Gifts have been always a way to show genuine love to your partner, but if you really want to live happily ever after with them, avoid gifting them a pair of shoes at all costs, at least according to the shoe theory.
The hashtag “shoetheory” has been all over TikTok over recent days, with many people warning against gifting your lover a pair of shoes, or else he’ll turn into your ex-lover soon.
It sounds odd, but it actually happened, with many people saying the shoe theory is real and providing strong evidence to support their claim. However, this evidence failed to convince the skeptics who think that this theory is too much.
What Is The Shoe Theory?
The shoe theory suggests that gifting shoes to your partner bring bad luck into your relationship and will eventually cause lovers to break up with each other.
“If you gift somebody in your life a pair of shoes, essentially one day they are going to walk out of it.” TikToker Katie said.
Shoe Theory Origins
Gifting your significant other a pair of shoes is a bad luck superstition in some Asian cultures, including the Chinese and Korean.
The word ‘shoes’ has a negative connotation in Chinese culture: “Primarily the whole idea comes from the Chinese word for shoes (鞋 xié) which sounds similar to evil (邪 xié ),” website China Market Advisor states.
According to the website, people in China have promoted this idea for a long time, which entails that gifting someone a pair of shoes is like “giving them a bad spirit.”
And while the Chinese believe this gift “sends the message of ending your relationship,” it’s still acceptable to give your family members shoes as a gift, however.
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This shoe theory has been circulating on the internet throughout the 2000s and was brought again to the surface by TikToker @crystalations, who shared a now-viral TikTok video that reads: "I got my man shoes for Christmas and completely forgot about the shoe theory."
@crystalations_ Pls don’t walk out my life bae
♬ original sound - <3
However, this gesture is believed to bring good luck to the receiver in his life and the giver in the afterlife.
“Giving someone a new pair of shoes is unlucky, although strangely it is also said to prolong their life,” the website Mental Floss says on its page about gift-giving superstitions.
According to the website, giving shoes as a Christmas present is bad luck in romantic relationships, but not gifting shoes to anyone “means that you will be doomed to go shoeless in the afterlife. Tough choice.”
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Is Shoe Theory Real? TikTokers Tried to Prove It
While it’s hard to believe that gifting a pair of shoes can end lead to a breakup, TikTok was flooded with videos of people claiming that this theory is absolutely true.
TikToker Katie admitted that the shoe theory seemed “dumb” when she first read about it, but then she remembered that she had gifted her ex a pair of shoes before.
“Mind you, this is the only time I’ve ever gifted someone a pair of shoes, like I’ve never bought shoes for anybody else, but I’m not gonna lie – they definitely walked out of my life.” she said.
@ok.kati.2 this is odd #fypシ #shoetheory ♬ original sound - Katie
Tons of people assured Katie that she was not the only one who experienced this, “My ex RAN out of mine after I got him Nikes,” one user commented.
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“I’ve never heard of this but literally the only person I ever bought shoes for is the only person who’s ‘walked out of my life’ unexpectedly,” another said.
“I gave him 5 & he indeed walked out,” a third wrote.
On the other hand, some did not endorse the shoe theory, “My mother always gives my dad shoes… they’ve been together for 12 years so…” one wrote.
“I bought my man shoes for our first Christmas together. This will be our 5th Christmas, and getting married in March :-) don’t be scared!” a second tried to reassure everyone.
But what if you already bought a pair of shoes to gift to your lover this Christmas? Looking absolutely terrified, TikToker Grace asked her viewers: “Guys, why has this shoe theory only come out two weeks before Christmas? I’ve bought my boyfriend shoes – do I send them back?’
@gkbarry #fyp #shoetheory ♬ original sound - Grace
Another TikToker who strongly believes in this theory warned people against giving shoes as a gift, “do not under any circumstance get someone in your life shoes as a gift,” she said.
@discosexguru #theshoetheory ♬ original sound - discosexguru
Another shoe theory believer shared her experience in a TikTok video that reads, “ladies here is undeniable proof that the shoe theory is real.”
@yrfavetaurus does anybody want these big ass jordans i’ve been holding onto for an entire year😳
♬ original sound - <3
“Give a man shoes and he’ll run away in them,” one joked in the comments.
So, will you still gift your sweetheart a pair of shoes this Christmas? It’s doubtful, but if you’re daring enough to do it, prepare to become the next prey to the shoe curse.
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