Love Locks | Wish Locks

You are probably scratching your head and asking yourself “what are love locks?” I wondered the same thing until I saw them for myself when I visited Dublin last month. My nieces and I walked from Jacobs Inn to Ha’Penny Bridge as part of our wandering around the city. Let’s just say you couldn’t miss the padlocks even if you tried. There were so many of them on both sides of the bridge as well as the arch that runs from one side of the bridge to the other. I was fascinated with them because padlocks are not something you would see every day when you walk over a bridge to get to the other side. Normally you would find that the bridge consisted of either cement, iron or wood but not padlocks that would in essence become part of the intricate design or feel of the bridge.

Again, you ask yourself, “what are love locks or love padlocks?” Wikipedia describes them as a “custom by which padlocks are affixed to a fence, gate, bridge or similar public fixture by sweethearts at an increasing number of locations in the world to symbolize their love.” It’s pretty easy to figure out why they are called love padlocks. You affix a padlock to a bridge and in this case, Ha’Penny Bridge’ to showcase your love for another person. Another name that has been given to them is wish locks which is what they are called if you travel to Taiwan. Wish locks could be deemed along the lines of throwing a coin in the Trevi Fountain or wishing well, making a wish and wanting it to come true.

Now in your travels throughout the globe, if you ever walk by a bridge and see padlocks affixed to the bridge you’ll know why they are there. They are either there to symbolize love between two people or someone wishing for something and hoping it comes true.

What will you do when you find these bridges in other countries covered in padlocks? Will you walk right on by them? Will you add your own padlock to symbolize your love or make a wish upon the padlock and attach it to the bridge along with the hundreds of others adorned there?

I would love to hear your stories if you’ve already done this. What bridge did you attach your padlock to and what is the story behind it?