In my opinion, our innate desire to give life meaning is one of the most meaningful qualities we possess as a species (a purposeful tautology, I assure you). Manifestations of symbolism have always intrigued and delighted me. I recently discovered the custom of love padlocks.

According to this tradition, the lovers write their names or initials on a padlock, attach it to a permanent public fixture and throw away the keys.

Most of these sites are located in Europe and Asia (I’ve never seen one, personally).

Depending on location, the custom varies slightly. Some locks are placed by newlyweds, some by couples in relationships for luck.

Although not remotely superstitious, I am a romantic in terms of my admiration for human commitment rituals. All mysticism aside, I enjoy the fact that humans conjure up these ideas to solidify otherwise intangible elements of existence.

Do these locks really mean eternal love? Does anything? Of course not. The cynic in me knows that even the best laid plans often fail.

But what about the success stories? My grandmother lost her husband at 40 years old. She wears her wedding ring to this day because she was “thankful to have been given the little time she had with the true love of her life.”

The objects we endow with meaning matter. We have the power to make them matter.

Hats off to the couples who “locked” their love and made it ’til the very end (and I’m sure they’re out there). We should all be so lucky.

Seen on Web Urbanist