When you think about romantic love, what probably comes to your mind is chocolate, hearts, and sparkly jewelry.
These are some of the modern ways couples express love towards each other.
Although these are great and all, there are plenty of other unique love and devotion symbols from historic times.
Love symbolism has been around as far back as humanity has been in existence.
Things like swans, rose quartz, the Claddagh, the Celtic love knot, and Cupid are ancient and longstanding symbols of love.
Then there’s the idea of padlocks on bridges.
If you’ve been to the city of love, Paris (and other major cities), you have probably come across an array of bridges with millions of padlocks on them.
These belong to many couples confessing a dying love towards each other.
They hang the padlock on the bridge, lock it and throw the keys into the nearby river.
The idea is that by doing that, their love will last forever.
Ever thought why these people would do such a thing?
Let’s try to examine the reasons below.
1. The Presence Of A Water Body
Bridges are built over a river or dam. The presence of a slightly large water body makes it easy to keep your padlock key away permanently.
Once you hung your padlock on the love bridge, you can throw your key to the river and forget about it completely.
This little action proves that your love has been locked forever.
There’s simply no way of ever unlocking your padlock.
In storms and good times, your love should remain intact.
This symbolism is quite powerful for people who are truly committed to each other.
It’s like wedding bands that bear a circle shape symbolizing love without an end.
2. A Chance To Be In Touch With Ancient Customs
Another reason people enjoy putting locks on bridges is that they get to connect with history.
The idea began after the First World War when a French woman died of heartbreak after her military husband fell in love with another woman.
Couples began expressing their commitment and devotion by putting locks on bridges.
In China, it was customary for a married couple to hang a lock in a gate or chain before tossing the key.
Realizing how far the tradition has come from makes sense for lovers to want to show their love this way.
3. It’s Trendy
While love lock bridges started in France, it is now a worldwide sensation.
You’ll find hundreds of such bridges in most countries of the world.
Whether you are in the US, Hungary, China, Italy, or Sweden, expect to run into a few of those.
Due to the structural damage many such locks can cause on a bridge, some states and countries have banned them altogether.
Instead, they have created some structures dedicated to this very purpose.
People across the world flock to such areas to declare their love towards each other.
As you would expect, the couples post plenty of photos and videos in front of the bridges on social media platforms.
Like any other thing on the internet, the practice has caught fire.
Now, most couples have bought into the idea.
The more people learn about the idea of love locks, the more couples are inspired to visit the special locations and declare their love in this way.
4. It’s Truly Romantic
Love is beautiful. It’s charming and magnetic.
When you meet a soul mate, you want them and the whole world to know about how you feel.
You can gift roses, clothes, and other material things but publicizing your love in a public space such as a love bridge creates more emphasis.
The lock bears your name and remains on the bridge for its existence.
The idea of your name permanently affixed with a thousand or hundred others touches the heart in a special way.
You’ll keep thinking about it for as long as you live.
5. You Make History
Another great reason couples find locks on bridges is that it gives them an opportunity to make history.
Long after you are gone, your love story will still speak for you.
Your kids can tell their kids about the romantic love you once enjoyed when you were alive. That is if the bridge outlives you.
What better way to leave a legacy and inspire the next generation on matters of love?
Closing Thoughts
In life, you will experience the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Love just so happens to be one of the deepest, most sweet feelings ever.
As such, when you find it, you will want to celebrate it in a unique way.
Couples hang locks on bridges as a way to lock their romantic love forever.
Whether it works in keeping couples together is a subject for another day.
The truth is that the practice makes a lot of sense for many people out there.
