Do You Have a Black Cat? Halloween Superstition...

Halloween Superstitions

In the British Isles and Ireland as well as, black cats are a symbol of good luck. In Ireland the killing of a black cat will bring about 7 years of bad luck.

In Britain and Japan it is believed that when a black cat crosses your path you will be the recipient of good luck. Whereas in America and several other European countries you will be the recipient of bad luck if this were to occur, especially on Halloween.

In Scotland, some believe that a strange black cat's arrival to the home signifies prosperity.

During the reign of the Egyptians black cats were worshiped and considered sacred. Anyone who injured or killed a black cat would face extremely harsh penalties and sometimes even death.

The view of black cats being favorable creatures is attributed specifically to the Egyptian goddess Bast (or Bastet), the cat goddess. Egyptian households believed they could gain favor from Bastet by hosting black cats in their household. This view was held in the early 17th Century by the English monarch Charles I. Upon the death of his treasured pet black cat, he is said to have lamented that his luck was gone. True to his claim, he was arrested the very next day and charged with high treason.

Some also believe that a lady who owns a black cat will have many suitors.^[4]

But, many people in the western hemisphere have decided that black cats are a symbol of evil omens, specifically being suspected of being the n familiars of witches. In fact, during the Salem witch trials,cats, black cats in particular, were also believed to be what was termed 'familiars.' Familiars were specific creatures deemed evil by those attempting to do away with paganism. They were believed to serve as powerful tools for witches in casting evil spells and black magic.

Witches were believed to be capable of turning into black cats. The saying that cats have nine lives may have originated with the notion that witches could turn into black cats nine times or because nine was considered a lucky number. To escape detection it was touted that witches would turn into black cats during the evening hours and spend their time tormenting an unsuspecting populace.

However, the supernatural powers ascribed to black cats were sometimes viewed positively, for example sailors considering a "ship's cat" would want a black one because it would bring good luck. 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

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.

Black cats have been found to have lower odds of adoption in American shelters compared to other colors (except brown). Some shelters also suspend or limit adoptions of black cats around Halloweenfor fear they will be tortured, or used as "living decorations" for the holiday and then abandoned. However, in the history of humane work, no one has ever documented any relationship between adopting black cats, and cats being killed or injured. When such killings are reported, forensic evidence has pointed to natural predators, such as coyotes, eagles or raptors as the likely cause To promote the adoption of black cats, "National Black Cat Awareness Day" is held on August 17.

So, if you happen to have a black cat, consider yourself fortunate….you now have some stories to tell.