Love Padlocks

Love Padlocks in Mount EmeiI first noticed these along the Great Wall in Beijing when NYU took us there for our first trip as a group. Padlocks, some with red ribbons, align parts of the Great Wall, Mount Hua, Mount Emei, Puning Temple, and Putuoshan Island. Outside of China, love padlocks have been spotted in Estonia, Guam, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States of America. These locks are placed in public places to symbolize the everlasting love of two people. It is important to note that these two people can have any relationship, not necessarily lovers. The key is thrown away after their names are inscribed and the locks are placed.

Love padlocks are thought to have started in China and have since spread quickly across the globe. In China, these locks can be found hanging on chains along the Great Wall and at numerous temples. Including at Mount Emei, pictured on the left. It was popularized in Italy as per the novel Tre Metri sopra il Cielo by Federico Moccia. In the story a man is trying to win the affection of a girl and tells her that putting a love padlock on a certain bridge in Rome and throwing the key away will symbolize their everlasting love. People started putting love padlocks on a street lamp in Ponte Milvio, Rome. The practice grew so big that there are now more locks than the lamp can handle. Authorities unsuccessfully tried halting the practice and have since placed special chains on the lamp to prevent any further damage.

Hungary first saw love padlocks in the 80s in Pécs. People began putting locks in an iron fence near a famous medieval cathedral. The fence was soon covered and people resorted to putting locks in various fences around the city center. Authorities tried stopping this practice and even went as far as to post notices claiming the activity as vandalism. This too failed to stop the love locks. Popular pressure increased and authorities have since began plans to create a new iron fence near the original one by the cathedral.

Lovelock, Nevada is official home to love padlocks in the USA. This town holds annual ceremonies and even as a website to promote love locks. Www.loverslock.com