Who hangs old boots and shoes from the branches of trees and why?

There are many different reasons for hanging shoes from tall structures. Each community has their own reasons.





In urban areas, a pair of shoes is hung from the telephone wires in remembrance of a victim of violence in the neighborhood, often a result of drugs or gangs. I do not have a web reference for this, my friend who used to live in inner-city New York gave me this inside info about why the shoes were hanging on his street.





Many colleges have the tradition of hanging shoes from a tree on campus. Some are a part of a hazing or initiation to a sports team or fraternity/sorority. At a school in Maryland, the %26#039;shoe tree%26#039; is open to all students, and contributions are made in twos by the couple... a couple throws both their pairs up on the branches when they first do it - whether it%26#039;s the first time doing it period or the first time doing it on campus.





This tradition has been observed and transformed for many different geographical areas, with different symbolism for each sub-culture. I would say any answer you get is probably a right answer, at least for the area where the person grew up.

Who hangs old boots and shoes from the branches of trees and why?
We have this in Dublin in some Housing estates where they throw Trainers over Telephone Cables stretching across Roads. I pointed this out to a Work Colleague years ago when delivering to an Council Estate and he said it is the sign for the Drug Runners. When they take your Money for the Drugs they run off to the Person that has the Drugs and he sends them back to you with the Gear after Money has been Paid.





It is the Sign that a Druggies House is Nearby,and is open for Business.
Reply:druggies, so you know where they%26#039;re at. there%26#039;s a pair off a tree at my school :O
Reply:drug sellers, so you know where to buy
Reply:the shoe fairy, because she%26#039;s got a shoe fetish she wants to share. Emelda Marcos
Reply:students?????????????
Reply:Kids have a habit of stealing each others shoes and trainers and throwing them up in the air. They sometimes do not come down again. They get caught in trees and overhanging wires.
Reply:Usually a sign that a gang is in the area - and that is their domain
Reply:I do because i%26#039;m a little strange
Reply:not me i send them to the charity shop
Reply:the bare footed contessa
Reply:nothing new see the link
Reply:Blair !





Witch project 2
Reply:Good work, there, seahawk. I have another. On forts, when a soldier is about to transfer, he takes his boots and slings them over the wires in front of HQ (HHC) as a last farewell. Sometimes he(or she) will write things on the boots in white paint pen. These writings can be either good things or bad things depending. Sometimes they can get rather derogatory and personal about the command staff.
Reply:university students playing a prank on their friend who got FAR too wasted on his way home from a pub





good times.....
Reply:Hmm, never seen %26#039;em on trees before but in STL they hang them on the power lines and light poles as a sign of ownership of their neighborhood or in remembrance of a friend or loved one who%26#039;s passed. Has NOTHING to do with drugs. Whoever said that doesn%26#039;t know what they%26#039;re talking about. Sorry but it%26#039;s true.
Reply:I have no idea, but I usually see one trainer or boot by itself......how can you not miss a shoe????



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