Monday 27 January 2014

Our World Tuesday,ABC Wednesday, C for Clogs

A clog is a type of footwear made in part or completely from wood. Clogs are used worldwide and although the form may vary by culture, within a culture the form often remained unchanged for centuries.
Traditional clogs were often worn in heavy labor. Today they remain in use as protective clothing in agriculture and in some factories and mines. Although clogs are sometimes negatively associated with cheap and folkloric footwear of farmers and the working class, some types of clogs are considered as fashion wear today, such as Swedish clogs (sv) or Japanese geta.
Clogs are also used in several different styles of dance. When worn for dancing an important feature is the sound of the clog against the floor. This is one of the fundamental roots of tap, but with the tap shoes the taps are free to click against each other and produce different sound to clogs.

The production of clogs







Of course glogs  or wooden shoes are always mentioned in connection with the Netherlands, but as you see, many European countries  still use clogs.

In the Netherlands clogs are used by farmers, gardeners, and people who work in wet  and swampy fields. They are popular because they are cheap, strong, warm in winter, and cool in summer.

However clogs or wooden shoes are also made and used in Asia. 







Welcome to Our World Tuesday! This meme continues in memory of the work of Klaus Peter, whose "that's My World" brought people together from around the world every Monday to share the wonders therein--big and small.Please click on our  logo for "Our World Tuesday" in the sidebar. Thank you Team of O. W. T.!

 With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar. This week we are looking for words beginning with C.

34 comments:

Sylvia K said...

What a fun and interesting post for the day, Will!! I've always loved clogs! Hope your week is off to a great start! Enjoy!

Leslie: said...

I'm not sure if I could walk in clogs...they're all very pretty and I'd love to try them, but with my back the way it is, it's questionable whether I could manage with them.

leslie
abcw team

Penelope Postcards said...

What an interesting variety of clogs that have a history that stretches far beyond the Dutch. The Turkish shoes really caught my eye but I probably would not have much luck walking in them.

Roger Owen Green said...

But are they COMFORTABLE? And welcome back!

ROG, ABCW

Cynthia said...

How interesting! Never thought about clogs being native to many countriies. Those last ones are certainly unique.

Fun60 said...

Clogs were worn in the cotton mills of Lancashire UK. Their usage is more worldwide than we realise. A really interesting post Wil

carol l mckenna said...

Fascinating post and great photos ~ very creative idea for OWT ~
thanks, carol
www.acreativeharbor.com

Cloudia said...

Wonderful educational post on the topic!



ALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >

Rajesh said...

Beautiful wooden footwear. Very colorful. Thanks for sharing.

Kay said...

What a fun post, Wil. I regretted not bringing home a pair of the Dutch clogs when we were in the Netherlands. I did take photos of myself in those giant ones at Keukenhof Gardens though. That was a lot of fun.

Anonymous said...

Such a fascinating look at clogs. The Swedes wear clogs too.

eileeninmd said...

A wonderful collection of clogs and photos. I wonder how comfortable they really are? Great post, thanks for sharing. Have a happy week!

Dina said...

What a variety! And cool to see how they make them.
I would try those Swiss sandals ...

Welcome home, Wil. Yes, isn't it great watching how our grandkids grow up so fast? Yeah, you deserve some cool weather now.

Carver said...

Great idea to feature clogs for the letter C. Carver, ABCW Team

Richard Lawry said...

Cool Clogs!
An Arkie's Musings

Ann said...

I only think of the dutch ones when I think of clogs. I have a pair from a trip to the Netherlands years ago.
Ann

photowannabe said...

I had a pair of Swedish clogs when I was younger. I dearly loved them and think I just plain wore them out.
Thanks for all the photos showing such a variety of clogs.

WordsPoeticallyWorth said...

An interesting post that I enjoyed reading.

Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

Hildred said...

I have a dear Dutch friend who has a pair of clogs at her door - I didn't know they have been used so universally. Some (Turkish) are quite sophisticated. Glad you are home Wil and enjoying your family on the other w=side of the world.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Most interesting post Wil. I never thought about wooden shoes -- or clogs -- being used in so many cultures.

Hazel said...

I guess my mother is wearing a pair of Swedish clogs right now. A very lovely post. I enjoyed the photos.

ellen b. said...

Such an interesting variety of clogs.

Raine said...

In my home country, they're called "bakya." However, the industry of making this wooden slippers dwindled since the introduction of rubber slippers. Now, it can only seen being worn in during cultural shows.

Obsessivemom said...

Clogs must have been mighty uncomfortable. I remember my grandfather wearing those Indian clogs. We'd try to walk in them and the heel was forever out of the shoe. Interesting post.

Snapperoni :: Photography said...

Who would've thought of CLOGS! Such an interesting post-- and kept me strolling until the end. :D I'd really like to own one to keep, but have the impression of it not being too comfortable to wear.

Lisa said...

I've always thought clogs were very functional as well as decorative...especially the ones that are painted or carved with intricate designs. And those Indian ones are crazy!! Thanks for sharing-great post for C-day.

Tanya Breese said...

how interesting...so many types!

Anonymous said...

have to say, I like the Indian clogs you showed the most - the Lithuanian ones are also nice! Hope you're settled back into life in Holl., since you were for some time in Australia. Hope your kids (and grand kids) there are doing well?
Didn't know you were in a choir (your post below) - I did it for many years - and was fun to prepare songs for Christmas:) Have a beautiful week, Wil.

Powell River Books said...

I had a pair in my collection of objects as a teacher, but never wore any. Are they comfortable? I would think the hard sole would be tiring. But maybe not since they are used in heavy labour. - Margy

Gattina said...

I have seen how clogs I made, it was very interesting. I got some slippers in clog form, very warm for winter, but my cats are afraid of them, lol ! So I can't wear them.

Reader Wil said...

Hi Margy, I tried to find your blog in order to answer your comment , but couldn't find it. The Dutch clogs are not comfortable if you are not used to them. I have worn the Scandinavian ones and they are much better. The problem is not the hard sole, but the top of the shoe.
Wil

Kay L. Davies said...

Wow, some of those are just amazing, aren't they? You always educate us, Wil. Thanks for being there.
Luv, K

Nydia said...

I loved this post! It's always so fun to learn something new! :)

Rune Eide said...

Clogs are more Dutch than windmills :-)
I have tried the old wooden ones as a boy when I was visiting my grandmother, but I didn't take to them. However - I have used variants of what you call Swedish clogs for many years, both at work and at home. Lovely shoes.