摘要
虎头鞋是一种中国传统民间手工艺制作的童鞋，虎头鞋的历史已无法准确考究，但缝制和穿着虎头鞋的风俗在我国流传甚广。因鞋头呈虎头模样，故称虎头鞋。在这里，虎是一种吉祥物，在鞋前脸和鞋帮上绣制虎或虎头图案，寄寓着人们驱鬼辟邪，保佑孩子消病减灾，健康成长的美好愿望。
Tiger-head shoes are an example of traditional Chinese folk handicraft used as footwear for children. Their name comes from the toe cap, which looks like the head of a tiger. In Chinese culture, tigers are regarded as auspicious; people embroider the head and the upper of the shoes with tiger or tiger-head patterns, in the hope that their children will become as robust and dynamic as tigers. Also, the vivid image of tiger-head pattern was thought to expel evil spirits to protect their children from diseases and disasters. It is a complicated work to make tiger-head shoes, there are many delicate stitch work such as embroidery, or weaving simply on the head of the shoes. The vamp(upper part of the shoe) is mainly colored in red and yellow, and residents usually use thick lines to draw the outline of the mouth, eyebrow, nose and the eyes of the tiger to express its power in an exaggerated way.
