3 reasons why Dead People are not buried with shoes

Around the world, different cultures have different burial customs and rituals. Why are people buried without shoes is one tradition that many find puzzling. Both philosophical and practical backgrounds can be used to justify the practice. A better understanding of tradition results from the behaviour's fascinating logic.

How Come People Aren't Buried in Shoes?

The visitation or wake before the funeral is taken into consideration when preparing the dead for burial. It had been customary for years to dress the body in formal attire, such as a nice dress or suit.

Recently, more families have decided to dress their loved ones in more everyday-looking, casual attire. Shoes are frequently excluded for practical reasons.

1. The Feet Are Not Seen

At a viewing, a casket's bottom half is typically closed. Only the upper body of the deceased is visible. Not as much was required of socks and shoes as part of the clothing for burial.

2. It's Hard to Wear Shoes

Another practical point is that it is difficult to put shoes on a dead person. After death, the feet's shape can drastically alter. Rigor mortis and other body processes enlarge and frequently distort the feet's normal size and shape. Sometimes the deceased's shoes no longer fit. The feet are no longer flexible, even with the right size, making it difficult to put shoes on them.

3. Shoes Are Not Eco-Friendly

Ecological considerations are a further justification for not burying shoes. The deceased is dressed in a shroud or natural fibre clothing because many people prefer a more environmentally friendly funeral. Biodegradable natural materials do not release dangerous chemicals into the environment. 

According to "Medicalnewstoday", shoes are frequently made of materials like leather, rubber, or man-made fibres that biodegrade very slowly and can release chemicals into the soil.