Today, October 31st, we invite you on a short historical excursion: a journey into the world of shoes and their mysterious role in Halloween.
Did you know that shoes once served as a travel device for spirits and souls? Immerse yourself in stories from times long past.
When shoes carry ghosts: Halloween in the Middle Ages
The night is dark, a cold wind blows through bare trees, and candles flicker in the houses.
In the ancient Samhain festival, the forerunner of today's Halloween, the line between the living and the dead was considered particularly thin. On this mysterious night, shoes were placed outside the door, sometimes old and worn, sometimes carefully polished.
It was believed that the shoes could serve as a travel object for the spirits of the deceased, helping them find their way safely back to the other world.
At the same time, they were intended to distract or appease witches or restless souls who might otherwise try to enter houses.
In this way, people's simple shoes became magical objects that brought protection, hope, and a spark of superstition into the dark night.
Shoes between life and death: An ancient symbol
The idea that shoes serve as a means of transport between worlds is pervasive in many European folk traditions. In some regions, a pair of shoes was placed on the doorstep for the deceased so they could prepare for their journey.
Others placed small gifts or coins inside to gain the favor of the spirits.
Shoes were not only practical, but became symbols of the connection between the living and the dead, between the visible and the invisible world.
Halloween today: magic, costumes and sweets
Even today, the fascination with Halloween lives on. Children dress up and go door to door, lanterns glow, and pumpkins flicker.
Shoes may no longer be placed for ghosts, but they continue to accompany the night full of surprises and symbolize the connection between people, stories and rituals.
A quick glance leads to St. Martin's Day: Here, too, polished shoes are placed in front of the doors, waiting to be filled with sweets and gifts. In this custom, too, shoes serve as a medium for small rituals and joyful surprises.
Shoes full of stories
From ancient Halloween superstitions to glowing lanterns on St. Martin's Day, shoes carry stories, symbols, and small moments of magic. Those who look more closely as they walk can see that these inconspicuous companions once guided souls safely through the night and now hold joy, surprise, and memories.
