as to why the stock market is down, the bull is just resting. Hopefully he gets back to work soon.
While I haven’t been to China, going by the Bull at the Bund will be on my top list of priority as soon as I landed Shanghai. I still hope to see the Silver Bull that once was in Abu Dhabi, maybe in a different location this time.
How about you, which of the Bull have you seen as of now?
Love this blog post baby! Good read☺️ I was in point no. 4😛😛
yes! the close friend who I asked to check if the Bull was still in Yas Island. thanks for the contribution baby.
Nice article with the statue of Charging Bulls at different countries. Maybe our country, Philippines need to have one also at the entrance of PSE building in Ortigas Center.
Definitely! The Philippines being a rising star in Asia why not? I believe the artist has already completed his triangle of Peace in the world unless of course our government will commission one.
I’ve seen the Wall Street Bull and there is one in Birmingham England..
I the Bulls in front of the stock markets are the symbols of the Ancient Egyptian Bull God Apis. The bull was the symbol of fertility in Ancient Egypt, one bull can empregnate an entire herd of cows. The bull is also the symbol of the constellation Taurus. They installed a girl in front of the Wall Street Charging Bull, this symbolized the Minoan girl jumping the charging bull.