Why do Australians do shoeys?
Harry Styles took part in an Australian tradition at his concert in Perth this week by doing a ‘shoey’, the act of drinking from your shoe.
Video transcript
- How come Australians do shoeys? Harry Styles to a part in an Australian tradition at his concert in Perth this week by doing a shoey. "This is one of the most disgusting traditions I've ever witnessed," Styles said before drinking from his shoe. The Australian Shuai has been around since the 20th century, but it is said to have originated in high class brothels in Chicago.
In 1902 Prince Henry of Prussia was said to be at this establishment when a dancer's slipper fell off and a member of Henry's entourage picked it up and used it to drink champagne. Drinking out of another soldier's boot was also a traditional hazing ritual in the German army. During World War I, German soldiers would all drink from the same boot before combat, believing it would bring them good luck. The earliest reference to drinking from shoes comes from ancient Islamic hadiths of people offering water to animals from their shoes.
Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo is a repeat shoey offender, known for drinking champagne out of his racing boot on the podium. When asked how a shoey tastes, Ricciardo said, "If the sparkling wine is cold, then it tastes good. If it's warm, then you might get the sweat through it but the cold taste kills the bad stuff. So it's delicious."
