Clogs

In high school, clogs were the clunky leather shoes with ABBA stamped cross them. They were fashionable then, especially with my tweed skirt, hunter green sweater and tights, and neatly pressed blouses that I wore. Man, Catholic school uniforms really knows how to give a girl confidence in her appearance.. .My next bout of Clog was with my Smith & Hawkin red rubber garden clogs, which I adored and wore until they finally fell apart.

My neighbor here in Somerset takes English clogging dance lessons and invited me to go last week to watch. She said that it’s important to carry on the tradition so that it doesn’t die out. They all greeted me with smiles and one asked “Are you from South Africa?”

“No, I’m American.”

“Oh, because I can tell you’re not English.”

“Really? Is it that obvious?”

Julie said her shoes were made to order by a local craftsperson and that there aren’t many people who know how to make them anymore. That was so interesting to me that I had to know more.

During the Industrial Revolution, the working classes of northern England flocked to work in coal mines, pits and cotton mills to make a living. Not the most likely place for the birth of a traditional pastime? Well actually, yes. It was among these cobbled streets that the English tradition of clog dancing was born.

www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Clog-Dancing/