Customs and traditions at a wedding
- Why do they hang a padlock at a wedding: the history of the origin of the ritual. Russian-Italian roots of tradition
- Choosing and decorating a castle for a wedding. Engraving as an art of decoration
- How to make a wedding castle with your own hands? Hanging area for creativity
- Where to hang and where to put the keys to the wedding castle?
- How to open a wedding lock? Is it necessary?
Once on the embankment of my hometown I had to observe an interesting, but sad and not at all romantic picture. Utility workers cut love locks from the railings of the pedestrian bridge one by one, discussing future earnings from scrap metal sales. Of course, it is worth noting that there were so many locks that the railings seemed to be in danger of serious damage. And it’s unlikely that all these cute “Nadya + Anton” and “Katya and Seryozha = love forever” really affect the real strength of relationships in the family. What then is the point for the bride and groom to hang a lock for lovers on their wedding day? And are there other interesting places for such souvenirs besides bridges?
Bridge railings as the most popular location for lovers' castles
Why do they hang a padlock at a wedding: the history of the origin of the ritual. Russian-Italian roots of tradition
It turns out that the tradition of hanging wedding locks on the bridge came to us from literature. The novel by the fairly popular Italian writer Federico Moccia “Three meters above the sky” (Italian: Tre metri sopra il cielo), which was published in 1992, became the progenitor of the original wedding ritual.
The characters of the book swore eternal love to each other, wrapped a chain around the bridge pillar, hung a lock on it in honor of their high feelings, and threw the key to the castle into the river itself
The simple ritual seemed so interesting to readers that locks for newlyweds very quickly gained popularity among couples around the world. Since then, brides and grooms have hung their love locks on poles, bridges, fences, tree branches and other convenient places.
By the way, ethnographers say that the tradition of closing the barn locks for the happiness of the newlyweds, and throwing the key away or giving it to someone respected for safekeeping, existed many years ago in Rus'. By the way, the castle itself was not hung anywhere, but was buried in the ground in a secluded place . Such a romantic, but useless, from the point of view of recycling, ritual.
Photo of a wedding castle - how to lock up love
Wedding castles in Sochi
Where to buy a castle for a wedding A wedding is an event that involves many traditions, some of which are hundreds of years old. If you want to organize a truly memorable ceremony, you should think through all the details. It is worth talking in more detail about one of the most interesting traditions for newlyweds - the symbolic securing of the wedding lock. There was a tradition in Rus': newlyweds would lock the barn lock on the threshold of their home and hand over the key to the eldest male relative, trusting the happiness of their new family to the wisdom and experience of the older generation. The tradition of closing a wedding castle acquired its modern form not so long ago. In 1992, Italian writer Frederico Moccia published the novel Three Meters Above the Sky . The heroes of the book, Babi and Stefano, in order to reinforce their promises of loyalty to each other, close the lock on a chain around a lamppost. And the key is thrown into the Tiber. (By the way, the characters, as befits a love story, are completely different: she is an excellent student, smart. He is a hooligan and a local aggressor)
In Sochi, you can hang a wedding lock on the sculpture “Peacock in Love” in the park near the Art Museum. In Riviera Park there is a decorative bridge with forged handrails, and small locks are also hung there. During such an event, numerous relatives and acquaintances are nearby, although this is not a necessary condition. Some couples prefer quiet ceremonies. As practice shows, almost all newlyweds consider it necessary to hang a lock on their wedding.
By the way, the famous lamppost on the Milvio Bridge was already falling from the weight of the wedding locks hung on it. Where to buy a wedding castle in Sochi? The store-service “Zamki-Sochi” is ready to offer this type of goods on very favorable terms: · Huge selection. Numerous models are presented and among them you can find the most suitable option (Catalogue: Wedding padlocks) · Affordable prices. You can buy a heart-shaped lock from 250 rubles. · Availability of a store. You can view the available range on the website and order delivery of goods. Or come to the store and make a purchase. The store is located in the Atrium shopping center, in a walking area, not far from the central registry office. (How to get to us) Wedding castles for every taste Often wedding castles have numerous decorations and additional design decorations. They are decorated with ribbons, as well as floral patterns made of fabric. Romantic people often decorate their wedding castle on their own, together with their future husband/wife. Do you want to stand out from the crowd? This is quite difficult, because in the places where wedding locks are hung in Sochi, there are a huge number of locks, which you can buy among the assortment of souvenir shops. Everyone wants something unique. This is where the Zamki-Sochi company can come to the rescue and offer many unique models. A heart-shaped lock may have an unusual color, configuration (for example, a double heart) or other feature. Unusual mechanisms are available, such as keyless ones. (After all, it’s essentially not needed!)))) (Lock without a key) Especially for lovers, there are steel or red keychains in the shape of a heart. An engraved heart keychain will be a wonderful reminder of your soulmate and that wonderful day for you two. Engraving
The classic inscription provides the names of the spouses and the date. The other part is a message to the future or a wish for good luck in your life together. Any style of application is allowed, since the equipment allows you to perform the task efficiently. Engraving can last for many years, but do not forget about the availability of alternative options. For decoration, plastic can be used, which is attached using glue. This option can ensure the creation of even the most complex intricate decoration. An additional advantage of such a wedding lock is its resistance to rust. Even if it occurs, it will not affect the attractive appearance of the product.
Choosing and decorating a castle for a wedding. Engraving as an art of decoration
Choosing a wedding castle is not so easy if the bride and groom pay special attention to ALL wedding traditions. Especially so idealized. For serious couples, shutters are made to order by craftsmen of any size and shape. Locks with engravings for newlyweds in the shape of a heart, round, or oval are very popular. In general, they are as different as possible from the usual key shape.
Photo of a wedding padlock for lovers
Many people want to stand out and hang giant heavy locks. Others choose, in contrast, very miniature, openwork locks.
Wedding castle as a work of art
A huge castle for lovers as a way to stand out
Ordinary shutters are decorated by craftsmen at the request of the newlyweds. It is cheaper to buy a ready-made copy with engraved patterns and designs. And the master will only have to formalize the names and wedding date of the future husband and wife. An exclusive lock design will cost a little more. In addition to the usual hearts, doves, silhouettes and elaborate patterns, craftsmen can even engrave a wedding castle in the form of an image of their beloved.
Photo of a castle at a wedding with engraving - a classic design option
Memorable words, initials and the wedding date are still part of the classic design of the newlyweds’ hanging accessory. Unusual inscriptions on a wedding castle, unfortunately, are rare. Brides and grooms prefer something traditional and romantic: “One breath for two”, “Together forever” or “ All you need is love ”.
How to make a wedding castle with your own hands? Hanging area for creativity
Making a wedding castle is a task for a blacksmith or lock factory workers. But the newlyweds can decorate the castle for the wedding themselves. It all depends on personal tastes, skills and preferences.
The easiest way is to sign the wedding castle with acrylic paints and fix the inscription with a special varnish so that the rain does not quickly wash it away. The scope of the inscription depends on the size of the castle. On small closures, as a rule, these are the first letters of names and the wedding date. Something like: “A+K” 04/12/2018. The shutters are larger and the phrases can be wider. Newlyweds write declarations of love, wishes for family life and oaths of fidelity on locks.
However, this is the main goal of the “barn” accessory - to lock the love and happiness of the wedding day not only in the mechanism, but also in the hearts of the newlyweds
Unfortunately, an inscription made by yourself will be erased over time, no matter how good the paint it is painted on. Therefore, it is better to add a little personality to the castle.
A master class on decorating a lock with ribbons and beads will make the task easier:
- At a craft store, buy your favorite beads, fabric flowers and other interesting decor. And also good glue and satin ribbons to decorate the handle.
- Prepare a tube of acrylic paints, a brush and clear varnish to fix the inscription.
- Prepare the lock for use: wash with soap and water, dry, degrease the surface with alcohol or cologne.
- Write names and wedding date on the lock using acrylic paint. Let the lettering dry. Apply clear varnish on top. Let dry again.
- Carefully glue the decor around the inscription and wrap the tape around the lock handle. It is also better to fix it with small portions of glue.
Photo of a DIY wedding castle - a variety of decor options.
Undoubtedly, castles decorated using the decoupage technique are beautiful and original. Clay elements and oil paintings look extravagant. tied with a beautiful pattern using a hook, caught my eye A nautical themed wedding can be complemented with a castle decorated with shells and sand, and a boho themed wedding can be complemented with a castle decoration made of burlap, twigs and lace. In short, who is good at what. If only inspiration came on time.
Painted castle of newlyweds
Where to hang and where to put the keys to the wedding castle?
In almost every city where there is a more or less decent body of water and a bridge across it , the city government suffers from the problem of wedding castles. Of course, one or two shutters will not cause significant harm. But in really popular places the number of these accessories is in the hundreds, or even thousands. And this creates additional load, which can lead to premature deformation of structures.
Even the provinces complain about the abundance of lovers’ castles, and what can we say about cities like Venice or Paris, where newlyweds from all over the world come?
Of course, in the original, the newlyweds’ castle should be hung on the bridge. But other interesting places are also suitable for this ritual:
- Iron trees . City authorities are installing metal structures in parks and squares where brides and grooms like to stroll. They are often shaped like trees so couples can hang their love padlock on one of the many branches.
- A memorable place for newlyweds . Surely the couple has their own favorite places in the city that they remember for events or meetings. This is a wonderful occasion to immortalize the fence of the monument where the first date took place. Or the fence of the nightclub parking lot where the bride and groom met.
- Secret place . To prevent the lovers' castle from suffering the fate of all foreign (from the point of view of utilities) objects, it is worth choosing a place where not everyone will be able to see the accessory. Show ingenuity and dexterity, but do not forget about safety. A railing on the roof of the house or an inconspicuous bench will do just fine.
Trees of love with leaf locks in Moscow
Traditionally, the keys to a lover's castle are thrown into a pond. So that no one would think to open that is closed for happiness and fidelity . But if there is no reservoir at hand (although an ordinary well will do), the young people can give the key to a reliable person for safekeeping, bury it in the ground or recycle it.
How Moscow is saving “locks of love”
Locks on a bridge in Paris. Photo: M24.ru
There will no longer be “love locks” in Paris: the railings of the most famous bridge, the Pont des Arts, where locks were traditionally hung, have been covered with glass panels. M24.ru decided to figure out where the tradition of hanging “love locks” came from and how Moscow dealt with this problem.
Railings and weddings
Recently, the Parisian authorities decided to cover the railings of the famous Pont des Arts with glass panels, on which lovers from all over the world hung “love locks.” In June of this year, part of a Paris bridge collapsed. No one was hurt, but something had to be done about the manifestations of eternal love (more than 700 thousand locks with a total weight of more than 500 kilograms were counted on the Bridge of Arts).
For a long time, in Moscow, wedding limousines brought newlyweds to bridges so that they could immortalize their feelings with the help of a castle. There were locks of varying degrees of originality: from those bought at the nearest hardware store, to miniature ones with touching hearts and names engraved in delicate calligraphy. The main place for the ritual was considered to be the Luzhkov Bridge near the Tretyakov Gallery. Locks were hung on the Figured Bridge in Tsaritsyno Park and on the Patriarchal Bridge near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
In the Moscow region, the largest number of locks is on the “Broadway Bridge” in Balashikha, and no one is getting rid of them there. Often newlyweds hang love locks on the bridge in the park of the Dubrovitsy estate, also in the Moscow region. There is a registry office on the territory of the estate, and after the ceremony, many couples decide to perpetuate their feelings. However, eyewitnesses say that every evening the registry office employee gets rid of the locks with the help of huge pliers.
Who cuts down the locks
"Trees of Love" on Luzhkov Bridge. Photo: M24.ru
The tradition of hanging locks came to Moscow at the beginning of the 2000s and did not last long. In 2007, authorities cut down all the locks adorning the railings of the Luzhkov Bridge and installed iron trees as an alternative. “As soon as they are filled with castles, we “replant” the trees: we cut them down and move them to Bolotnaya Square, installing them along the embankment. We are making room for new locks,” says Yulia Rutskaya, press secretary of the Gormost State Budgetary Institution.
Two years later, in 2009, the locks on the Patriarchal Bridge were cut down. According to Yulia Rutskaya, locks on railings have been rare lately, and the only place in the city to perform the ritual remains the Luzhkov Bridge and its steel trees.
“Love Castle” by Prince William and Kate Middleton on Luzhkov Bridge. Photo: ITAR-TASS
You can find celebrity locks on the “trees of love.” On April 29, 2011, a castle with the initials of Prince William and Kate Middleton appeared on a tree on Luzhkov Bridge. It was hanged not by an anonymous joker or an admirer of the royal couple, but by the Deputy British Ambassador to Moscow, Denis Keefe.
The newlyweds' opinion
We learned from the newlyweds whether Muscovites are hanging “love locks” today.
Daria Nedashkovskaya
“When we were planning the wedding route, there wasn’t a single place with “locks” along the way; time was running out. In general, we don’t really believe in wedding traditions. We didn’t want to cut the loaf or the wedding cake, but our parents decided otherwise, and it was only for their sake that we followed it. I only believe in one superstition - that the groom should not see the bride in a dress before the wedding, and, in my opinion, clasps are made for appearance and for beautiful photos.”
Alena Ikimova
“Our wedding was in Montenegro, we didn’t hang a castle. Locks are periodically cut off from bridges, there are many identical pairs on the tree, and the uniqueness disappears. There are many other beautiful traditions that can be interpreted specifically for your couple, rather than thinking in stereotypes.
I am a photographer and family event organizer and I would like to add that approximately seventy percent of our couples still spend time in traffic jams to get to a certain bridge and hang up the lock.”
Marina Kurganskaya
“There were no locks at my wedding. I find them too standard. Firstly, it seems to me that this tradition has outlived its usefulness. Secondly, housing and communal services employees can cut off these locks or melt them down. If your lock is cut off, it will be a bad symbol.
A few years ago, my friend got married, and they hung a padlock on the Luzhkov Bridge. One day we went for a walk there and saw that all the castles had been cut down. Shortly before this, a friend divorced her husband. I don't think these things are related, but it's annoying. I would rather hang a padlock somewhere in the country or plant two trees symbolizing a couple and put padlocks on them.”
Evgeniya Lazutkina
“We completely forgot about the lock in the wedding troubles. But they decided to hang it on their wedding anniversary on the bridge opposite Bolotnaya Square. The tradition itself is very beautiful, a kind of symbol of indissoluble love.”
Ksenia Makusheva
“Our love is already as strong as a castle. Our padlock is a marriage certificate. And I treat tradition quite adequately”
Unhappy Serbian girl and first locks
According to legend, “love castles” appeared in Serbia during the First World War. According to legend, the girl Nada fell in love with a Serbian officer. The man promised Nadya to marry, but during the war he found someone else. The young girl’s heart could not stand it, and she died of grief. Having learned about this, Serbian girls began to hang “love locks” on the bridge where unfortunate Nada and her chosen one usually met. This was supposedly supposed to protect lovers from separation.
In the rest of Europe, castles only became popular in the early 2000s. In many ways, the fame of this wedding tradition was brought by the melodramatic novel “I Want You” by the Italian writer Federico Moccia. It is not difficult to guess that the heroes of the work confessed their eternal love to each other with the help of a lock, which they hung on one of the bridges in Rome.
Photo: ITAR-TASS
Most of the “love castles” are located in Europe. In many cities, lovers try so hard that they completely fill the bridge railings. This issue is of concern to city authorities, who consider the tradition to be vandalism and damage to the historical appearance of the city.
In July of this year, war was declared on the castles in Venice and the “Release Your Love” campaign was held. Postcards with these words were handed out on the streets, and anyone could attach it to the lock on the bridge. Venetian utility workers at this time mercilessly cut down signs of love, returning one of the most beautiful cities in Europe to its historical appearance. Later, Rome and Paris seized the initiative.
Ekaterina Kadushkina
Topics: Columns, City trends: everything that worries the capital
How to open a wedding lock? Is it necessary?
Superstition claims that for the happiness of the newlyweds, the wedding castle should never be opened by anyone . That is why the bride and groom throw the key away from human eyes. A disposable lock will be a great help for superstitious couples in this matter. It is not possible to open this without a key, because there are no keys for it.
Disposable wedding lock for newlyweds
It happens that newlyweds order an inexpensive disposable lock from a friendly Asian country, and the package arrives with an unpleasant surprise: the lock turns out to be closed in advance by an irresponsible Asian employee. Or excited newlyweds slam the mechanism shut with a careless movement. Unfortunately, in this case, only buying a new device will help.
Castle of lovers with hope for the answer “Yes”
Lovers' locks are a wonderful, simple and fun wedding tradition. The sweetness of the ritual is not drowned out even by its prevalence. After all, it is quite difficult to distinguish yourself with originality in the matter of hanging a lock on the bridge fencing. However, even if, while walking in the evening, the husband and wife do not see their accessory in its usual place, there is no need to be upset. The quantity and quality of love in a family does not depend on the decision of municipal services to free municipal facilities from excess burden.
“There are no keys to happiness. The door is always open" (c) Mother Teresa.
“Wedding locks and ribbons” during wedding rides
When planning a wedding celebration, lovers spend a lot of time on a wedding trip to the sights of the city. Brides and grooms do this both before the registry office and immediately after it. During such wedding skating, a number of fun rituals and ceremonies take place, which are tightly included in the celebration scenario. Wedding ceremonies necessarily include customs and rituals, the main of which is the “wedding locks and ribbons” ritual.
Locks and ribbons are wedding rituals that are used not only in Russia, but also in other countries: Italy, France, Ukraine, America, etc. The interpretation of these rituals is that during the wedding, the bride and groom ride in parks or on bridges The cities where the wedding route takes place hang ribbons and locks, which symbolize the strength of the union of lovers and a happy family life.
The history of the wedding ceremony “wedding locks and ribbons”
There is no exact answer to the question of where the wedding ceremony “locks and ribbons” originated, but it is believed that it originated in Rus'. About two centuries ago, during a Slavic wedding ceremony, it was customary to give the newlyweds a barn lock with a key for their wedding, and the larger the lock and the key itself, the deeper the meaning of this wedding ritual.
After the wedding, lovers locked such a castle with a key and buried it under the floorboards of the house; they did this until the first wedding night. The lovers took the key of the barn lock home with them for the first night, and when morning came it had to be thrown into the river or buried in the thicket of the forest. For unknown reasons, it was soon decided to abandon such a ritual event in Rus', and until the 70s no one even remembered such an action.
The wedding lock and key ritual in its current form began to gain popularity relatively recently, after the publication of a novel by the Italian writer Federico Mocci, whose book tells the story of two lovers who, as a sign of their eternal love and fidelity, wrapped a lamppost with a thick chain and hung a lock on it , and then the key was thrown into the river. This ritual seemed romantic and sensual to Italian lovers, and they decided to use it at their wedding celebration. After this, in many cities in Italy, first on lampposts and then on bridges, the first wedding locks appeared. After some time, tapes began to appear instead of locks.
In Russia, the tradition of hanging a lock on a bridge during your wedding in its current form appeared no more than 15 years ago, but because of its unusualness and romanticism, it won the hearts of lovers.
In every city there is a special place where a couple in love can hang their castle - in Moscow it used to be the Luzhkov Bridge. Moscow lovers hung it with wedding locks at such a rate that they had to be cut off every wedding season. There was even a ban on placing wedding castles on this bridge, but this still could not stop the passionate brides and grooms. As a result, the city authorities decided to erect metal trees near the bridge with a huge number of artificial branches on which the bride and groom could hang a lock.
metal trees with a huge number of artificial branches on which the bride and groom could hang a lock.
Options for the wedding ceremony “wedding locks and ribbons”
Like any wedding ceremony, this ritual has many other variations, usually they change based on the city or historical place in which the lovers will perform this ceremony. However, there are two more popular varieties of this wedding custom:
- Ribbons. The most popular option for replacing wedding locks is ribbons; they can be any color and length. It is only important that there are two ribbons, one symbolizing the groom, and the second the bride.
First of all, the ribbons are tied together, which symbolizes strong marriage and family ties between the young people. These two connected strips are then attached to a tree or bridge. Again the place. Where such ribbons are attached depends on the region in which the wedding is taking place. But nevertheless, while driving along federal highways, many drivers and passengers have more than once noticed huge trees, the branches of which are all decorated with bright ribbons - these are happy wedding trees.
- Champagne. Another variation of this wedding ceremony came to us from European countries, during which lovers hang a bottle of champagne from a tree using a red ribbon. Moreover, the more expensive it is, the richer the newlyweds are considered to live, and the higher the groom hangs it during this wedding ritual, the longer the married life will last.
There is, however, a significant disadvantage to this option for holding a wedding ceremony; it lies in the fact that, unlike European countries, such trees in Russia are quite often stolen and only red ribbons remain from the wedding champagne.
