Slippers, Shoes, Clogs, Galoshes, and Boots. The History and Materiality of Footwear in European Fairy Tales

This article examines the history and materiality of footwear in European fairy tales, highlighting its symbolic and narrative significance in reflecting cultural, social, and historical dynamics. Shoes in fairy tales are far more than functional objects; they embody themes of identity, transformation, social status, agency, desire, and deviance. Drawing on a range of tales, including canonical works as well as lesser-known narratives from European collections, the study investigates how footwear operates as a cultural artifact within storytelling traditions. The analysis situates shoes within their historical and artisanal contexts, exploring their craftsmanship and materials, and their association with societal practices such as rituals, status symbols, and gender roles. Special attention is given to feminist readings of tales and to some subversive depictions of footwear, which challenge traditional narrative conventions. Employing an object-oriented methodological approach, the article reveals intertextual connections that link the material culture of shoes to their broader historical, cultural, and symbolic meanings. It argues that footwear serves as a nexus between the tangible and the symbolic, enriching the cultural resonance of fairy tales while reflecting shifting societal norms. By analyzing the enduring role of shoes as both literary and historical-cultural signifiers, the study underscores their capacity to shape collective imagination and engage with issues of social transformation, identity, and agency.