Origin, History: Here’s all you need to know about Australia’s weird drinking tradition, ‘The Shoey’

Following their victory on Sunday, Australian cricketers Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis indulged in a ‘shoey’ celebration after Australia beat New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final. In a video shared by the ICC, Australian players celebrated their first-ever T20 World Cup win inside their dressing room.

‘shoey’ celebration

The ‘shoey’ celebration is when someone drinks the celebratory drink or any liquor after pouring it in a shoe. The celebration, which is popular in Australia, was made famous by the Australian Formula One racer Daniel Ricciardo, who started the trend in 2016 after winning the German Grand Prix. Ricciardo repeated the act on many occasions after that, even sharing it with the British Formula One legend Lewis Hamilton at the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. 

Origin

The origins of the shoey are murky. There are varying oral histories of it occurring in Australia up to 20 years ago as an act of joy and friendship, at parties, or after sporting wins. Meanwhile, historians cite evidence of footwear as impromptu drinking vessels throughout antiquity, though mostly of necessity.

The origins of the shoey lie in 1800s Germany, and more recently, it has been a tradition for a handful of Australians. 

Ancient traditions

Several ancient Islamic hadiths depict people offering water to animals in their shoes. One medieval Ethiopian story suggests that Maryam (mother of Isa) filled her shoe with water to let a thirsty dog drink from it.

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