The practice of burying the deceased without shoes is an ancient one. There are a variety of reasons why people are buried without shoes, from spiritual symbolism to practical considerations.
The spiritual significance of burying the deceased without shoes varies depending on the culture and religious beliefs. The practical reasons include hygiene and comfort. After death, the shape of the feet can become distorted due to rigor mortis. This makes it very difficult to put shoes on the dead.
In the Middle Ages, shoes were very expensive. It made more sense to pass on shoes to people who were still alive rather than waste them by burying them. Since many coffins only show the upper half of the body, shoes are simply unnecessary unless requested by the family.
Some religious burial practices also forbid the use of shoes. Many materials found in modern shoes are harmful to the environment and take a long time to decompose when buried. Special biodegradable burial slippers are now used as an alternative.
Can You Wear Shoes When Buried?
The deceased are often buried without shoes for practical reasons. Putting shoes on a dead body can be very difficult as the shape of the feet becomes distorted after death. In the Middle Ages, shoes were expensive so families would keep them to pass on to the living rather than waste them. Some religious practices also forbid burying the dead with shoes. Ultimately, this ancient tradition has origins in pragmatism and symbolism across cultures.