All over Wales you will find wishing wells into which people still throw money. Some wishing wells are said to help your love life, others, tradition has it, can heal the sick. A favourite souvenir for the tourists is a Welsh love spoon. They are made of wood and are carved very beautifully. For centuries in Wales love spoons have been handcarved in wood with symbols of love to be given as gifts, and the tradition is now spreading quickly around the world as people look for a truly special way of celebrating a wedding, an anniversary, a birthday or just saying Thank You. Originally, love spoons were made by young men as a love token for their sweethearts. There are many different designs demonstrating the skill and love of the hopeful suitor. If the girl kept this present, all was well, but if she sent it back, she did not want him. A wealth of symbols was carved all over the spoon. The heart, quite naturally, was the most conventional sign and it was to be a full heart carved into the depth of the spoon. Wheels and spades suggested work and service. With a lock the carver let his maiden know that he wished to lock her in his heart, and with a key, keyhole and house, he told her his heart and house were hers to unlock. Anchors were often carved on spoons suggesting that the donor had found a place where he wishes to settle. Horseshoes, dolphins, diamonds and four-leave clovers epitomized good luck and fortune. The dragon (the symbol of Wales and a sign of protection), ropes and cables, windows, animals, flowers, the daystar and crosses were also frequently used. Today, a handful of artisans continue the age-old tradition. The love spoon, however, is no longer a Celtic symbol of betrothal. It is being hand-fashioned for special occasions such as marriages, birthdays, anniversaries, and carved as gifts of friendship, affection and love.
