Do you throw away socks with HOLES?
@lordwarwizard (35747)
Singapore
April 8, 2007 3:05pm CST
Among the Chinese people, we view holes as a sign of wealth leaking away. You might call some of us a superstitious lot, or you might simply think us cranky. But for instance, if we discover that there is a hole in our wallet, we will hurriedly replace it. Otherwise, we believe that money will somehow find itself out of our pocket.
The same logic applies to socks. Some of us believe too that if you have holes in your socks, wealth will leak away too. I am not sure how this belief came about but that's me learning my tradition. :P
How about you? Where you are, are there any such beliefs about wealth leaking away when there are holes in things?
Further, what do you do with your socks (or like items) when you find holes in them? Do you discard them? Or find a way to make use of them? Or... ? Do share your thoughts. ;-)
37 people like this
147 responses
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
8 Apr 07
i always try and know beliefs of chinese people. most of their beliefs are good guides for us just like feng shui.
however, i haven't heard yet about the socks thing up to now. thank you for letting me know about it.
i don't usually throw away socks with holes. it i can still mend then, i do sew them and wear them again mostly when sleeping (i use socks when sleeping). but if the hole's too big already and impossible to sew back in, i throw it already.
8 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
9 Apr 07
Alot of the friends and family I know you have to take your shoes off before intering their house. I wish it was that way in my house my husband will take his shoes off at others homes but not his own so in tracks the mud,dirt and no telling what all.
5 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
9 Apr 07
Of course, mtdewgurl74. One should always remove the shoes before entering a house! Goodness...
4 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
8 Apr 07
I would think this belief is quite tied to Fengshui.
Another thing about the socks - if you need to take off your socks when visiting public places, it would be quite embarrassing to have people find holes in them. :P
4 people like this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
8 Apr 07
Some people actually take the time and effort to darn socks when they get holes in them, but I throw mine out, trouble is it leaves an odd sock, because and I find this strange you only get a hole in one sock not the other, so in theory you have to throw them both out unless you can live with odd socks! I have loads of socks anyhow because I can never find a pair in the morning, so losing a sock here and there won't make a dent in my drawers!
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
8 Apr 07
I feel guilty.. I normally throw the good side away too since they come in a pair. :P
5 people like this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
10 Apr 07
this is why I buy most of my husband's work socks of the same variety and color all the time, so when one gets a hole it is easy to find a match for the remaining sock. 4 pairs of socks each with one having a hole, leaves 2 pairs of socks out of the other halves... (it also makes it easier to create a mate when the washing machine gobbles one of a pair)
3 people like this
@SpitFire179 (2536)
• Canada
8 Apr 07
In my home, the socks go in the trash, the one with the hole, and the match to it.
I would use them for rags, as everything else, but i just can't stand the thought of feet washing things, and i know that's not it, i know their clean, it's just something inside my head..
I'm not really one for many superstitions, unless i feel deep down that it's true, and then i follow them, but when it comes to clothing and what not, no..
i've never heard the saying about wealth leaking away with holes in anything really, though when we have a hole in our wallets, we do throw them out as fast as we see the hole.
Interesting concept, it's nice to get down to your roots, isn't it.
7 people like this
@wenkinnoc (482)
•
8 Apr 07
Well if the sock doesnt have yoo many holes, I will use it as a rag for dusting or general tiding up, i am not generally a superstitious person and i dont believe in bad luck, I think people make their own fortune.
8 people like this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
8 Apr 07
by the way, sometimes, i do that, too to old socks especially those with unmendable holes... i turn them into rags for some days before finally throwing them away.
6 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
8 Apr 07
Honey, I'm beginning to believe that you are wearing socks with holes. Such a turn off. I'm wearing socks right now and there's no holes in it, NADA.
Eventhough, I was exposed to a lot of Chinese beliefs, I never believe in any of it. If I see a holes in my shirt, then I will just stitch it. Anything that can be fix, I will fix. If the damage is severe then, its time for me to take the necessary action of throwing them to the trash. If there's a slight mark in any breakable things like glasses or plates, I will throw them right away. Towel that have holes, I will cut it into several small pieces and use it as a rag. :PPP
6 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
9 Apr 07
Whatever gave you that idea? Didn't you read above that I throw away both socks? Even the one without hole? Silly rabbit. :P
Yes, if you stitch it, then it is alright, I guess.
2 people like this
@prestocaro (1252)
• United States
8 Apr 07
I use "hole-y" socks to clean with. They get bleached, because they are white, and as I am sorting the socks and pairing them off, I reserve the ones with holes. They are great for cleaning the bathroom, beacuse then I can just throw it away after I've cleaned the commode. Also good for dusting with a spray because you can just slip it over your hand and gently dust delicate things. I try to be thrifty when I can. If I discover a hole in a garment of mine, I put it aside. I'll sew it up when I'm winding down for the day. Usually in front of the TV or while listening to some music. But I never darn socks, I just use them to clean.
6 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
8 Apr 07
It used to be that people would darn theor socks in order to continue making use of them, but the practice seems to have ceased a long time ago. Socks are very cheap and I have a large collection of them, so if there are any that are becoming worn in any way then I simply throw them away.
6 people like this
@melanie652 (2524)
• United States
8 Apr 07
I throw them away! It's a bit annoying and uncomfortable to have my toe sticking out through a hole in my sock! Never thought of a hole in a sock as wealth leaking away? That's interesting. Sure shows you the difference in how different cultures think? Not bad or anything....just different.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
9 Apr 07
It also depends on where the hole is. So if the hole is on your sole, you wouldn't throw the sock away? :P
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
8 Apr 07
We throw them away, uncomfortable to wear. Sometimes they can be used as rags for clean up. We do not have superstition about socks and most things. Like our clothing depending on where the hole is depends on whether we wear it only to work around the house, or convert it to a rag or toss it. This is what we do!!
6 people like this
@sweetlady10 (3611)
• United States
8 Apr 07
Hmmm we don't have any holes related supersttitous beliefs.
We throw out our socks if we can find any hole in it. I can't think of any good use of socks after getting a hole.
But some people use odd socks for some other use I think.
4 people like this
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
8 Apr 07
My partner has a real "thing" with socks and they have to be in pairs properly and put away. When he finds a sock with a hole in it then it has to be thrown out, which has left him with a load of odd socks :-)
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
9 Apr 07
Try buying socks of the same kind and color next time... then you can pair up the lone ranger from each of the 2 pairs. :P
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
9 Apr 07
I know in Fung Shui that leaving the lid open on the toliet, or having the front door in line with the back door both allow wealth to leave the house. That some use of mirrors can slow it down. Do I believe, no, I just find it interesting. I think I'd like a house done with fung shui, but I'd have to get rid of too much stuff.
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
9 Apr 07
I have not come across these fengshui beliefs you mentioned myself..
2 people like this
@Liveyourlife (326)
• India
14 Apr 07
You are right. When you notice a hole in your socks or wallet you replace with other one. You could have very well lived with your hole socks as well as wallet. So money automatically goes away from you. So the chinese people are right.
3 people like this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
8 Apr 07
Thank you for sharing the insight into your culture. Interesting stories about holes and leaking wealth! There is no such superstition in my area about holes and leaking wealth, or if there is I don't know about it! When I have a sock with holes, I put it in my cleaning closet and it is used for dusting. They are convenient to use for dusting as I can put my hand in and then really hold knick-knacks and dust them well!
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
9 Apr 07
That's why some people say Chinese are a superstitious lot. :P
1 person likes this
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
8 Apr 07
The chinese have lots of beliefs and this is one of them. For me, old socks have lots of use yet, and that includes the holie ones. I use them in the farm. When working in the farm, I use as much as 3 layers of socks to protect my feet from getting harmed and 2 layers of working pants go with it. But the idea of not using them anymore for regular functions suit me fine.
@yanjiaren (9031)
•
8 Apr 07
I used to darn my socks with holes in them ,y mum always tought us to economise and not throw away things just like that. But nowadays I don't have much time to do these things as I am busy ammassing my fortune here on Mylot and I have already one large sewing project at hand. I will be sewing the Yan flag and doing a fair amount of applique on it as I pine for my beloved Husband in a land far far away lol. I was just asking him about this Chinese tradition and it made him laugh and remember other funny superstitions.
3 people like this
@lazywalt99 (177)
• United States
8 Apr 07
No, I don't throw away socks with holes. In fact, I throw away very few things, as I don't like to promote a "throw-away society". Instead, I recycle a lot of the things that I no longer use, for another purpose. As far as socks go, I tie two socks together and create a toy for my dogs.
3 people like this
@Drakhan (240)
• United States
8 Apr 07
Paul Wolfowitz, the head of the World Bank, took a great deal of ribbing back in January when he took off his shoes to enter a Turkish mosque and his socks were filled with holes. Personally, I tend to be a bit fanatical about socks and underwear. In America, it's less about luck leaking away than about our mothers warning us to always wear clean underwear because we might be in an accident and the paramedics would see them. It's always a good idea to put your best foot forward.
3 people like this
