Black cats have played a major role for centuries in folklore, superstition,
and mythology. Black cats in the middle ages were believed to be witches'
familiars, and some people even believed them to be witches incarnate. Many
of these old superstitions about black cats exist to this day.
Explore the mythology and lore about black cats, witches, and other beliefs
that carry on in the 21st century, especially around Halloween.
Black Cats and Luck
Depending on one's area of the world (and the century one lived in), black
cats portend either good or bad luck. Here are some examples, a couple of
them quite involved, with some tongue-in-cheek asides.
In Asia and the U.K., a black cat is considered lucky.
In Yorkshire, England, it may be lucky to own a black cat, but it is unlucky
have one cross your path.
To dream of a black cat is lucky.
On the other paw, seeing a black cat in your dream indicates that you are
experiencing some fear in using your psychic abilities and believing in your
intuition.
I wonder who makes up these things?
A funeral procession meeting up with a black cat is believed to forecast the
death of another family member.
In 16th century Italy, people believed that if someone was sick he would die
if a black cat lay on his bed.
In North America, it's considered bad luck if a black cat crosses your path
and good luck if a white cat crosses your path. In the U.K., switch the
colors, I guess unless you live in Yorkshire.
Finding a white hair on a black cat brings good luck. Don't pluck it though,
or your luck may turn bad.
A strange black cat on a porch brings prosperity to the owner. (Scottish
Lore)
A black cat seen from behind portends a bad omen. (And a black cat seen from
the front is a GOOD omen?)
Ahhh...an explanation here:
If a black cat walks towards you, it brings good
fortune, but if it walks away, it takes the good luck with it.
If a black cat crosses your path while you're driving, turn your hat around
backwards and mark an X on your windshield to prevent bad luck. Oh my, what
if you aren't wearing a hat? Or you're not carrying a felt-tip pen or
lipstick? Please, don't try this one at home!
Black Cats and Witches
Black cats have long been associated with witches and witchcraft to the
extent that during October, the Month of Halloween, black cats and witches
are favorite icons used for costumes, home decor, and party themes. This
trend is so embedded in modern society that we've forgotten that the modern
holiday we celebrate as Halloween has ancient beginnings as well as names:
Samhain
The religious year of Pagans starts and ends with Samhain, which is also
known as "Witches New Year," according to Terri Paajanen, Pagan/Wiccan Guide
Samhaim, which is derived from the Gaelic word for "summer's end," is the
third and last harvest celebrations of the year which Pagans observe, Terri
goes on to explain.
All Hallows' Eve
Catholics celebrate the first of November as The Solemnity of All Saints,
according to an excellent explanation of All Hallows' Eve by Jessica
Steinmetz, Guide to Catholicism. October 31st is thereby designated as All
Hallows' Eve (since the Saints celebrated on November 1st are considered
hallowed.
Despite these religious beginnings of Halloween, old beliefs about black
cats and witches still play a large part in this holiday.
Black Cats as Witches' Familiars
It was largely in the Middle Ages that the black cat became affiliated with
evil. Because cats are nocturnal and roam at night, they were believed to be
supernatural servants of witches, or even witches themselves.. .read more.
Folklore has it that if a witch becomes human, her black cat will no longer
reside in her house.
Some believe that black cats are witches in disguise, or witches reborn.
Others believe black cats are witches familiars (beings that aid witches in
performing their craft). Not all familiars were black cats though; some were
cats of other colors, dogs, pigs, or other animals.
For several centuries "witches" were rounded up, tried, and killed by burning or other violent methods; often their familiars were killed along with them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The folklore surrounding black cats varies from culture to culture.
In Great Britain, black cats are a symbol of good luck. The Scottish believe that a strange black cat's arrival to the home signifies prosperity. Furthermore, it is believed that a lady who owns a black cat will have many suitors.
However in Western history, black cats have often been looked upon as a symbol of evil omens, specifically being suspected of being the familiars of witches; other cultures consider them to be bad luck as well.
The gambling world is afraid of a black cat: it is believed that if, while traveling to a casino, a black cat crosses a gambler's road or path, that person should not go to the casino; most players believe that black cats bring bad luck.
Other black creatures, such as black dogs, have shared in the prejudice and suspicion of being "familiars".
The black cat in folk lore has been able to change into human shape to act as a spy or courier for witches or demons.
During the middle ages, these superstitions led people to kill black cats. This had the unintended consequence of increasing the rat population and the spread of the black plague and other diseases carried by rodents.
There is no evidence from England of regular large-scale massacres of "satanic" cats, or of burning them in midsummer bonfires, as sometimes occurred in Europe.
However, the supernatural powers ascribed to black cats were sometimes viewed positively, for example by sailors considering a ships cat in general and a black one in particular as luck for their ship.
Sometimes, fishermen's wives would keep black cats at home too, in the hope that they would be able to use their influence to protect their husbands at sea.
Black cats have been found to have lower odds of adoption in American shelters compared to other colors (except brown).
Some shelters also stop adopting black cats around halloween for fear they will be tortured. However, in the history of humane work, no one has ever documented any relationship between adopting black cats, and cats being killed or injured.
Pirates of the 19th century believed that a black cat would bring different kinds of luck. If a black cat walks towards someone, that person will have bad luck. If a black cat walks away from someone then that person will have good luck. If a black cat walks onto a ship and then walks off it, the ship is doomed to sink on its next trip.
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