An article of clothing — the most common being a shoe — is placed in the wall near an opening such as a window, door or fireplace, to guard against intrusions by the devil or evil spirits.
One explanation, especially in cases where the shoe had been hidden above a doorway or within a chimney breast, was perhaps an intentional method to prevent evil spirits from entering the home. A well worn shoe carries the imprint of human character as the leather moulds to the wearer's foot.
History professor Malcolm Gaskill replied with a theory - the shoe had probably been left there as a decoy to lure "witches" away from the home. "In the early modern period, people also believed in demons, ghosts, elves, goblins - but witches were the most frightening because they were in human form," he said.
A no shoes in the house rule is a great way to keep your floors clean and reduce the amount of dirt, dust, and bacteria that gets tracked in. In many parts of the world, removing your shoes at the door is a traditional sign of respect when you are a guest entering someone else's home.
The high number of shoes hidden in chimneys and ovens (over a quarter of all finds) could be attributed to the fact that these were important places in the home, providing warmth and used for cooking food (7).
It's part of a superstition going back hundreds of years, mainly in Europe. An article of clothing — the most common being a shoe — is placed in the wall near an opening such as a window, door or fireplace, to guard against intrusions by the devil or evil spirits.
The leather was often boiled or roasted to soften it and make it more palatable, and it was considered a source of sustenance.
In most Asian, European and Middle Eastern homes, shoes are never worn inside as it can be a sign of disrespect from the guests to the owners of the home.
Besides for personal hygiene, Chinese households often take off their shoes to also help protect wood floors and carpets especially. This helps to avoid tracking in a lot of dirt and other substances from the outside, and minimize wear on the floors at the same time.
According to the experts, about one-third of the matter building up inside your home comes from outside, much of it being tracked in on the soles of our shoes. And on those shoes, they have found “a high prevalence of microbiological pathogens”. Now let me stop here and say not all dirt is bad dirt.
They may do this for any number of reasons, including: Your feet are cold. Your feet feel better in shoes. You are too tired to take off your shoes.
Chinese superstitions enforce the rule: wearing outdoor shoes inside is believed to introduce “bad luck”, a metaphor for germs, into the home. Going barefoot indoors is also unusual; slippers or rubber sandals being worn instead.
Taking off one's shoes was and still is a sign of reverence, humility, and respect. This same experience was repeated in Joshua 5:15 when the Captain of the Lord's Army told Joshua to take of his sandals. In 6:2 this Captain is identified as the Lord.
Shoes: This one is a little less common. But if you find a random shoe left by your gate or driveway, it could be a sign that your home is 'easy pickings'. Remove it, keep an eye out and, if more appear, notify the non-emergency line on 101!
Shoes. Shoes are a bad idea again as the word for shoes in Chinese is very similar to the word for bad luck or evil. It is also something that you stand on and wear away, which is why they are also considered a bad gift.
There are several countries where it is common practice to not wear shoes inside the house. In Asian cultures such as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam, it is customary to remove shoes before entering someone's home or any indoor space, and it is also considered rude to wear shoes inside.
In many countries like Germany, Switzerland, Skandinavian countries, Turkey, Japan, Korea etc. it is common use to take off the shoes when entering someone's home. In these countries it is considered a major faux pas to walk through a house with shoes on.
Japanese have developed the custom of eating meals sitting on tatami mats, not on chairs. They also roll out the futon on which they sleep on the tatami floor. Therefore, they take their shoes off when entering the house to avoid getting the floor dirty.
For guests
Interestingly, the 2021 Australia Talks Survey revealed that most Australians did not expect guests to take off their shoes before entering their home (29% agree, 55% disagree). If you're one of that 29%, there are a few things you can do to ensure guests are leaving their footwear out front.
Showing Respect
In addition to the practical reasons, taking off your shoes is also seen as a sign of respect when entering someone's home or place of business. Traditionally, it could be seen as disrespectful to keep your shoes on in someone's residence.
There is a superstition that bad luck will come to a person who places shoes on a table. Another belief common in the North of England is that the tradition relates to the coal mining industry.
Drinking from a shoe has historically been performed as both a bringer of good fortune, a hazing punishment, or a party piece. Drinking champagne from a lady's slipper became a symbol of decadence in the early 20th century. The practice remains particularly popular in Australia, where it is called (doing) a shoey.
From the earliest times, shoes were made with an important function in mind: to protect the bottoms of the feet. But as society evolved, shoes found their place as costume and ceremony. In these situations, special shoes were made very fancy with lavish design, but used only occasionally.
Pick up any modern book about the age of sail, and you're likely to read that sailors never wore shoes on board ship. As the reasoning goes, the men had much better traction on a wet deck and aloft in the rigging if they dispensed with their slippery, leather-soled shoes.