topic Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table in Community Chat

Superstition: Shoes on the Table

humpty dumpty — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 15:50:33 GMT

Is there a superstition that it is bad luck to put shoes on the table?

I grew up with this superstition and I cannot find anyone that has ever heard of it ... I told my brother that I can remember my father telling me it was bad luck ... but he says my father meant not to put your feet up on the coffee table ... not that it was bad luck, but he didn't want the kids sitting on the couch with their shoes resting on the coffee table ...

Can someone clear this up for me please?

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

colliegirls — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 15:54:47 GMT

Ours was "no shoes on the bed". My mother would go nuts if we put our shoes on the bed, means someone will die or something.

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

Adelina — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:04:46 GMT

According to Wikipedia:

"Shoes on a table

An uncommon superstition is that bad luck will come to a person who places shoes on a table, whether in the form of a family argument, or risking death to a family member. It is believed that the superstition originates from new shoes originally having the soles affixed by hobnails, and that these would cause scratches on a new table if they had not already been worn down.

Another belief common in the North of England is that the tradition relates to the coal mining industry. When a miner died in a colliery accident, his shoes were placed on the table as a sign of respect. By extension, doing so was seen as tempting fate or simply as bad taste.[1]

In the world of theatre, putting shoes on a dressing room table is considered by some to bring the risk of a bad performance, just as "Break a leg!" is considered good luck.[2]

Also described as an old wives' tale, the superstition may date back to medieval times.[3] Some sources ascribe the origin to the fact that criminals were hanged while still wearing their shoes.[4]

It may have something to do with death, and the idea of placing a new pair of shoes on the table would signify that someone had just died, or you would have bad luck for the rest of the day, quarrel with someone or lose your job.[5]

Even among people who are not superstitious, shoes can be associated with contamination.[6]"

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

1jenniferjuniper — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:05:44 GMT

My mom was not superstitious but putting shoes on the table was a no-no because of all the germs.

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

colliegirls — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:07:31 GMT

Or was it "no hats on the bed"? My mother had so many superstitions it was hard to keep up!

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

brii — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:07:38 GMT

I have no idea about a superstition, but I would never put shoes on a table, coffee table, ottoman, or a bed in my home. We take our shoes off in the mudroom.

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

MsLomo — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:09:44 GMT

Yes, superstitions my father told us about ... his parents had told him (because their parents had told them!): No shoes on the table and no hat on the bed.

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

ChynnaBlue — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:10:34 GMT

I don't believe in superstitions, but I think no shoes on the table is just good sense. Shoes belong on the floor and nowhere else. They are filthy and don't belong on things you'll touch.

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

Bird mama — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:25:14 GMT

Shoes on the table means a fight.

Also, unless you are eating and it's required for dinner, no large knife on the table either.

Where's my babooshka?

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

Laura14 — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:28:25 GMT

I have not heard that one. The only thing I ever heard about tables was not to sit on them because, as my grandfather used to say, tables are made for glasses not for axxxx.... (remove the gl)

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

silkyk — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:30:48 GMT

And don't put your purse on the floor or you will run out of money. Also never give a friend a knife for a present or you will cut the friendship....if you do give a knife have the person give you a coin to ward off the "cut". My Mom was Italian so LOTS of these words of wisdom. I remember them all.

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

luvsbulldogs — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:34:36 GMT

@MsLomo wrote:
Yes, superstitions my father told us about ... his parents had told him (because their parents had told them!): No shoes on the table and no hat on the bed.

Same at our house while growing up. Also do not walk under a ladder amd cannot break a mirror.

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

Bird mama — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:38:01 GMT

If you give a wallet as a gift, include a dollar bill or some currency in it.

I also do it when I give handbags - I don't know if there is a mojo for handbags, so I'm hedging my bets on that one :-)

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

humpty dumpty — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:49:49 GMT

I asked this question because my daughter had given me a pair of new shoes to sell on eBay for her ... they did not sell ... she was here yesterday with my young grandson and I asked him to carry the shoes downstairs so that they could go home with her ...

They were in their box sitting at the bottom of the stairs and when they were leaving, I told him to get them ... he brought them into the dining room and set them on the table ... I immediately told him to take them off the table and we would forget that he even put them there ...

Which led me to post my question ...

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

colliegirls — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:55:43 GMT

@Bird mama wrote:
If you give a wallet as a gift, include a dollar bill or some currency in it.

I also do it when I give handbags - I don't know if there is a mojo for handbags, so I'm hedging my bets on that one :-)

Are we from the same family!!??? Babushka!!!

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

hckynutjohn — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:56:09 GMT

My mother taught me:"feet belong on the floor" and " tables are not a foot rest". It had everything to do with keeping her furniture nice/manners, and nothing was said about any superstition.

Lots of superstitions, but never heard anyone say that one.

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

riley1 — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:03:31 GMT

My mother had so many but no new shoes on the table, throw loose change under the mat of a new car, a dollar in a new pocketbook, pink sky in the morn..., silverware falling the floor means company coming, etc

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

Bird mama — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:24:30 GMT

@humpty dumpty wrote:
he brought them into the dining room and set them on the table ... I immediately told him to take them off the table

Exactly! I live alone and even I won't put a box with new shoes on the table (lol).

There's a whole other superstition of someone buying you shoes, particularly a man.

It goes something like - if you allow a man to buy your shoes, he'll dictate how you walk through life or will dictate your path in life.

Now, I don't know if that's for dating or if it applies to husbands.

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

MoJoV — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:27:42 GMT

@colliegirls wrote:
Or was it "no hats on the bed"? My mother had so many superstitions it was hard to keep up!

My Irish mother had the hat on the bed superstition too. We would never ever put shoes on a table in her immaculate home superstition or not!

Re: Superstition: Shoes on the Table

circles — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:33:04 GMT

I never heard of this till I was married...my in-laws said no NEW shoes on the table as they won't fit...even though you tried them on before you brought them home...the shoes would be a continual problem.....