The Seven Year Itch

So if you are wondering what exactly is the meaning of “The seven year itch” , here goes the explanation: The seven year itch is a term to describe a married man or woman. After seven years of marriage, the eyes tend to wander. It refers to the inclination to become unfaithful after seven years of marriage. The term was coined in 1955 by the movie with the same name "The seven year itch".

Even I didn’t know the phrase till few days back. It was when I was reading this article in the newspaper about the growing divorce rate in china and the Chinese post office’s unique policy to address it. The couple can write a letter to each other on their wedding day and it would be stored by the Beijing post for seven years. The letters would be sent to the couple on the occasion of their seventh anniversary. If the couple is undergoing martial problems then this letters will tell them the vows and love they have for each other seven year back and perhaps will help in saving their marriage by rekindling the romance. There are many loopholes in the process though like: the seven year itch research dates back to 1950s in US, which perhaps is irrelevant in these times. Today is the couple is unhappy in a relationship; they won’t take time to come out of it and proceed with another one. Getting a letter from and ex will not be taken on a brighter note then. Secondly, in the time when people are breaking up even on social networking site, how relevant would a letter bee in saving a relationship? Thirdly, when you are getting married, you are all in awe for the person. Marriage is a different ball game altogether. You come to know a lot of newer things about the person you had married to and these things either strengthen your relationship further or start breaking it. And lastly, is the couple sure that their address is going to be the same even after 7 years? These are just the few of many questions which are needed to be answered.




I however love the concepts of love letter. No not an email, but actually a letter. It’s probably a curse of technology that today even though we have all the means to tell a person how we feel but still we won’t and even if we will, it will be a card tagged to your love in Facebook or your proclamation of love through a twitter. Don’t you think that it lack the warmth of a real letter? A letter which is perfectly calligraphed for you with each of the words distinctively penned the warmth of holding it in your hands and the scent of love. You can read it umpteen numbers of times without bothering of opening your system/laptop/cellphone/tablet. You can keep it under your pillow and feel as if the person is as close to you. You can keep it forever and ever and treasure it for your grandchildren to show off: P.

I have never received a love letter (sighs and sobs) and as for a normal letter goes, I think I have received a one twelve years back from one of my aunt. So, even though getting a love letter is very good idea, getting it at right time at right place and by right person is very much important. I hope the Chinese understands.