The Locks of Love are symbols of true love and everlasting commitment. This new trend has been inspired by an ancient custom and the origin is said to come from different places. But, no one knows of its true birthplace.

This new kind of "vandalism," as some would say, is believed to have started either in Serbia, China, Italy, or Hungary. Truth be told, there is no definitive origin for these Love Locks.

The custom of Love Locks in which padlocks are affixed to a fence, a gate, or a bridge, by couples have existed for quite some time. The true tales of love are the memories of everlasting devotion placed onto a symbol of a padlock.

The reasoning behind Locks of Love varies between different locations, and is unfortunately not cited. List of Locations 

In Rome, however, the ritual of fastening these Love Locks to the Ponte Milvio Bridge comes from the book, I Want You by Frederico Moccia. (This book later became a movie called, Hovoglia Dite)

In this book, and also in the movie, there is an important scene of two teenagers carving their names onto the padlock, and then later placing it onto the Ponte Milvio Bridge, and tossing the key into the Tiber River.

Rumor has it, if both partners are not present to place the lock on the gate or bridge, then the love shall be forever jinxed. Also, throwing away the key is an important part, symbolizing a love that could never be unlocked.

In China, the locks are similarly used for love, but also marriage. One of China's most famous attractions, Mount Huangshan, has become the spot to attach your Love Lock.

Thousands of Love Locks hang here and have been placed by both tourists and locals! The hopeful couples then through the key into the abyss below in hopes that their love will last forever.

This romantic story locks their memories to the Huangshan Mountain forever.

Even in Moscow, the Luzhkov Bridge has become such a popular place for romantics, even the city officials created a set of "Love Trees" on the bridge for more space to latch the Love Locks!

Today in the 21st Century:

Do you want to profess you and your partner's love in hopes that you will be together for all eternity? - You can do so without leaving the U.S.

Being influenced by places such as Rome and China, New York City, has finally picked up the tradition and started professing their love on the Brooklyn Bridge. The ever-popular European tradition reached over to the states and onto a famous bridge!

Controversy

As this tradition started some time in the 1990s, it has had a lot of time to expand into a global and widespread custom. Unfortunately, the Love Lock tradition had flourished to the point where it is being seen as a form of vandalism.

Places like Paris and Brooklyn are not feeling the love:

According to some news channels in New York City, the symbolic padlocks are destroying the Brooklyn Bridge.

NYC's Department of Transportation is trying to call for a "Love Lock Shutdown." However, I do not think that the DOT is winning.

Some New Yorkers believe this is a sign of their true love and so they will not stop showing their love to the world. According to a few locals, "as long as the bridge stays standing, so will their love."

In Paris, ironically the world's most romantic travel destination, has become a landmark for Love Locks.

Many of the city's bridges have become part of this tradition, especially the Pont de l'Archeveche. 

Unfortunately, there is such a thing as too much love in the romantic city of Paris. The Love Locks in Paris have caused a small collapse of the famous bridge.

According to Bloomberg News, the Mayor's office in Paris had to close the bridge in order to replace one of the grates that have been weighed down by the thousands of locks placed. - all in which equaled to about 10 tons!

In both Paris and Brooklyn, city officials are not keen to the thought of couples attaching locks to the bridges. Maintenance crews are becoming upset with requirements to clip thousands of meta locks off the bridges.

The expression of love can not be stopped as padlocks are being found of the Eiffel Tower. The passion for love keeps arising and the city officials are being ignored.

It is hard to say whether it is appropriate to promote or condone to this act of love.

As more locks are being places, the removal charges are increasing. Will that affect us in the long run? Or might it just be safer for us to find other ways of professing love?