Etch the names of you and your partner onto a padlock, secure it to a scenic landmark, throw away the key with dramatic flair, and voilà — you’ve got the ultimate symbol of everlasting love.
Known as love locks, romantics fasten them to bridges, lamp posts, fences, and monuments worldwide. Dr. Ceri Houlbrook, Lecturer in Folklore and History at the University of Hertfordshire, has a database listing over 500 love-lock sites spread across 65 countries on every continent except Antarctica.
“There’s something universal about the symbolism of love locks,” says Houlbrook, who has researched the history of these romantically-endowed objects. “Padlocks are designed to be durable and steadfast, to hold two things together securely, to keep something safe. This is easily translated into a ritual about love, commitment, and memory.”
However, locations from Paris to the Grand Canyon are looking to break up with this tradition.
“Love is strong,” the Grand Canyon National Park recently stated, “but it is not as strong as our bolt cutters.”
“The locks represent both vandalism and litter,” explains Jeff Stebbins, a Public Affairs Specialist for Grand Canyon National Park. The park joins an increasing number of international voices opposing the padlock phenomenon. So how could such a small symbol of love inspire such ire? Let’s unlock the mystery so you can determine if — and where — it’s appropriate to padlock your devotion.
A Brief History of Love Locks
According to folklore, the origins of love locks can be traced back to ancient China or 20th-century Serbia, after WWI separated a pair of lovers.
“Both of these legends are likely modern inventions, adapting older stories to explain the custom of love locks — and to draw tourists,” explains Houlbrook.
As for hard evidence, her research traces the padlock trend to Pécs, Hungary — but not in a romantic context. In the 1970s, Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious wore a padlock around his neck, which punk communities adopted as a symbol of resistance against convention. Padlocks placed on public fences in the 1980s likely sprouted from this dissent against Soviet rule.
However, the transition from punk to passion is attributed to Federico Moccia’s 2006 Italian teen romance novel Ho Voglia di Te (I Want You), where characters attach a padlock to a lamp post near Rome’s Milvio Bridge and throw the key into the Tevere River as a sign of eternal commitment.
Fans of the novel and its film adaptation began imitating Moccia’s love scene, and subsequently, tourists followed suit.
Consequently, within a few years, love locks began to appear on bridges across Europe, leading to the creation of unique tourist sites, primarily influenced by social media.
The Problems with Padlocks
While a single padlock may not pose a threat, their overwhelming presence can lead to serious issues.
In Paris, affectionately known as the City of Love, people began placing love locks on the Pont des Arts in 2008. Street vendors recognized this trend as a business opportunity, setting up stalls to sell cheap locks to enthusiastic visitors. Within seven years, the bridge had accumulated approximately 700,000 individual locks, weighing about 93 metric tons.
Unfortunately, in 2014, sections of this bridge collapsed under the sheer weight of these ‘symbols of commitment.’ The following year, authorities took action, removing the locks and installing padlock-proof plexiglass.
Similar issues have arisen in cities around the globe regarding bridge safety. In 2015, Melbourne removed 20,000 love locks from the Evan Walker Bridge after their weight caused the bridge’s wires to sag. Leeds followed suit in 2016, cutting locks from the Centenary Bridge due to corrosion and safety concerns.
After New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge removed approximately 11,000 locks in 2015, fines of $100 were issued to violators. City officials noted that the locks threatened traffic safety and led to excessive maintenance costs, ultimately compromising the bridge’s structural integrity.
“The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest bridges of its kind, an iconic symbol of our city and a wonderful, walkable landmark,” expressed former Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “It’s crucial that we take prudent steps to keep the Brooklyn Bridge safe for future generations.”
Moreover, the Grand Canyon faces not only issues with padlocks but also with keys tossed into the wild.
These keys can cause harm to wildlife, including the endangered condor, which often is attracted to shiny objects. Stebbins emphasizes that wildlife “can and do ingest” foreign objects like coins and keys, which can become lodged in their digestive systems and result in fatal outcomes.
Recently, park officials shared an X-ray of a condor’s digestive tract filled with coins, demonstrating the real dangers associated with this trend.
Additionally, Stebbins contends that love locks often incite further graffiti, vandalism, and littering.
“People visit national parks and natural environments to experience the beauty of nature,” he notes. “A pile of padlocks disrupts that appreciation.”
Ultimately, this kind of vandalism is classified as a Class C misdemeanor. The implications can range from a $250 fine to a possible year in jail for severe violations.
Solutions and Substitutes for Love Locks
Despite the challenges, the trend of love locks persists — prompting many locations to create designated spaces that allow for this custom without the associated risks.
In Gretna Green, Scotland’s renowned elopement destination, a 120-square-foot sculpture invites couples to leave locks behind. Similar installations can be found in Toronto’s Distillery District and Estonia’s Keila-Joa.
For environmentally conscious couples, Namsan Mountain in Seoul offers ‘love boxes’ where keys can be safely dropped after attaching padlocks to designated sculptures throughout the area, preventing any littering.
However, if you choose to attach a padlock in forbidden locations such as the Grand Canyon, it will likely be removed using bolt cutters and disposed of — a stark metaphor for the future of your relationship.
If you’re seeking an eco-friendly alternative, consider locking lips instead; it leaves no trace and is completely free.
