The origins of Hogmanay and first footing

Although the well known Scottish tradition of Hogmanay (originally a type of three cornered, biscuit) is celebrated on New Year's Eve, the Celtic New Year was on the 1st November and was called Samhain. Samhain was the great gathering of the clans and if you watched The Highlander film or TV series you will of heard of the Great Gathering. Well there was such an event and it took place in the mid winter. Hogmanay or Samhain was celebrated on three levels. It was a time of plenty as the live stock were returned from the hills before the severe winter ahead; it was a time of great kinship, as the hill dwellers came to the gathering; and Samhain was the time of year when the darkness of night prevailed over the lightness of the day. According to Celtic myth Lugh, the Sun God was defeated by his dark side and become the Lord of Misrule. Good folk needed the comfort of their own kind and protection from the evil forces of the dark. Much of the symbolism of Samhain can still be found between today's Halloween and Hogmanay. In pre-Christian times, Samhain was an unreal time, when one year turned into another. A twilight zone where the spirits of the dead and those not yet born, walked freely among the living. Even with the introduction of Christianity, the occult association has never been lost, e.g. Halloween or the beginning of the Festival of the Dead and Hogmanay , the end as beginning of the New Year. Many cultures believed the first fit brought luck and the Celtic custom of "first footing" is European in origin and not exclusive to Scotland. The tradition demands the first person to pass the threshold of the house in the New Year must be a sonsy (trustworthy), stranger of dark complexion, carrying a cake called a black bun. This is a rich current bun, and the stranger must also bring a drink called a "wassail" or hot toddy. The cake and drink represent food and sustenance for the coming year. In some parts the First Foot will bring a piece of coal for the fire which symbolized good luck and prosperity for the coming year. To be the perfect first foot you need high arched feet (where water can run freely under the feet). Flat feet at Christmas and New Year are considered very unlucky. In the Isle of Man, an inhabited island between Ireland and England, the perfect first footer is a dark haired man of good appearance with insteps high enough to allow a mouse to run through. It is very unlucky to have a person with fair complexion (or buddy) first foot the home. First footing is still practiced in Scotland and Ireland and other Celtic cultures. After hearing of the bells in the open air (usually the town square) friends visit each other’s homes sharing goodwill and treating themselves to intoxicating liquor. This may go on all night and well into the following day. Some folk were so superstitious they would not cross the threshold of their home until they have been first fitted. Villagers and town’s folk would systematically first foot all the inhabitants so the community was ready to meet the New Year, ahead. Families gather on Ner’day (New Year‘s Day) and feast like the traditional Christmas Day. This represents the modern “gathering of the clans.” Hogmanay is not celebrated as much in the cities now but still remains a strong tradition in rural communities. Ironically the song Auld Land Syne, a traditional air given lyrics by Scottish Poet Robert Burns was not traditionally sand at Hogmanay until the 20th century after it was played at a New Year celebration in New York. The song and sentiment expressed were perfect and have been associated ever since.

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Slangevar and a Happy 2012 to one and all.

Zumba in Bloch Dance Fitness sneakers

New fitness shoes from Bloch are certainly eye catching. Bloch has been making dance shoes for ballet, jazz, tap and ballroom since 1932 and more recently segued into contemporary footwear including pumps, oxfords and feminine ballet flats. Their latest endeavor is a collection of dance fitness sneakers that are lightweight and wearable for everyone. The shoes are super flexible and provide support, with a multi-layered sole for bounce and shock absorption. The new shoes will be available this February in an attractive array of candy hues with pop color accents like lemon yellow, bright purple and fuchsia.

Kelly Brook takes care of her pair.

Actress, Kelly Brook was at the Capri Hollywood International Film Festival in Italy recently. She took to the red carpet wearing high heels and posed for the paparazzi with his boyfriend Thom Evans. Then and soon as she thought she was out of the publc gaze Ms Kelly made a quick change whipped out a pair of trusty flat shoes. The model was pictured slipping out of heels as she left an event.

OneMoment® shoe: Summer shoes to be seen in

OneMoment® shoe is the latest in minimalist footwear and consists of colourful ultrathin foot covers which according to the manufacturers mimics the feeling of walking in bare feet. Made from a polymer injection technique the elastic shoes are 1mm thick with a 2mm thick outsole. The footwear came from a collaboration of a team of architects, product designers, and shoe makers. Made from 100% biodegradable materials the fun One Moment shoes are affordable at approx. $12 US. The shoes are bound to catch on in the summer months and the company are hoping to introduce the opportunity to customize the shoes with individual logos, slogans or corporate image.

Ferragamo's Red Carpet Project, Philippines

Salvatore Ferragamo recently reopened its store in the Philippines. A red carpet event was held recently at the Greenbelt 4, Ayala Center, in Makati. Also launched at the event was the Red Carpet Project, the first-ever made-to-order shoe service from Salvatore Ferragamo. Customers can choose from a selection of four models, select the color from a palette of 23 shades of satin, and receive their Italian made shoes in three weeks.

Day2Night: Well heeled footwear

Day2Night, have a pair of shoes with adjustable heels. Designed by Candice Cabe, the Day2Night Convertible Heels offer five different heights for the heel (1.5 inches to 3.5 inches). The flexible shoes seem ideal for the Christmas party season but at $300 US a pair may have to wait until next year.

Christmas 2011: Not all so well in shoe town

Ivanka Trump has been accused of stealing a design from designer Derek Lam. It has been reported the entrepreneur come fashion designer received a cease-and-desist letter from Lam, who claims one of her recent shoe designs is an exact replica of his Ayami wedge design. The shoe in question is a common wedge-style from the Ivanka Trump Footwear Collection. Although Ms Trump denies the claims, Derek Lam has reportedly given the heiress seven business days to pull the shoe off the market. Singer, Cheryl Cole has come under fire from fans after a pair of heels from her new shoe range was deemed faulty. Suppliers have now warned buyers there is a slight possibility the shoes may have a minor fault. Talking of ‘flesh shopping’ there was a frenzy when Nike released the new Air Jordan basketball shoes across the US. Scuffles broke out and police were brought in to stamp out unrest that nearly turned into riots in some places.

Shoe Privee

Shoe Privee is a private shoe club. It started as a competitor to ShoeDazzle and other personalization sites. Shoe Privee is backed by entrepreneurs Fred Krueger and Kim Reed Perell, founders of Adconion and Frontline Direct, and apparel veterans Serge Azria (Joie, Equipement) and Philippe Elmaleh (Net a Porter).

Cleatskins

Cleatskins are overshoes designed to slip over sports footwear to protect cleats and prevent suds and spikes from damaging floors etc. The add-ons can be used on soocer, rugby, baseball, American Football and golf footgear and eliminate the need to change footwear after training or a match. Cleatskins shells are made from a formulation of compression molded rubber called SKINTEK™ rubber skin and come in two designs i.e. pull-over and slip-on. The shells are available in a range of colors including Jet Black, Blue Ribbon, Royal Blue, Kelly Green, Lime Green, Lemon Chrome, Orange and Formula One Red.

Loopeez: shoe lace tie trainer

The Loopeez helps children learn to "tie shoes." A little band helps children master the task of tying their own shoe laces, and can be used in conjunction with Loopeez bi-colored shoe laces, which helps toodlers distinguish the right lace from the left lace.

spnKIX: fast shoes

spnKiX are battery powered skates that strap onto your shoes and can reach sppeds up to 10mph. The skates are battery powered and can travel about 2-3 miles at a time via a handheld remote strapped to the hand. They come with removable training wheels. spnKiX retail for about $650.

Amber is smokin'

Amber Heard has been spotted out and about in her smoking slippers. She joins a number of Hollywood gliteratti who have taken the androgynous heel less style to their hearts. Fans of the smoking slipper say it is the new ballet pump, and that the more structured shoe helps keep feet cosy in the chillier winter months.

Pretty in Pink: Scarlett Johansson sports Five Fingers

Rare shoe may help identify human remains: New Zealand

Police are checking missing person files after a headless skeleton was found in the garage of a vacant Auckland property recently. The bones were found by contractors demolishing a house on Barrack Rd in Mt Wellington. The house has been empty for more than a year and police believe the remains were put there after the former residents moved out. No cause of death had yet been established and there was no sign of injury or natural disease in the remains. The autopsy further revealed the man was 1.57m to 1.64m tall, but his age and date of death were not known. Among the his effects was a pair of limited edition shoes which were available for only a short time in 2007. The Converse Chuck Taylor 'product red' styled shoes have the top lace eyelet red. Police believe this may help identify the mystery man.

High Heel Shoe Museum

The High Heel Shoe Museum is a an online shoe museum founded by Los Angeles sculptor Bruce Gray in 2002. The museum specializes in exotic, unusual, interesting and extreme high heel shoes with the minimum requirement of a 2 1/2 inch heel. Currently there are 300 styles on display, with more to come soon. The High Heel Shoe Museum features fantastic shoe designs from many of the world's greatest shoe designers including such names as: Pollini, Martini Osvaldo, Italian Heels, Audley of London, Michael Antonio, Peter Fox, Gianna Meliani, Lashy, Calvin Klein, Brenda Zaro, Claudia Ciuti, Emilio Pucci, Patricia Field, Casadei, Hugo Boss, Charles David, Jan Jansen, Colette, Veronica's of Switzerland, Gabriella Rocha, Sam Edelman, Franco Sarto, Deer Stags, and some fantastic shoe salons including Libra Shoes, Simply Soles, My Glass Slipper, High Feelings, Bad Influence, Millies Heels, Extravaganza, Shoecraft, Rabanser, Lori's Shoes, The Little Shoe Box, Helen Bateman, Classic Pumps, and XTC on Melrose.

All the shoes featured were donated by shoe designers, manufacturers, and shoe stores, and were pre-approved by the curator. The museum also features everything related to high heel shoes including many beautiful shoe photographs, links to go shoe shopping worldwide, shoe magazines, shoe books, shoe lovers gifts, shoe art, shoe handbags, shoe sculptures, shoe facts, international shoe size charts, shoe museum directory, and the shoe museum bookstore and gift shop. The shoe museum receives up 52.45 Million hits per year (225,134 hits per day).

Bruce Gray creates larger-than-life steel and aluminum shoe sculptures that shoe and art enthusiasts from around the world commission and collect.

Naturalizer Dare recall

Naturalizer “Dare” is a women’s dress shoe distributed by Brown Shoe Company, Inc., of St. Louis, Mo., has been recalled . The three inch heel dress shoes with open toes and a decorative faux patent leather bow across the front have a fall hazard. The heels of the shoes can lean to either side when pressure is applied. The firm has received one report of a consumer in Canada who received a minor leg injury when she fell while wearing the shoes. Consumers should immediately stop wearing the shoes and return them to any Naturalizer store for a full refund. The following stock numbers are printed inside the shoes below the size number: A3279S1020 Dare (gray), A3279S1250 Dare (nude), A3279S1600 Dare (scarlet) and A3279S2001 Dare (black). The shoes were manufactured in China.

High heel safe, Rome: Cobblestones!

You know you're in a city that takes fashion seriously when its roads are designed to help high-heeled women walk safely and avoid damaging their precious Italian shoes. Rome, Italy, is now the unofficial high-heel friendliest city in the world after the mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, announced plans to makeover the cobblestone-paved streets and sidewalks of Via del Corso. The prime reason given for the change is to make the streets less dangerous for women in high heels. Whilst Alemanno acknowledges cobblestone streets are a part of the city's history and character, they will be replaced with modern cobblestones that are set and sealed in a base of concrete to avoid irregular depressions and gaps. Some of the more heavily traversed streets will however be paved with asphalt. According to an Italian magazine, the work to realign the new cobbles, setting them in a bed of concrete to ensure no heel-catching lumps and bumps ensue, was to begin by the end of this year.

Shoe Museum Marikina in the Philipines

Asics Gel-Excel33: Not all that it appears?

According to the manufacturers, the new Asics Gel-Excel33 is designed to let all 33 joints in the foot move freely. They continue ‘this gives the wearer a 'natural running experience'. (sic all joints of the foot are not mobile with the bases of the three middle metatarsals and respective cunieforms considered the most stable joints of the body). Needless to say this has not stopped the manufacturers from promoting the new kicks with a video featuring thirty-three members of the GB Acrobatic Squad and Britain’s Got Talent winners, Spelbound. The gymnasts contorted and supported each other in the human sculpture to be photographed by Melvin Vincent. The flexible models were directed by two choreographers to help them mould themselves into the different shapes required to create the human shoe.

Vegan Chic

Vegan Chic™ is a newly launched e-store owned by Vessela and Mark Mulcahy. The company are commited to provide quality footwear at affordable prices which do not involve animals. Rebecca Mink (Mink Shoes), Elizabeth Olsen (Olsen Haus), Cri De Coeur Ethical Footwear among many other designers are committed to create spectacular footwear and products that are cruelty-free. When customers sign up to become a member of Vegan Chic, they receive free shipping and a $10 gift voucher applied to their first purchase of $50 or more. Members also receive additional gifts/benefits from time to time. Follow Vegan Chic on Facebook.

Keds “Know It All” shoe: Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of approximately 45,000 girls shoes from Keds, a division of Collective Brands Inc. According to the agency, ornamental metal stars on the heel of the Keds “Know It All” shoe pose a scratching hazard. The agency said it had received 27 reports of lacerations from loosened stars. The $23 shoes in sizes 12 to 5 were sold at department stores and though e-tailers from June until October.

Vivienne Westwood 1973 – 2012 Global Exbition

The Vivienne Westwood 1973 – 2012 Global Exhibition is in Shibuya, Tokyo at Omotesando Hills. More than 200 pairs of her shoes are on display, along with some runway-only couture outfits and accessories from the latest VW collection. Westwood debuted her first collection "Pirates," in 1981 which was the beginning o many firsts over the years including the multi-buckled boot and the Rocking Horse shoe.

Robert F. Kennedy's shoe for auction

Robert F. Kennedy’s brown leather shoe, English-made, size eight and a half might go for auction on ebay. The owner Phyllis Isom managed to pull the shoe form the senator when he visited downtown Kalamazoo. As part of a big crowd she grabbed hold of RFK’s leg when herested his leg up on his convertable to wave to the crowd. Isom says the auction is not about money but about finding the right people for the right shoe. Isom says that even though the story of how she got the shoe was covered by the Kalamazoo Gazette, Esquire Magazine and even the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, for Isom the shoe is more than the end result of a great story.

Bleak Christmas for Barratts and Priceless

The owner of Barratts and Priceless in the UK has gone into administration putting thousands of employees’ jobs at risk. The Barratts Priceless Group, based in Bradford, employs 3,840 staff across hundreds of outlets in the UK. The Barratts Priceless Group has 191 Barratts and Priceless Shoes stores and also operates 371 concessions. Barratts and Priceless Shoes have faced a downturn in trading as a result of the difficult economic conditions exacerbated by an unseasonably mild weather causing fewer sales across new winter lines. Stores will continue to trade meantime whilst a new buyer is sought.

Barefoot running: Good or bad?

In a study published in the scientific journal Nature last year, Daniel Lieberman, an evolutionary biology professor at Harvard University, sought to find out how our ancestors coped with the impact of the foot hitting the ground. Lieberman and colleagues from Britain and Kenya studied runners who ran with or without shoes. They found barefoot endurance runners often landed on the fore-foot before bringing down the heel, while shod runners mostly had a rear-foot strike. The authors concluded this change was prompted by the raised and cushioned heels of modern running shoes. Furher analysis indicated barefoot runners generated less impact with forefoot strike than rear-foot strikers in shoes. The former also had a springier step and used calf and foot muscles more efficiently. Researchers were clear however the evidence did not suggest barefoot running suffered less injuries (sic To the best of my knowledge the gate cycle is different from normal walking to sprinting with the latter having emphasis on ball contact rather than heel contact)

New facelift for Northampton Shoe Museum

The building which houses the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery was once an old jail. Founded in 1865 it has grown piecemeal with the last major investment in 2002, and the addition of two new shoe galleries on the ground floor. A £310,000 modernisation is about to take place to modernise its interior and enhance its collection. £40,000 has been earmarked for a future Footwear Foundation. The major aim of the project is to increase footfall at the museum, it is also hoped other arts and historical venues in the town will benefit from the make-over. Haley Sharpe Design has been commissioned to plan the change. The museum will remain open throughout the works.

John Lobb: Gentleman's shoes of distinction

In the 19th century John Lobb was a famous shoemaker. Born in Cornwall, he became an apprentice bootmaker in London before travelling to Australia to seek his destiny as a gold prospector. Instead he made his fortune by developing an ingenious hollow-heeled boot. Prospectors keen to hide their gold bought them up and Lobb made his first fortune. In 1858, he opened his first bespoke shoe shop, John Lobb, Bootmaker, in George Street, Sydney. In 1866 he moved back to London where he quickly established his famous boot and shoes makers and provided a bespoke service to the aristocracy, as well as the political and business elite. Later in 1902 he opened a second branch in Paris. Like today’s celebrity designers he was patronized by the rich and famous, including Katharine Hepburn and Edward VII. Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle and Alfred Hitchcock all owned John Lobb footwear, and there is reference to his shoes in Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels. Lobbs trademark was 'Lobb' stamped on the outsole and he continued to cut and stitched his shoes himself. Construction was completed by Italian artisans in Fiesso d'Artico, near Venice. The company name is now part of the Hermès Group and continues and maintains its bespoke shoe-making tradition in Paris. Only 100 pairs of John Lobb ready-to-wear shoes are finished in a working day. Hermès' John Lobb shoes are available in both ready-to-wear and made-to-measure. A pair of bespoke leather shoes costs over £2400.

Heel pain and how best to prevent it in growing children

According to experts young athletes should never "play through the pain" in their feet. Heel pain ois ver common and if left untreated, heel can lead to difficulty in walking which may necessitate complicated therapy to recover. Children undergoing growth spurts are particularly susceptible to heel pain from age 8 until around age 13 for girls and age 15 for boys. The source of the heel pain is usually damage to a strip of soft tissue (the growth plate) where new bone is forming to accommodate adolescents' lengthening feet. Overuse, repeat pounding, or excessive force on the Achilles tendon can cause inflammation and pain. For many teenagers, the growth plate has completely closed, and heel pain is caused by other conditions such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, bursitis, bone bruises or fractures. Often first aid measures such as RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) resolves symptoms. However if symptoms persist a visit to the physician is recommended. Anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, or other treatments tailored to requirement are usually successful. Surgey is usually the last resort.

Recogniting the warning signs in children can help prevent or reduce the severity of heel pain. Look out for limping, complaining, walking on toes, and pain the morning after a game. When in doubtr consult your physician.

Always have good fitting supportive shoes made for specific sports. Discard old or uncomfortable footwear especially when they have caused pain. Raise the heels slightly with heel inserts in footwear with flat-footed cleats and where possible renew worn cleats. Insist they do warm-up and cool-down exercises as gentle stretching can help prevent heel pain.

Invisible Shoes: The Crocs of minimalism

Invisible Shoes TM by Feel the world , Inc. are based on traditional huaraches sandals as worn by the Tarahumara Indians or so the manufacturers claim. The Tarahumara (or Rarámuri) are a Native American people of northwestern Mexico who are renowned for their long-distance running ability. Rarámuri, means "runners on foot" or "those who run fast" in their native tongue. The Tarahumara also use the toe strike method of running, which is natural for bare-footed runners. The long-distance running tradition also has ceremonial and competitive aspects. Often, male runners kick wooden balls as they run in "foot throwing" competitions, and females use a stick and hoop. The foot throwing races are relays where the balls are kicked by the runners and relayed to the next runner while teammates run ahead to the next relay point. These races can last anywhere from a few hours for a short race to a couple of days without a break. Again according to the manufactutrer, the new sandals offer an outsole specifically designed for barefoot running. The shoes were developed by former lead designers from Reebok and Nike and their synthetic rubber outsoles have dual-direction Chevron tread for traction in all conditions. Invisible Shoes start at only $20, weigh in at 3.8 ounces and have a “zero drop” (no height difference between the front and rear of the shoe). They are available in two styles: 4mm and 6mm (for extra protection). The company offers a 5000-mile warranty.
Invisible Shoes are custom made to perfectly fit your foot, either with a simple “custom-made for you… by you!®” DIY kit, or made professionally by the company based on a tracing of your foot. Ten percent (10%) of net profits from the sales of Custom Invisible Shoes are donated to the Tarahumara Children’s Hospital Fund.

Look what I want for my Christmas: "10,000 Years of Shoes: The Photographs of Brian Lanker"

"10,000 Years of Shoes: The Photographs of Brian Lanker" is edited by Jon Erlandson and Sarah McClure is produced by the Museum of Natural and Cultural History at the University of Orego and explores the form, function, history and diversity of shoes. The book is illustrated through out by Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist, Brian Lanker . The book connects the museum's famed collection of 10,000-year-old sagebrush bark sandals with the innovations in running shoes developed by Bill Bowerman, Phil Knight and Nike. The book is written for a general audience and includes contributions from Thomas Connolly (director of archaeological research at the museum), Jon M Erlandson (museum director) , Petr Hlavacek (professor of shoe technology at Tomas Bata University in the Czech Republic) and Kenny Moore (Olympian). Currently the book can be purchased at Past and Presents, at the museum's store, for $34.99. In January, the book will be made available for wider distribution.

The Luna Shoe: Shoes on display

Lexus recently challenged four designers to create wearable, fashionable works of art from a dismantled Lexus CT hybrid. The results are on display at the Art Basel Miami Beach in Miami, Fla. Among the creations are: “The Valve Collection” aka a bracelet made of valve lifters, crank bearings, and hose clamps; and the “Nomadic Sanctuary” trench coat, shorts, and clutch, constructed of floor mats and leather seat covers. Alejandro Ingelmo created “The Luna Shoe, ” a pair of wedges made of armrest leather trim and clear plastic tubing. The pieces will eventually be sold at a private auction with the proceeds going to benefit the Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund.

"Walk in an Artist's Shoes," is another exhibition this time to honor the late Frances Galli. The organisers asked local Marin artists to contribute shoes because Galli loved fashion and created a series of paintings of shoes.

The collection of 48 shoe-cum-art exhibits will be on show at ICB's annual Winter Open House. All the exhibits are for sale (prices range from $50 to $600 US), with some artists donating the proceeds to their favorite charity.

Official Denver Airport Holiday Flash Mob