Locks of Love

One of my favorite things about being in Russia was learning about all of the different traditions. My favorite tradition was the Lock and Key tradition. All over the city of Voronezh (and in other places in Russia as well) there would be bridges covered in different padlocks. Some were heart-shaped, some were house-shaped, some were just normal padlocks. We learned that when people get married one of their biggest traditions is "locking their love away." As a couple they would close their lock on a bridge and throw away the key. It’s symbolic of locking their love away, making it untouchable from everyone else.

Shannel Walker
Voronezh, Fall 2010