Shoes have played a number of roles in Christmas observances around the world. The most common dates from the Middle Ages — the placing out of shoes on St. Nicholas Eve or Christmas Eve or Epiphany Eve so that the Gift-Bringer can fill them with treats or gifts. In many European countries it is essential that these shoes be freshly-polished if they are to be used in this way. These same shoes often hold grass or grain for the Gift-Bringer’s animals. A related use is to place one’s letter to Santa or other Gift-Bringer in a shoe so that he will know what to bring for a Christmas present.
In Greece, some people burn their old shoes during the Christmas season to prevent misfortunes in the coming year while others burn them to prevent the monstrous kallikantzaroi from coming down the chimney to torment the family. In Scandinavian countries it is believed that shoes placed side-by-side on Christmas Eve will prevent a family from quarrleing in the year to come.
Throwing shoes is also a means of Christmas divination. A girl who successfully throws her slipper into a tree or who throws her shoe at a door at midnight and finds that it points toward the door will receive a marriage proposal within the year.