We’ve all heard the story of Cinderella, with her glass slipper that brought her and the prince together in a happy ending where they marry and live joyfully ever after. But has anyone ever heard the story of the girl with the golden shoe? I doubt it. This story remained locked in the hearts of a few, unknown to many, and unlike Cinderella, it was never written down. Now, you may wonder, who is the girl with the golden shoe?
In a small village in the Maghreb, there was a poet. One day, he decided to leave his hometown to explore the world beyond the horizon of his small village. He believed that beyond those farms and wooden houses lay a world his eyes had never seen. So, he set out and stopped to rest in the first town he reached. There, his eyes met those of a beautiful girl, with large eyes, deep black pupils, and skin as fair as fresh milk. The poor poet fell in love with the girl, who stood looking out from her balcony. Blinded by love, he tried repeatedly to propose to her but to no avail.
One day, he stood before her and promised that he would cover the ground in gold if she agreed to marry him. The girl accepted. But he was just a simple man, with nothing but his hands and the poems he had written. How would he cover the ground in gold for his beloved? So, he decided to make her a pair of shoes stitched with golden threads. This way, his beloved could walk on gold. And thus, the “Golden Shoe,” or as it’s known in Morocco, the “Cherbil” or “Balgha,” came to be.
Isn’t it a romantic story for a traditional shoe? Moroccan traditional clothing is like this—each item carries a story even deeper and more beautiful than this one. Today, this shoe is an essential part of the “Dfoa” of a bride, a Moroccan term describing the gifts presented to the bride. There is no “Dfoa” without a Balgha, just as there is no Takchita, Caftan, or Djellaba without it. It has become a principal accessory for all traditional Moroccan clothing, especially during summer, when the demand for it among Moroccans peaks.
While Cinderella’s glass slipper carries a romantic tale that remains unforgettable to everyone who reads it, the golden shoe has captured people’s hearts and fascinated them, even though they may have never heard its story. Isn’t that admirable? I am sure that everyone who reads this tale will grow to love the Balgha, also known as the Cherbil.