The earliest surviving example, displayed in the Welsh Folk museum in Cardiff, is dated around 1667, although the tradition probably dates back long before that.

The love spoon originated from the “cawl” (soup) spoon.  Over generations decorative carvings were added to the spoon and it lost it’s original practical use and became a treasured decorative item that would be hung proudly on a wall. 

 Today,  love spoons are requested from all over the world. They are given as gifts for weddings, engagements, christenings, birthdays and anniversaries or as a love token and as a souvenir from Wales.

Although the Welsh lovespoon is the most famous there are also traditions of lovespoons in Scandinavia and some parts of Eastern Europe, which have their own unique styles and techniques.

Spoons are decorated with different symbol with many different meanings:

    Wheel                            Supporting a loved one
    Leaves                           Love grows
    Ring                                Together forever.
    Key and keyhole           Home together, my house is yours and security.
    Horseshoe                     Good luck and happiness.
    Harp                                Traditional Welsh symbol.
    Dragon                            national symbol and strength/protection
    Diamond                         wealth and good fortune

Prior to the late 18th / early 19th century there was no such thing as a Welsh national costume. During the 1830s, Lady Llanover, the wife of an ironmaster in Gwent, was very influential in encouraging the wearing of a 'national' dress. She considered it important to establish a Welsh national identity as at this time many felt their national identity was under threat. She encouraged the use of the Welsh language and the wearing of an identifiable Welsh costume, based on the rural women’s traditional dress.

The adoption of the costume also coincided with the growth of Welsh Nationalism, as the rise of industrialisation was seen as a t

hreat to the traditional agricultural way of life.And as most of the costume was made from wool, this also boosted the Welsh woollen industry.

As the 19th century progressed, the wearing of traditional dress became less popular and by the 1880s the Welsh costume was worn more as an attempt to maintain tradition and celebrate a separate Welsh identity, than as an everyday costume.

Today Welsh costume is worn on St David’s Day and by performers at concerts and Eisteddfod. It is also very important for the tourism industry: dolls in Welsh dress make excellent gifts and souvenirs!

However in the mid-3rd century the fort was rebuilt and strengthened to defend South Wales against Irish raiders. Yet in the fourth century Roman civilisation declined. Towards the end of the century the Romans abandoned the fort at Cardiff.

The town of Cardiff was founded when the Normans conquered Glamorgan. A Norman called Robert Fitz Hamon conquered the area. He built a wooden castle within the walls of the old Roman fort. (The castle was rebuilt in stone in the early 12th century). Cardiff had a population of between 1,500 and 2,000 in the Middle Ages. Towns were very small in those days, especially Welsh towns.