Shoes, Shoes, Shoes! Trivia Quiz

Answer: China

Lotus shoes are the tiny shoes that are worn by Chinese women who have had their feet bound. The shoes are made of elaborately embroidered fabric, usually silk or cotton. These shoes are so small that they can fit in the average adult's hand. These shoes can be found in museums and private collections and are still made for the very few elderly Chinese women who still have bound feet.

Answer: When someone is leaving to go on a journey

According to old English folklore when a person leaves home on a journey, throw an old shoe after him to bring him good luck. Some sources state it should be thrown after the person and other variations say to throw it in the direction of the journey.

Answer: Irish dancing

Ghillies are a ballet style shoe that lace over the foot and are similar to ballet slippers. They are a soft shoe worn for both Scottish and Irish dancing. They do have other names including pomps and ligh shoes. They are usually black in color and can be worn by both men and women.

Answer: Toronto, Ontario

To see one of the world's most extensive collections of footwear, I would travel to Toronto, Canada. The Bata Shoe Museum is a unique museum that is devoted to Calceology, which is the historical study of footwear. The museum has over 12,000 artifacts that span over 4,000 years of human history.

The building itself which was designed by Raymond Moriyama was designed evoke the image of a shoe box being opened.

Answer: Christian Louboutin

Louboutin showcased their haute couture line of shoes in 1991. Known for their 4-5" stilettos with red soles, these shoes can be bought on every continent except Antarctica. The company has had a problem with fakes and knock-off versions of their shoes. Before you spend a lot of money for a pair of these shoes, make sure you are buying the real thing.

These are not bargain basement shoes and if anyone is offering them to you for under $1,000 they are probably not the real thing.

Answer: These Boots Are Made For Walking

Released in 1966, Nancy Sinatra's hit song "These Boot Are Made For Walking" quickly shot to the number one spot in the charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She was known to sing her rendition of this song wearing go-go boots. The song has been remade by a plethora of other groups including Megadeath, Dika Newlin and Jessica Simpson. None have enjoyed the success of the first rendition, nor did they deserve to.

Answer: Putting them on a table

In many English-speaking countries placing shoes on top of a table is a symbol of death. This superstition has its origins from public hangings which were prevalent at one time. Convicted prisoners were usually hanged with their shoes on and when letting loose of the noose the persons shoes would tap lightly on the floor of the gallows.

This association was translated to the sound shoes make when they were set on a table. There are many superstitions about putting shoes anywhere but on the floor.

Answer: Armenia

In 2008, in an Armenian cave, perfectly preserved, archeologists found what is believed to be the world's oldest leather shoe. The shoe was found under layers of sheep dung, and was made of tanned cow hide. The shoe has leather laces that crisscross through numerous leather eyelets as is seen in many modern lace-up shoes.

The shoe is believed to be over 5,500 years old, which makes it older than The Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge. If only all of my shoes lasted that long!

Answer: He wore the same pair of dress slippers for twenty-three years straight

On June 30, 2007 Derek Fan set a record by wearing the same pair of dress slippers for twenty-three years straight. This is without removing them at all. As might be expected, he is a bachelor.

Answer: True

Retifism is not an unusual predilection. The name comes from 18th century French author Nicolas-Edme Retif who was known to have liked women's shoes. Interest in the foot or in shoes is not uncommon and can be found in many cultures around the world.