Welsh Love Spoons
Nowadays, men all over the world buy flowers, chocolates, or jewelry for their partners as tokens of their affection. Although such gifts are considered rather desirable and customary, they lack personality and do not show too much thoughtfulness. The Welsh men of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries seemed to agree.
Back then, when young men did not have much to entertain themselves with, they would often take up a rather unique hobby. After a long day’s work, they would sit down at their crafting stations and spend hours upon hours carving beautiful, intricate wooden spoons to present to their special ladies. If a woman accepted such a spoon when it was offered to her, it was as if she accepted a proposal. Of course, this custom not only served as way for men to propose, it was also a great way to spread particular messages of love, since the spoons would often have symbols carved into them. For instance, a diamond symbolized good fortune or wealth, a chain symbolized wishes to be together forever, a cross symbolized eternal faith, a flower symbolized deep affection, and so on. All in all, the custom of the Welsh love spoons is a custom remembered and loved dearly throughout the world to this day. It embodies everything a couple stands and wishes for, in something as simple as a carved little wooden spoon.
By Julia Dankov
