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For as long as humanity has been wearing shoes, they’ve also been taking them off and hurling them. Often, these throws are directed at each other, a fact that many politicians can attest to over the years. While shoe throwing is primarily associated with protests today, its history stretches far beyond this context. It has been part of celebrations, sports, and has even played a significant role in several notable incidents. Here are ten of the most astonishing and unexpected facts about this unusual human pastime.
10. It Is Mentioned in the Bible
The practice of throwing shoes dates back to ancient times, so much so that it even appears in the Bible. In Psalms 60:8, God himself uses the act of casting a shoe as a metaphor. The verse is often translated as 'Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe,' with 'cast out' sometimes replaced by 'throw.' God’s disdain for Edom, an ancient kingdom in the Middle East, is clearly emphasized.
The act of throwing a shoe, though open to interpretation, is undoubtedly negative. It’s a gesture that still carries the same insulting connotations today. One theory is that it refers to an ancient custom where throwing a shoe on the ground symbolized taking possession of something. Another possibility is that it represents how a master might throw a dirty shoe at a slave, who would then be required to clean it.
9. It Happened to a Roman Emperor
One of the earliest recorded incidents of shoe throwing, which sparked a full-scale riot, involved a Roman emperor. In AD 359, Constantius II was giving a speech, which the Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus described as 'most mild,' to a group of Limigantes—armed slaves in central Europe. He was hoping to win them over, but the outcome proved that they were far from impressed with his intentions.
One of the Limigantes, said to be 'struck with savage madness,' shouted their war cry, 'marha, marha,' and threw his shoe at the Romans. This led the crowd to rush the emperor and his soldiers, drawing their weapons and yelling in chaos. In the ensuing confusion, they couldn’t distinguish Constantius from his men, allowing the emperor to escape quickly on horseback.
8. It Used to be a Victorian Wedding Tradition
Shoes weren't always thrown in anger. In fact, during Victorian times in Britain, throwing shoes was a part of a wedding celebration. As strange as it may sound today, it was a tradition to pelt newlyweds with old shoes as they began their honeymoon. In 1895, Scottish writer James Crombie published a work on the subject, starting with the line, 'Pelting a bride and bridegroom with old shoes when they start on their honeymoon is a custom we are all familiar with.'
The exact reasons behind the tradition of throwing shoes at weddings remain unclear, but it’s similar to the custom of throwing rice at newlyweds around the world for good luck. Shoes have also held symbolic significance in weddings in various cultures. In Germany, the groom was once legally required to present his bride with a new pair of shoes, and in Finland, a pair had to be given to the bride's mother.
7. It Created a Sport
The British didn’t limit shoe throwing to weddings—they turned it into a sport as well. In 'Welly Wanging,' competitors hurl a rubber boot—or 'wang' it, as it’s called in Yorkshire, where the sport originated—as far as they can. While it has never reached the same level of popularity as events like the javelin or shot put, it does have its own governing body, the World Welly Wanging Association, and hosts an annual World Championship in Upperthong, the village where it is said to have been invented.
According to local legend, a quarrel over spilled ale at a village pub led one farmer to angrily chase another out of the pub and throw his boot at him. In the following weeks, the tale spread throughout the village, and locals began trying to replicate the farmer’s boot-throwing act. What started as a simple act of frustration grew into a full-blown tradition and is now a beloved feature of small festivals and gatherings in the UK and beyond.
6. The Myth about Throwing Shoes over Powerlines
One place where thrown shoes can often be found—though it’s unlikely that anyone actually witnessed the throw—is on power lines. The difficulty in explaining why shoes are thrown over power lines has given rise to an urban legend claiming that it’s a way for gangs and drug dealers to mark their territory. While some police sources have confirmed this, it remains unclear whether this occurred before the myth gained traction. Many others dismiss it as just that—a myth, with gang members naturally being tight-lipped about it.
According to a veteran police officer with 20 years of experience, the most probable reason shoes end up on power lines is simple mimicry—people throw shoes there because they see others have done it. Other possible explanations include commemorating the death of someone, marking milestones like high school graduation or losing one's virginity, or just kids being mischievous.
5. It Is the Ultimate Insult in Middle-Eastern Cultures
In the West, shoe throwing has sometimes been used as a form of protest, but it has also found its place in celebrations and sports. However, in other cultures, particularly in the Middle East, throwing a shoe is considered an extreme insult, reserved for moments when the thrower wants to make a strong statement. In these cultures, even the act of showing the soles of one’s shoes or feet to another person is seen as offensive, so throwing or hitting someone with a shoe is even more hostile.
The act of throwing a shoe is seen as equivalent to throwing dirt at someone, due to the shoe’s direct contact with the ground. There’s also a social dimension to this insult: in societies where the poor couldn’t afford shoes, being able to discard a shoe could elevate the thrower’s status while lowering the status of the target. Tossing a shoe at someone is like implying they don’t even have their own.
4. It Was Used in the Iraq War
Given its potency as an insult, it’s no surprise that shoe-throwing incidents often occur in times of conflict in the Middle East. Perhaps the most famous incident happened during the Iraq War. In 2008, during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at then-President George W. Bush, shouting: “This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog!”
Bush expertly dodged the shoes and downplayed the incident, but al-Zaidi was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to three years in prison. He was later released after serving only nine months, and became a national hero in Iraq. Al-Zaidi had waited for this moment since the U.S.-led invasion began in 2003, especially after Bush suggested that American troops would be welcomed with flowers. Instead, al-Zaidi chose to greet him with something far less pleasant. Two decades later, he remarked that his only regret was not having enough shoes.
3. The Famous David Beckham 'Flying Boot'
On February 15, 2003, Manchester United suffered a crushing 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, dashing their hopes of winning one of England’s premier football titles that season. Sir Alex Ferguson, widely regarded as one of the greatest football managers in history, was furious. He stormed into the locker room to voice his displeasure with the Manchester players for their poor performance.
What truly transpired during that infamous meeting is a mystery known only to those who were there. However, one of the most memorable outcomes was David Beckham emerging with a cut above his left eye. Rumors spread that it was caused by a boot thrown by a teammate, specifically Sir Alex Ferguson. Both Beckham and Ferguson later clarified that the boot was kicked, not thrown, and that it was merely an unfortunate accident.
Despite the clarification, the story dominated headlines in the following days, and the incident was a clear sign that Beckham’s time at Manchester United was drawing to a close. By the end of the season, he transferred to Real Madrid.
2. Some Politicians Have Had to Protect Themselves
George W. Bush is far from the only politician to have faced a shoe-throwing incident in modern times. Al-Zaidi inadvertently set a trend, as reports emerged just months later of a wave of shoe-throwing protests. In New Delhi, journalist Jarnail Singh threw his shoe at the Indian home minister during a news conference after becoming frustrated by the minister’s evasive responses.
Singh’s act of defiance made him a national hero. He received gifts, money, and even marriage proposals, all of which he graciously declined. In response to the growing threat, some politicians, including Narendra Modi, took measures to protect themselves. Modi used volleyball nets to shield himself during public appearances. A similar situation occurred in 2013, when Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou faced protests. Authorities spent around $17,000 on giant nets to guard him against flying shoes during public outings.
1. Shoe-Throwing Culprit Gets His Own Shoe
The notorious shoe-throwing incident didn't stop there. As soon as President Bush ducked behind the podium, the event was quickly turned into an online game with more than a million participants. In *Sock and Awe*, players took on the role of al-Zaidi, lobbing virtual shoes at a bobbing President Bush. Those wanting to join the action in person could have gone to the White House, where protestors pelted an effigy of the president with shoes instead.
Even after he retired in 2009, President Bush's image was still under attack. In Toronto, Canada, a group of protestors bombarded a giant poster of Bush with shoes. And Muntazer al-Zaidi got a dose of his own medicine when, in Paris the same year, an Iraqi journalist threw a shoe at him during a press conference. Al-Zaidi, dodging the shoe just like he had done a year before, remarked, 'He stole my technique.' In a twist of irony, his brother threw a shoe at the attacker.
