April 10, 2003

Decoding Iraq's symbols of celebration

what do hitting with shoes, chest beating and clay disks mean?

"Going into someone's house or a mosque, you would always take your shoes off first. Shoes are used to beat servants, thieves, prostitutes; it indicates servility. Were you to beat your children, this would be done with a stick or the hand, but never shoes."

Posted by flambingo at April 10, 2003 02:03 PM
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