Shoes on a table: Difference between revisions

A belief common in the North of England is that the tradition relates to the [[coal mining]] industry. When a minerworker died in a collierymining 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weirdisland.co.uk/behaviour/superstitions/shoes-on-a-table-are-bad-luck.html |title=Shoes on a table are bad luck Folklore and Urban Legends |publisher=Weirdisland.co.uk |date=2014-08-29 |access-date=2018-04-22}}{{dead link |date=July 2024}}</ref>

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.<ref>David Pickering, ''Cassell's Dictionary of Superstitions'' (Sterling Publishing, 2002) p. 425</ref> Also described as an [[old wives' tale]], the superstition may date back to medieval times.<ref>{{cite web|author=I. Marc Carlson |url=http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/shoe/RESEARCH/CONCEALED/shoestuff.htm |title=Shoe-perstitions |publisher=Personal.utulsa.edu |date=2008-02-22 |access-date=2018-04-22}}{{dead link |date=July 2024}}</ref><!-- Personal site? --> Some sources ascribe the origin to the fact that criminals were hanged while still wearing their shoes.<ref>Harry Collis and Joe Kohl, ''101 American Superstitions'' (McGraw-Hill Professional, 1998) p. 69.</ref> 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.<ref>{{Citecitation needed web|urldate=http://www.justparents.co.uk/ftopict-9750.html|titleJuly = Shoes on the table2024}}</ref>