1) Across the Western world, the tossing of old boots out into the wake of departing ships is a superstition that’s thought to ensure the sailor’s safe return backto their family home.
2) A variation of this old sailors tradition is nowadays carried out in modern times by the tying of shoes to the honeymooner’s car bumper after their wedding. Many think that this tradition has several benefits, namely a happy home life, keeping a husband from wandering and showing that all the roads will always lead back to their family home!
3) In China, there is the “Sifting Shoes” Custom. This is an interesting custom amongst today’s Chinese Zhuang Ethnic Minority. When two people get married, the bride’s sisters will escort her to the bridegroom’s family. When the wedding ceremony is held, the bride and bridegroom then make formal bows to the groom’s parents. After this, the escorts sing many songs together before the bridegroom’s family lays out the wedding buffet or banquet for the wedding feast. During this the traditional ritual of tea or wine serving is also held. When the escorts are beginning to leave, a young man then brings out a sift, which is a type of container, to start the “sifting shoes” ceremony.
4) Staying in China, during the Southern Dynasty (between 420-589), if a man wanted to take a wife, he had first to present the woman with a new pair of silk shoes whilst he was offering her his betrothal gifts. This custom continues on in many different parts of the country.
5) In Hungary, the newly married groom drinks a wedding toast to his new bride out of her wedding slipper. She must feel like the beautiful Cinderella!
6) Back to China, where they have many fascinating wedding traditions! During the Han Dynasty (between 206BC to 220AD) whenever a young woman was getting married, she often wore a pair of wooden sandals that were painted with colourful patterns with colourful ribbons fastenings, both of which were seen as good symbols.
7) Staying in China, one of the new bride’s red shoes would be tossed from the roof to ensure the happiness of the newly married bridal couple. During the wedding ceremony itself, the bride normally slips on some special wedding shoes. In Southern Fujian Province for example, the bride wears a pair of shoes that are embroidered with patterns of a turtle or a deer, these animals symbolise blessing, happiness, and longevity following the wedding.
8) Finally, in China and elsewhere across the orient, foot binding was often seen as a great sign of beauty and attractiveness. Once a girl was old enough to be wed, prospective mother-in-laws would often pick a wife fortheir son judging them by the appearance of the young ladies feet.
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