Welsh love spoons can make a lovely and thoughtful gift for your partner or for a couple that you know. They are often given as wedding, Valentine's Day or anniversary gifts to symbolize the love and affection that a couple have for each other. These hand carved and ornate spoons have been made in Wales for centuries and are filled with symbolism.
The custom of giving these stretches back to at least the 17th century, but it is likely that this tradition is far older than that. Some of the earliest artifacts can be seen in St. Fagan's National History Museum in Cardiff, Wales. The examples that you can see there date from around the 1660s and the custom of making these wooden spoons may have even started in and around Wales.
The practice of creating these masterpiece carvings was not only isolated to Wales. There have been samples found all over Europe and it seems that have been an especially common practice in the Celtic countries. There have been some lovely examples dating from the 17th century found in Germany.
These spoons are carved out of a single piece of wood and originally they were made by a suitor to give to the girl they wanted to court. If the girl was interested in this young man, they would accept the piece and would begin courting. Of course, back in those days the father of the young lady in question would have to assess the carving skills of the hopeful gentleman and give his blessing.
Wales at the time was a poor farming country and skill in carving was highly valued. In addition, young men could not hope to have the means of buying their loved ones jewelry, so making something with their hands from wood was a good alternative. Young men spent a long time slaving over these creations and made them as ornate and decorative as they possibly could in the hope of attracting their loved one.
Many common designs were used and they had a special meaning attached to them. For example, a chain was used to show the eternal nature of the young man's love for the girl; gems were used to show that the union would bring wealth and good luck to the couple; a cross was often placed there to show that it would be a pious marriage and a dragon was popular to show that they would be protected and to evade bad luck and often floral features were placed there to signify affection. As the final touch the initials of the couple may have been placed on the carving.
Since the young men back in those days would often be very shy and unable to show off their deep feelings for the young maiden they were in love with, the symbolism was important because it could speak for them. If the girl accepted the spoon, then they would begin courting and this would most likely lead to marriage.
The Welsh love spoons can be bought as souvenirs, or they can be made especially for you as a symbol of your love for your partner. They are a unique and thoughtful gift for a lucky in love couple.
The custom of giving these stretches back to at least the 17th century, but it is likely that this tradition is far older than that. Some of the earliest artifacts can be seen in St. Fagan's National History Museum in Cardiff, Wales. The examples that you can see there date from around the 1660s and the custom of making these wooden spoons may have even started in and around Wales.
The practice of creating these masterpiece carvings was not only isolated to Wales. There have been samples found all over Europe and it seems that have been an especially common practice in the Celtic countries. There have been some lovely examples dating from the 17th century found in Germany.
These spoons are carved out of a single piece of wood and originally they were made by a suitor to give to the girl they wanted to court. If the girl was interested in this young man, they would accept the piece and would begin courting. Of course, back in those days the father of the young lady in question would have to assess the carving skills of the hopeful gentleman and give his blessing.
Wales at the time was a poor farming country and skill in carving was highly valued. In addition, young men could not hope to have the means of buying their loved ones jewelry, so making something with their hands from wood was a good alternative. Young men spent a long time slaving over these creations and made them as ornate and decorative as they possibly could in the hope of attracting their loved one.
Many common designs were used and they had a special meaning attached to them. For example, a chain was used to show the eternal nature of the young man's love for the girl; gems were used to show that the union would bring wealth and good luck to the couple; a cross was often placed there to show that it would be a pious marriage and a dragon was popular to show that they would be protected and to evade bad luck and often floral features were placed there to signify affection. As the final touch the initials of the couple may have been placed on the carving.
Since the young men back in those days would often be very shy and unable to show off their deep feelings for the young maiden they were in love with, the symbolism was important because it could speak for them. If the girl accepted the spoon, then they would begin courting and this would most likely lead to marriage.
The Welsh love spoons can be bought as souvenirs, or they can be made especially for you as a symbol of your love for your partner. They are a unique and thoughtful gift for a lucky in love couple.
About the Author:
Welsh Love Spoons make a fantastic wedding anniversary gift and are available from www.welshlovespoon.com
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