Black Cat Superstitions: What Do They Mean? (2023)

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Cats are known to be adorable yet arrogant creatures with various superstitions and beliefs associated with them. This is especially true for black cats. It's about time thatHalloweenIt's just around the corner that black cat superstitions are being revived.

Black cats are closely associated with witches, witchcraft, and satanic rituals. Some consider them to be witch familiars, animal demons spying on humans, or even witches in disguise.

Unfortunately, although the image of the black cat was positive at one point in the past, a negative connotation has clung to black cats in many parts of the world since the era of witch hunts.

The origin story

The belief that black cats bring bad luck and are bad omens can be traced back to medieval societies when all animals sported black features like crows and crowssymbolizes deathand misfortune. These animals were subject to a deeply rooted fear among the people of that time. Actually in the 16th^ºIn 20th-century Italy, when a black cat lay down on a sick person's bed, it signaled certain imminent death.

Black cats, witches and the devil

Black cat superstitions developed around the time of the witch hunts, which began in the early 13th century.^ºCentury in Europe and lasted until the time of the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts in the 17th century^ºCentury.

According to her, black cats were actually witches in disguise. This superstition is said to have originated when some people saw a black cat enter what was believed to be a witch's residence. These rumors, along with the fear of black animals, led people to associate black cats with black magic. Unfortunately, they burned the cats at the stake along with the supposed witches.

The superstition that black cats are incarnations of Satan became commonplace in the Middle Ages when Pope Gregory XI. the document entitled "voice in Rama'Meaning 'To deal with the subject of devil worship. “In this work he claimed that Satan often turned into a black cat to walk the earth.

Black cats in mythology

The superstition associated with black cats as omens of death can also be traced back to ancient GreeceGreek mythology.

According to legends, theGreek goddess Hera, in her jealousy of her husband Zeus' mistress, tried to prevent the birth of Hercules. Her plan was foiled by the interference of her servant Galinthias, and in her anger Hera turned Galinthias into a black cat as punishment for defying her authority. When the Greek goddess of death and witchcraft, Hecate, was sent to the underworld, she took pity on the newly transformed black cat and took Galinthias under her wing as a priestess.

EmNorse mythology, the goddess of fertility and love,Freyja, he is said to have driven in a carriage drawn by two black cats. When pulling the carriage, these cats turned into black horses possessed by the devil. As a reward for their faithful service, Freyja turned the cats into witches.

Meanwhile, in ancient Egypt, black cats were considered to represent the Egyptian goddess of protection, justice, fertility and power, Bastet. The black cat was considered the most sacred because it resembled thecat-headed goddess Bastet. Therefore, they were considered to be harbingers of good luck.

Are black cats synonymous with bad luck?

In the modern world, black cats are still associated with death and other tragedies.

• In the United States, when a black cat is seen during a funeral procession, people believe that the death of another family member is imminent.
• It is considered bad luck when a black cat crosses a person's path or strays away from them. On the other hand, a white cat crossing someone's path is considered alucky symbol.
• In Germany, black cats crossing your path can bring bad luck or good luck, depending on which direction the cat is walking. If it goes from right to left, it's just bad luck. However, when it goes in the opposite direction, it is an omen of good times. If the person whose path the black cat crossed did not receive the curse of misfortune, it is believed that the person is protected by Satan himself.
• The only way to reverse the misfortune that the black cat brings is to have someone else go ahead to transfer the misfortune to them, or go in circles, return to the same spot where the cat crosses and count to thirteen.
• Rumor has it that witches can turn into a black cat a total of nine times in their lives. Interestingly, the association black cats have with witchcraft led to the myth that cats have nine lives.

Black cats in folklore

Welsh folklore has several tales of black cats. It was a common belief that the black cat form was a favorite among shapeshifting witches, who would fly around and bring misfortune into the lives of those around them. With the help of these cats, they also predicted the weather.

Cats had the ability to indicate where the dead had gone, and when a black cat left the deceased's home shortly after death, it meant they had gone to the dire place. But if it had been a white cat, they would have gone to heaven.

In his day, pirates also had many superstitions related to black cats, both good and bad. It was bad luck for a black cat to walk towards her and lucky for him if he walked away, but if he boarded the ship and then jumped off, the ship would soon sink.

Black Cats and Lucky Faith

The stigma behind black cats is not worldwide. In fact, since ancient Egyptian times, all cats, especially black cats, have been revered as sacred beings and held in the highest esteem. Shesymbolized protection, grace and strength. Even today, black cats are still considered a symbol of luck, prosperity, and fortune in many parts of Asia and Europe.

The Japanese believe that finding a black cat means one is lucky to find true love, and it is believed that single women with black cats find more suitors. In fact, some brides get a black cat for their wedding as it is believed to bring luck and happiness in marriage.

Also, sailors and fishermen in some parts of Europe who embark on a voyage consider a black cat a symbol of good luck and are happy to take it on their ship. Even the wives of these sailors and fishermen kept black cars as pets, hoping to protect their husbands at sea and ensure their safe return ashore and home. This belief developed out of the custom of taking cats on the ship to catch mice and also for company.

Dreaming about a black cat is considered a good omen in many cultures around the world. Black cats are a symbol of prosperity in Scotland. It is considered a good omen when they appear on the doors and porches of a person's home and a sign that he will become financially wealthy. English theater actors still believe that a black cat in the audience on opening night means the show would be a huge hit.

The French, being romantic, believe that seeing a black cat is a magical moment. your name ismatagotsMeaning 'magical cats. It's a local superstition that those who feed these black cats and treat them with respect are lucky.

What is the reality of black cats?

Fear of black cats may be due to their nocturnal nature, their eyes glowing in the dark. This mysterious figure that hunts prey at night is enough to scare most people. Hence its association with black magic and evil can be understood. Unfortunately, due to the bad reputation some superstitions have given them, these elegant cats are the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized.

Pop culture and the media tend to reinforce the notion that black cats are in fact the embodiment of evil. programs like 'Sabrina the teenage witch' features her black cat familiar, Salem, who was actually an evil wizard who was turned into a cat as punishment.

Edgar Allen Poe wrote a short story entitled "the black cat'this was a gruesome tale of murder and retribution with a black cat in the background of all the misfortune.

Most animal shelters have to deal with the consequences of this superstition as they find it extremely difficult to find good and loving homes for these innocent animals. Especially during the Halloween season, animal shelters won't keep black cats available for adoption for fear they'll be unfairly used as mere props for the celebrations.

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It is evident that black cats are mysterious creatures feared and revered in many cultures around the world. They can be harbingers of bad luck or good luck, but despite all superstitions, at the end of the day they are just beautiful cats who want to be loved.