Shoe trees the world over
by Dr. Nimal Sedera
I knew of shoe cream but not of
shoe trees until I read an article in the newspapers in Las Vegas, USA.
Then I began to explore the Internet to read more about the “Shoe
Trees”. To my surprise, there were hundreds of articles and web pages on
“shoe trees” in various countries.
 What is a shoe tree? It is nothing but a tree where used old shoes
are tied together with the laces and thrown to hang for fun. When some
one or a group begins this fun game others begin to follow. Then some
add on other practices.
“Make a wish and throw the old pair at the shoe tree!”
Then some even begin to write their wish on the old shoe and throw
it. It is mostly the young that embrace this tradition. However, there
are more than seventy-five prominent shoe trees in the United States, on
popular key roads. For instance, there are four well-known shoe trees in
California.
If you take the globe, the shoe tree concept is popular in several
countries and they include USA, England, Australia, Belgium, Canada, New
Zealand, Sweden, Mexico and France. India and Poland too have some shoe
trees.
There are interesting stories relating to each of these trees as to
their origin. This story relates to the shoe tree in the State of Nevada
where I currently live.
This tree is on the US highway 47 miles east of Fallon. A newly
married couple, immediately after the wedding were driving to Colorado.
They began a fight in the car on some issue and the wife forced the
husband to stop the car so that she could get out. He pulled out her
shoes as she got down and now she was on the road minus her shoes.
The man was so angry he tied her pair of shoes with the lace and
threw it on to the cotton tree under which the vehicle was stopped.
That was the beginning of this famous shoe tree of 40 years. To every
shoe tree, there is one such story. This is real fun and an innocent
activity harmless, a wonderful attraction for the people, so much so
there are web pages on those trees.
All over the world shoe trees have generally come up on remote roads
and areas where people could stop a vehicle to take a look at, take a
photograph and find time to throw a used pair of shoes or slippers,
boots or sandals at the tree. |
