In many countries like Germany, Switzerland, Skandinavian countries, Turkey, Japan, Korea etc. it is common use to take off the shoes when entering someone's home. In these countries it is considered a major faux pas to walk through a house with shoes on.
Japanese have developed the custom of eating meals sitting on tatami mats, not on chairs. They also roll out the futon on which they sleep on the tatami floor. Therefore, they take their shoes off when entering the house to avoid getting the floor dirty.
While in many cultures, removing your shoes when you go into someone's home is a sign of politeness, not so in Spain, where you will be hard-pressed to find a shoeless Spaniard anywhere, be in in the home or on the beach. At home, most wear slippers and at the beach and by the pool, flip flops are the order of the day.
There are several countries where it is common practice to not wear shoes inside the house. In Asian cultures such as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam, it is customary to remove shoes before entering someone's home or any indoor space, and it is also considered rude to wear shoes inside.
For guests
Interestingly, the 2021 Australia Talks Survey revealed that most Australians did not expect guests to take off their shoes before entering their home (29% agree, 55% disagree). If you're one of that 29%, there are a few things you can do to ensure guests are leaving their footwear out front.
Shoes: This one is a little less common. But if you find a random shoe left by your gate or driveway, it could be a sign that your home is 'easy pickings'. Remove it, keep an eye out and, if more appear, notify the non-emergency line on 101!
Modern Custom of Removing Shoes/Wearing Slippers
Besides for personal hygiene, Chinese households often take off their shoes to also help protect wood floors and carpets especially. This helps to avoid tracking in a lot of dirt and other substances from the outside, and minimize wear on the floors at the same time.
Mark ... so the question of whether or not to wear shoes in the house is not a trivial one. No, there are no special rules for taking off your shoes indoors in Britain. In Britain, it is considered polite to take your shoes off when entering someone's home.
A no shoes in the house rule is a great way to keep your floors clean and reduce the amount of dirt, dust, and bacteria that gets tracked in. In many parts of the world, removing your shoes at the door is a traditional sign of respect when you are a guest entering someone else's home.
In many countries like Germany, Switzerland, Skandinavian countries, Turkey, Japan, Korea etc. it is common use to take off the shoes when entering someone's home. In these countries it is considered a major faux pas to walk through a house with shoes on.
Southern Europe. In Italy, shoes are customarily removed at the front door upon arrival at home. It is uncommon for Italians to go barefoot in the home, however, due to concerns over the spread of dust-borne pathogen.
Shoes - you wear them wherever you go
For many of us in Ireland, we don't see a distinction between wearing shoes outside the house and inside the house. In fact, once inside, shoes generally tend to go wherever we go, with the exception of the bath or shower.
Chinese superstitions enforce the rule: wearing outdoor shoes inside is believed to introduce “bad luck”, a metaphor for germs, into the home. Going barefoot indoors is also unusual; slippers or rubber sandals being worn instead.
This small space right after the entrance is called a 'genkan'. A genkan is usually a little lower than the main part of the house. It is the only place in the house you can wear your shoes. You are supposed to leave your shoes at the entrance and step into the room.
Don't wear shoes indoors.
“Outdoor” shoes are considered unclean, and for this reason they're replaced with “indoor” slippers at the entranceway. This no-shoe rule also extends to traditional ryoken hotels, some public spaces like temples and shrines, and schools and hospitals.
In most of Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, shoes are never worn inside homes, and it can be seen as a sign of disrespect for guests to enter a host's home without leaving them at the door.
Many Americans also practice the custom of removing their shoes before entering the house to maintain cleanliness and promote a more relaxed atmosphere. Ultimately, whether or not to wear shoes indoors is a personal choice influenced by factors such as personal comfort, cultural norms, and individual habits.
The first, which I don't think I've seen below, is that houses in the U.S. often have internal stairs with slick wood treads, and shoes can be much safer than socks or slippers when ascending or descending. Here are some others: People in the U.S. do take their shoes off at the door when they are wet, dirty, or muddy.
Take off your shoes
It is a good rule of etiquette in most homes in Korea to take off your shoes before entering. You don't wear shoes in the house, because it's not hygienic after walking down the street, and Koreans, like many other Asian people, sleep, study, eat, and spend most of their time on the floor.
In Mexico you can keep your shoes on. Obviously if it's your house, you can be however you want but guests don't generally take them off, unless they stay at our places to sleep or if they temporarily live with us. And sometimes we even keep our shoes on. Personally, I usually take them off to be more comfortable.
It's part of a superstition going back hundreds of years, mainly in Europe. An article of clothing — the most common being a shoe — is placed in the wall near an opening such as a window, door or fireplace, to guard against intrusions by the devil or evil spirits.
Taking off one's shoes was and still is a sign of reverence, humility, and respect. This same experience was repeated in Joshua 5:15 when the Captain of the Lord's Army told Joshua to take of his sandals. In 6:2 this Captain is identified as the Lord.