The Bewitching Lore Behind Black Cats and Halloween
~ Natalia Radcliffe ~
Here at Prospector Ranch, you’ll see many animals who call this place their home.
Our mule Jorge will often enthusiastically greet you when you drive up to the property, while our ponies Jenny and Boomerang observe curiously. You may also see our two goats walking around when visiting us, hear the barks of a dog, or notice some cats wandering around. One of our cats, Cleo, is a proud mom, and the newest two kittens she had back in the spring are growing up so fast, with Tommy and Tigger being rambunctious older siblings.
Life is good here at the ranch, as we fast approach Halloween and further into the fall season.
Speaking of, did you know that cats can sometimes have spooky lore associated with them?
Specifically, black cats have become something of a symbol of Halloween, right up there with jack-o-lanterns, ghosts and ghouls.
But why cats, and black cats specifically?
To try and figure this out, let’s explore some lore behind cat superstitions.
Throughout history, cats have been revered in many cultures. Ancient Egypt honored cats, considering them divine. In ancient Greece, the deity Hecate, associated with magic, witchcraft, and the moon was described to have a cat as a companion.
But this isn’t spooky….
Well, in the 13th century, an official church document, Vox in Rama, linked cats to be associated with the occult and the devil.
In medieval Europe, they were also closely connected to witchcraft. At some point during this time, the link between cats in general and witches narrowed down to black cats. It’s unsure why, but it could be something having to do with how witches viewed cats, and black cats being more useful than other breeds.
Whatever the reason, it seems that, from this point on, black cats gained a somewhat spooky, superstitious nature.
For example, when the bubonic plague devastated Europe, cats were partly to blame for it. Some people even tried to get rid of the cat population. Given that one of the ways the plague spread was through rodents, in hindsight perhaps limiting the cat population wasn’t the best idea.
With all this eerie lore starting to form behind back cats, people were nervous if they ever crossed paths with one. If a black cat crossed your path, that was an ill omen, a sign of the devil. And who would want to experience that?
Interestingly enough, in other cultures, running into a black cat was considered a good omen. In Japan a black cat crossing your path was good luck. In Scotland, it was a sign that you might have some financial luck.
Today, though black cats being associated with all things spooky and scary during the Halloween season may just be a nod to history, the reminder to that mysterious past can be quite…bewitching, don’t you think so?
We at Prospector Ranch hope you have a happy and safe Halloween!
Information obtained from:
https://www.history.com/news/black-cats-superstitions
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/cat/black-cat-superstition
Thumbnail: Background picture by susan-lu4esm on Pixabay. Black cat Eyes by Mihail_hukuna on Pixabay.