American Tackles Paris Love-Lock Bridge Tradition

[Steven_Draker]

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PARIS — It has become a ritual for lovers visiting one of the most romantic cities in the world — but the practice of attaching personalized 'love locks' to the Pont des Arts over the River Seine is being challenged by an American woman.

 

The practice began about a decade ago. Couples — mostly tourists — buy padlocks and inscribe their names or initials before attaching the lock to the bridge and throwing the key into the river as a sign of everlasting love.

 

As many as three quarters of a million metal locks now cover the bridge, forcing the city government to step in and ask tourists to demonstrate their romantic commitment in other ways.

 

Last year part of the bridge collapsed under the weight of the locks, and officials responded by covering a section with plywood. Then the wood became festooned with graffiti, so it was replaced by temporary glass panels.

 

The idea has spread around the world, and the metal clamps have appeared everywhere, including the New York's Brooklyn Bridge, the Luzhkov Bridge in Moscow and the bridge on Yellow Mountain in Huangshan, China.

 

Among those attaching a 'love lock' in Paris on Saturday — Valentine's Day — was Peter Concepcion, from Los Angeles, and his wife, Ivy Gambo. "Happy wife, happy life," said Peter. "I guess it is a city of love tradition, people do it all the time. It's been her for years. Might as well take part in it."

 

But Lisa Taylor-Huff, an American who lives in Paris, had decided to take action, saying the city hasn't done enough to stop the practice.

 

Her No Love Locks website has collected 10,000 signatures, and spreads the word about the problematic locks.

 

"Paris was romantic before love locks, it is going to be romantic after love locks, and people need to stop thinking attaching a lock is the most romantic thing you can do," she said. "Americans we have a different way of approaching problems. We do have that can-do spirit."

 

Paris deputy mayor Bruno Julliard insists the city is trying to grapple with the tradition, which is now spreading to bridges all over Paris, without discouraging tourists.

 

"We don't want the love locks on the bridge. It's not very beautiful and it is dangerous," he said. We want [people] to come to Paris, but we don't want them to put love locks. There are so many other ways to say 'I love you' — maybe with SMS or with email."

 

source: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/american-tackles-paris-love-lock-bridge-tradition-n306311

[marylander1940]

Montevideo also has similar tradition on a fountain.

 

http://esphoto980x880noname.mnstatic.com/de991f1af09aade538241a6410599cf2

 

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/5e/ec/ca/fountain-of-the-locks8.jpg

 

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/05/f3/28/4f/fuente-de-los-candados.jpg

[+ FreshFluff]

The practice began about a decade ago. Couples — mostly tourists — buy padlocks and inscribe their names or initials before attaching the lock to the bridge and throwing the key into the river as a sign of everlasting love.

 

This is the first I've heard of this tradition. Something about attaching a lock and throwing away the key reminds me of prison, rather than of romance.

[+ deej]

This is the first I've heard of this tradition. Something about attaching a lock and throwing away the key reminds me of prison, rather than of romance.

 

I had exactly the same reaction. The phrase "throwing away the key" isn't usually considered romantic. ("The judge locked him up and threw away the key.....")

 

But in love, reason rarely applies.

[Steven_Draker]

This is the first I've heard of this tradition. Something about attaching a lock and throwing away the key reminds me of prison, rather than of romance.

 

I had exactly the same reaction. The phrase "throwing away the key" isn't usually considered romantic. ("The judge locked him up and threw away the key.....")

 

But in love, reason rarely applies.

 

The history of Love Locks

 

Love locks are a symbol of love and commitment. Here at LoveLocks, Inc. we have been inspired by an ancient custom, which is believed to have originated in China – where lovers lock a padlock on a chain or gate and then throw away the key, symbolically locking their love forever. Around the world, cities from Moscow to Rome are filled with fences, bridges, and poles adorned with padlocks.

 

Love padlocks (also known as Love Locks) are a custom by which padlocks are affixed to a fence, gate, bridge or similar public fixture by sweethearts to symbolize their everlasting love. Love padlocks have existed for quite some time, though there are no certain sources for their origin. In Europe, love padlocks started appearing in the early 2000s. The reasons love padlocks started to appear vary between locations, and in many instances are unsourced. However, in Rome, the ritual of affixing love padlocks to the bridge Ponte Milvio can be attributed to the book I Want You by Italian author Frederico Moccia, who later made it into the film-adaptation Hovoglia dite. It has been said that if both members of “love’s hand” are not present as the lock locks, the love has been forever jinxed. – Wikpedia

 

source: http://lovelocksonline.com/history/

 

I'm surprised that such mundane person as FreshFluff has never heard of love locks!