http://www.care2.com/greenliving/remove-your-shoes-on-entering.html
Remove Your Shoes on Entering? 7 Reasons Why
Adapted from Japanese Style, by Sunamita Lim (Gibbs Smith Publisher, 2007).
Do you remove your shoes on entering your home? Many of us who are not culturally predisposed to this activity avoid thinking about it because we are conflicted about starting a daily routine that you would then need to impose on others.
There are many kinds of sanctuary this routine can bring, and here are seven:
Natural Style, Easy Grace
From Dutch homes of the 15th century, where it was not permissible to set foot in a room without first removing one’s shoes, to removing shoes at the front door in most Asian homes as a mark of respect to the house and to honor its cleanliness and purity, taking off one’s shoes at the front door can be a deeply ingrained cultural habit.
For those of us who don’t share this habit, a good reason to consider initiating it is grounded in the pollutants they carry in from the outside world.
The benefits of removing shoes are many, including:
- Taking off one’s shoes at the door can be a simple celebration of everyday life, as easy as kicking off your shoes at the front door to symbolize leaving behind the harried outer world, then lighting incense and being soothed by the subtle aroma of lavender wafting through the house.
- Less dirt and small rocks gouge our floors, gently buffed by bare feet in the warmer seasons and by softly slippered feet in the cooler months.
- Bare feet are treated to the comforting sensation of walking on smooth wood, or other flooring, an uncommon experience in itself.
- Less time is spent cleaning the floor.
- Infants and young children with more sensitive immune systems inhale cleaner indoor air.
- A healthier home is ensured because shoes track in lead, pesticides and other pollutants, contaminating carpets and floors, turning a home into a toxic place for pets and young children, especially, who spend more time on the floor.
- Shoes in Japan are left in the foyer, and traded for house slippers, with the gesture being both symbolic and a conscious desire to leave behind the outer world by shedding, literally, the first obvious steps—shoes.
- Home is seen as a separate, special place, a sanctuary.
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153 comments
add your comment »great idear, yes- thank you for bringing it to mind again:)
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why is this inappropriate?
I really like this and will start incorporating this idea.
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why is this inappropriate?
Thanks for the Post
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why is this inappropriate?
It is better to keep the place clean.
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why is this inappropriate?
Japanese wear all different shoes & slippers in their own appt., this i found a bit "too much", but it sure makes sense to take your dirty shoes, that have been walking on all sorts of streets..., off before entering your house!
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why is this inappropriate?
Its also good to let your feet breathe each evening.
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why is this inappropriate?
Taking off shoes before entering is a custom in many cultures and countries around the world. In addition to Japan which is mentioned in the article--many middle-eastern and Muslim communities around the world. I've even found this to be a custom among various cultural groups in America. When we think about the filth that is on the streets, it is a wonderful practice. Thanks for the eye-opening post!
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why is this inappropriate?
Thanks for the post!
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why is this inappropriate?
I've always taken off my shoes in my home. It's more about comfort than anything else. I understand the variety of reasons why people would or would not want to take off their shoes. What it comes down to is respect for one another. If a person does not want shoes worn in their house, they should be respected for that. On the other hand, if due to medical reasons, a person should keep on their shoes, well, that needs to be respected and they shouldn't have to go into detail about why they need their shoes on, unless they want to talk about it. It's all about respecting one another.
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why is this inappropriate?
Sounds like M.V. is almost on target regarding my initial concerns on this issue. At least M.V. cleans the household pet (dog) before allowing it to roam freely in the residence. However, we must remember that even though a pet dog is cleaned it still will stretch out on the floor (rugs, etc.)and perhaps on beds and furniture allowing its private parts to brush upon the fabric or flooring: that is also touched by any human in the residence. We must remember that pets (dogs/cats) do involuntary discharge fluids from their orafices and no matter how much sanitizing is performed prior to allowing them to roam free in the domicile a discharge (even a drop of fluid or smear of feces, etc.) will occur. Clearly, if any homeowner restricts shoes in the residence there must be a total sanitary mindset; consequently, cleaning up the dog's or cat's feet/body is the first step: a complete sanitary measure must then include having the pet wear waterproof undergarments for the genital areas and also some sort of "SARS" type of mask that will also retain all fluid discharges that involuntarily eminate from the nose and mouth of the pet. Once all this is performed it would be obvious that the shoe removal process is not merely a "token" effort to prevent bacteria within one's domain. My key point is still this: if anyone asks humans to remove shoes at the door, then let's be practical on insuring that such sterilization practices extend to the entire scenario (i.e., non-humans also).
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