Love padlocks

Love padlocks

Love padlocks are a custom by which sweethearts affix padlocks to a fence or similar public fixture to symbolise their love.

Pécs, Hungary

Beginning in the 1980s, in the centre of the southern Hungarian city of Pécs, lovers began to clamp padlocks to a wrought-iron fence in a narrow street linking the mosque in the city's main square and the magnificent medieval cathedral, as a symbol of their commitment to one another. However, after the fence was completely covered and no more padlocks could be added, couples, both locals and tourists, began attaching them to fences and statues throughout the town centre.

Local authorities organised several attempts to discourage people from attaching the padlocks, by putting notices discouraging the activity throughout the town and removing the padlocks as vandalism. More recently, plans have been made to add a new iron fence near to the original to provide a legal site for couples to attach love padlocks, similar to walls set aside by authorities in some cities for use by graffiti artists.

Miskolc, Hungary

Probably encouraged by the example of Pécs, lovers have started to fasten padlocks on the fence of the bridge at Szinva Terrace in Miskolc, a city in the northern part of the country.

Riga, Latvia

Similar customs exist in Riga, the capital of Latvia, where married couples clamp padlocks on the railings of a bridge and throw the key into the lake below.The practice has also gained sudden popularity in Tokyo, Japan among young couples, andpadlocks are appearing all over the city, especially around teen hang outs.

Florence, Italy

In Florence, Italy, love padlocks have been affixed to the railing around and near the statue of Benvenuto Cellini located at the centre of the Ponte Vecchio.

Guam, USA

Love padlocks can be seen in Guam's "Two Lovers' Point" (Puntan dos Amantes). Couples would usually affix the lock to the metal barrier on the viewing deck overlooking the ocean, usually with their names on it or even important dates. A variation of this is the use of plastic bag tags that are sometimes purchased at the nearby souveneir shop when a conventional padlock is unavailable.

External links

* [http://www.gotorion.com/orion/worldnews/padlocks.php Article about the Pécs site, with photo]

*hu icon [http://www.sulinet.hu/tart/fcikk/Kjb/0/10053/1 Pécs city guide with photos]
* [http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_pages/0091-0510-2014-0952.html Riga, photo]
*Italy Magazine, [http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy_regions/tuscany/2006/lifestyle/florence-tries-to-stamp-out-locks-of-love/ "Florence tries to stamp out "locks of love"]

References

* [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/08/17/2003064096 "World News Quick Take] , "Taipei Times", August 17 2003.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Locks of Love — This article discusses the charitable organization. For the custom of using locks as tokens of love, see love padlocks Locks of Love is a non profit charity based in the United States. The organization accepts donations of human hair and money,… …   Wikipedia

  • Butchers' Bridge — Love padlocks on the Butcher bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia Butchers Bridge (Slovene: Mesarski most) is a footbridge crossing the river Ljubljanica in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It connects Ljubljana Central Market and the Petkovšek… …   Wikipedia

  • Ponte Milvio — (Milvian Bridge) (Pons Milvius) Ponte Milvio over the Tiber Crosses Tiber Locale Rome, Italy …   Wikipedia

  • Most Ljubavi — Bridge of Love Padlocks of the Bridge of Love Carries Pedestrians Crosses Vrnjačka River Locale Vrnjačka Ban …   Wikipedia

  • Pécs — Infobox Settlement image caption = Széchenyi Square image shield = WĘG Pecz COA.jpg subdivision type = Country subdivision name = HUN timezone=CET utc offset=+1 timezone DST=CEST utc offset DST=+2 map caption = Location of Pécs official name=Pécs …   Wikipedia

  • Liebesschloss — Liebesschlösser mit Gravur Liebesschlösser auf …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Szinva Terrace — The Szinva Terrace (Hungarian: Szinva terasz ) is the newest public square in downtown Miskolc, Hungary, next to the stream Szinva which runs through the city.The square was constructed in autumn 2005 in place of a parking lot, as a part of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Cadenas — Un cadenas moderne Un cadenas est un objet qui permet de verrouiller une porte ou de boucler une chaîne. Il se compose d un boîtier dans lequel se trouve un mécanisme de serrure et d un anneau métallique qui peut être ouvert ou fermé. Le… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Corset controversy — The corset controversy is an ensemble of letters and articles concerning the corset that appeared in newspapers and periodicals in the 19th century. Contents 1 Introduction …   Wikipedia

  • Rent (film) — Infobox Film name= Rent caption= Rent imdb id= 0294870 producer= Michael Barnathan Chris Columbus Robert De Niro director= Chris Columbus writer= Jonathan Larson (play) Steve Chbosky Chris Columbus (screenplay) starring= Anthony Rapp Adam Pascal… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”