My Welsh lovespoon

@JudyEv (382107)
Rockingham, Australia
December 1, 2021 7:24pm CST
I came across this Welsh lovespoon favour the other day. It was given to me by a friend. These were decoratively carved as love tokens by young men and presented to their sweethearts. This custom dates back to the 17th century. Carving of the wood symbolises honesty and integrity. Some of the symbols have come to represent particular emotions. A heart signifies love, a horseshoe good luck, a cross for faith, bells marriage and a keyhole means ‘my heart is yours’. The lovespoon tradition is also found in Scandinavia and some parts of Eastern Europe. We are catching the train to Mandurah, Western Australia, shortly to have lunch with an old school friend of Vince’s, who is also a good friend of a colleague of Vince’s when they both worked in the bank. There will be a lot of reminiscing going on. I’ll catch up with your discussions when I get back.
16 people like this
16 responses
Faster16
@Faster16 (3248)
• Indonesia
2 Dec 21
do you use it to eat?
2 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (51819)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Dec 21
@JudyEv I would think they'd be too awkward to use to eat.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
Nowadays they are just used for decoration and not to eat with.
2 people like this
Faster16
@Faster16 (3248)
• Indonesia
2 Dec 21
@JudyEv oh i see
2 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135744)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Dec 21
Neat spoon
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
Some are much more ornate than this one.
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174463)
• United States
2 Dec 21
That's a nicely carved "spoon". Where did you hang it?
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
It sat in a sideboard. I might try to find somewhere to hang it. Hanging would suit it better.
2 people like this
Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (14785)
• Ireland
2 Dec 21
@judyev I can’t see such a gift turning the heart of any modern fair lady - oh cynical me. Though I do feel that the object of my own romantic affections would treasure something symbolic like that if I carved it with her in mind.
2 people like this
Vicki, #1 Creek Girl
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
2 Dec 21
That spoon is lovely! Such an unusual keepsake.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
It is unusual, for sure.
2 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21497)
• London, England
2 Dec 21
It has been a long while since I saw a love spoon. The last time would have been when I was working on the island of Anglesey, in North Wales.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
We saw very little of Wales when we were over there but I remember it seemed very hilly.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
@Ronrybs I hope you didn't have to go everywhere on your bike.
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Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21497)
• London, England
2 Dec 21
@JudyEv Yes, in fact it is pretty lumpy! When I was in Anglesey I had the idea of looking up my maternal grandfather's old stumping ground. He was from Llangefni. Not my best idea, do you know how many Williams there are!
1 person likes this
Max Crisp
@Orson_Kart (8269)
• United Kingdom
4 Dec 21
It almost sounds like a euphemism I’ve heard of them, and us ‘lads’ used to do some strange things to impress you ladies. I guess these days it would have to be at the very least dishwasher safe.
1 person likes this
Max Crisp
@Orson_Kart (8269)
• United Kingdom
5 Dec 21
@JudyEv I once had a kindly relative knit me some swimming trunks. They didn’t look great on and were definitely not meant to get wet.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Dec 21
@Orson_Kart Oh my goodness. Knitted swimming trunks are never going to be good.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Dec 21
Hand-knitting for babies has gone out of fashion as young mums don't have time to carefully hand-wash delicate garments. Same sort of thing.
1 person likes this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (117226)
• El Paso, Texas
2 Dec 21
Kool spoon. I'd love to see one of those for myself.
1 person likes this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (117226)
• El Paso, Texas
3 Dec 21
Plain is sometimes more appealing than ornate.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
When I look on the net, I realise mine is very plain compared to some.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Dec 21
@rebelann I think mine might have been made for the tourist market.
1 person likes this
Shavkat
@Shavkat (141905)
• Philippines
2 Dec 21
It is nice that you have this. It looks like an antique one.
1 person likes this
Shavkat
@Shavkat (141905)
• Philippines
3 Dec 21
@JudyEv I agree it is nice to have it.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
I doubt it is antique but it's still nice.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502483)
• Italy
2 Dec 21
Those are pretty, I have never seen them here, but I think to remember I have seen some decorating the walls of the IKEA restaurant.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502483)
• Italy
3 Dec 21
@JudyEv I miss going to IKEA restaurant, they have a roasted chicken with a rosemary sauce that is the best I have ever had
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Dec 21
@LadyDuck I don't remember seeing that on the Ikea menu here. We checked online and the cupboard is out of stock so we didn't go today after all.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
We are going to Ikea today so I will check if there are any in their restaurant. We are bound to need a coffee or lunch while we are there! lol
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222399)
• United States
2 Dec 21
What a lovely tradition. I hope you had a wonderful lunch.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
We did have a lovely lunch thanks. We then went back to the house for coffee and had a couple of hours chatting back and forth. It was really nice.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222399)
• United States
3 Dec 21
@JudyEv I'm glad to hear it. I wish we had family or friends to hang around with.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Dec 21
@LindaOHio We don't really have many really close friends but we do have a lot of people that we enjoy catching up with.
1 person likes this
Krissttina Isobe
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
2 Dec 21
It's lovely! What a very buy custom! Have a nice time in your trip!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
We had a very enjoyable day thanks.
2 people like this
Krissttina Isobe
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
3 Dec 21
1 person likes this
Scott Andersen
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
2 Dec 21
i guess, being a smart aleck i have to ask, is the spoon then used to whack the young man when he or she is difficult?
1 person likes this
Miftahul Huda
@Chakimmm (1011)
• Indonesia
2 Dec 21
it is a spoon that has a unique shape, at first I thought it was a key ring, very different from a spoon in general, did your friend carve the spoon yourself?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Dec 21
No, it is a souvenir and this one would have been made for the tourist trade.
1 person likes this
Miftahul Huda
@Chakimmm (1011)
• Indonesia
4 Dec 21
@JudyEv oh that's right, the spoon is versatile other than for display or decoration, the spoon can also be used for eating.
1 person likes this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (51819)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Dec 21
I wondered what they looked like. I came upon them in a novel I read.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
Really? So now you know. I think in general they are quite small but I don't know that. Maybe genuine ones are much larger.
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Fleur
@Fleura (35031)
• United Kingdom
2 Dec 21
My Dad used to carve these at one time. He could make the sort with balls that move inside, which is supposed to symbolise the number of children you hope to have (like in the link) I remember he made some as gifts for some of my Mum's friends and relations. I was envious that he never made me one!
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/785357132/together-forever-welsh-love-spoon-2
www.etsy.com
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/785357132/together-forever-welsh-love-spoon-2
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 21
Thanks for the link. Those (in the link) are much more fancy and intricate than mine. That's pretty clever to carve them with the balls inside. What a shame he didn't make you one.
1 person likes this