Not really a hep question but..

jelise

Why are red shoes considered good luck?

I know when we played darts and pool that we would put "noonans" on people when we wanted them to miss, and I believe that is from the movie Caddyshack. We also said "red shoes" for good luck (I still use these when watching football), but I have no idea where it comes from.

I notice a lot of red shoes around here, so I'm hoping someone can enlighten me :)

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portann

Jelise,

I have to admit that when I wore my red shoes in bed that night of my last injection, I wasn't exactly thinking SVR, or going out on the town, or anything much other than whew, tx is done and I made it to the end, hallelujah.

And I put on the shoes as a symbol of something important (didn't know exactly what) and then went to sleep.

If anything was on my mind when I admired my feet in those shoes, it was that I could start feeling human again, maybe even sexy again, and all with a bit of help from little red stilettos.

I can tell you it was really fun and channeled my mixed emotions into something tangible.

Some sources say red has a physiological effect shown to stimulate the adrenal glands, which helps increase our stamina.  I had so little energy that night but I swear the red shoes give me a lift despite hemoglobin in the nines.

Different colors have such different associations, depending on the culture.

In Chinese tradition, red is considered a symbol of integrity and that it can drive away misfortune. So yes, generally, good fortune and luck.

In North America, red is culturally associated with sexuality and love. Valentines are red because hearts are red; red dresses and shoes likewise are romantic and/or sexy.

There's an explanation of color psychology in several books, often in disagreement.

Anyone with an anthropology background remembers Desmond Morris's The Naked Ape. I don't think I'll repeat his lips, etc. thesis here because the guys might go nuts.  (To the gals only, Desmond Morris says painting the lips red represents a woman ready for sex because it signals her vagina lips are reddish and swollen! Hot dog!)

Anyway, women colored their nails red in ancient Egypt, and red has probably been part of cultural symbolism, one way or the other forever.

In South Africa, red is a sign of mourning, so go figure.

Anyway, if you try them, please let me know if you get that exciting feeling!

Susan

P.S. Not to complicate things but the Pope traditionally wears red slippers!

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jelise

Yep! I think you guys are right about it being a Chinese thing. Thanks for clearing that up because I couldn't find it when I searched previously.

I like the fact that it got started here in a completely unrelated way. It is a fun (and lucky) tradition and I fully intend to purchase some red shoes soon :)

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