History of Black Cats Superstition
You may be familiar with black cats superstition. Throughout the centuries and numerous cultures, superstitions surrounding black cats have varied. Are black cats lucky or unlucky? Some believe crossing a black cat to be fortunate, and others see it as an impending omen. Luck, it seems, is in the eye of the beholder.
Freya and her Chariot of Cats
In Norse mythology, Freya is the queen of the Valkyries and the goddess of love and fertility. Two black cats pulled the chariot she rode. The choice of choosing cats as traveling companions may seem unusual, but that was the case for other Norse gods, as well. Odin, for example, favored an eight-legged horse. As far as Freya’s chariot is concerned, some sources have claimed that the cats could turn into horses possessed by the Devil (Rhodes, 31).
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Black Cats in the Middle Ages
In the middle ages, people associated cats with the familiars of witches. Early American Puritans likely brought this belief with them when they settled, and the superstition has survived since. Puritans staunchly rejected anything with the possible association with evil and witchcraft. Author Chole Rhodes says in her book Black Cats and Evil Eyes (affiliate link), “In the US it is still considered a bad sign if a black cat crosses your path since it means you have been noticed by the Devil (Rhodes, 31).”
@fabledcollective I 🖤 Black Cats ##historytok ##superstition ##folkloreandtradition ##lore ##historicaltiktok ##spookyvibes ##witchtok ##superstitions ##darkhistory ##blackcats
♬ Medieval – Miki Ozuka
German, Welsh, Irish, and UK Superstition of Black Cats
In Germany, if you see a cat crossing from right to left, it’s bad luck. But if you see it walking from left to right, it’s good luck. In Welsh lore, a black cat brings good health. In Italy, it’s believed that if a black cat sits on the bed of a sick person, it means they will die soon. While in Scotland, if a black cat appears on your doorstep, it’s considered a sign of upcoming prosperity. In Great Britain and Ireland, it’s still considered lucky if a cat walks your way, especially on a special occasion. It’s regarded as a good sign for the next phase of life.
King Charles I was convinced that his black cat brought good fortune, and the cat had its own guards. The king was reportedly devastated when that cat finally died, believing that his good luck had died with it. In some bizarre coincidence, the king supposedly was arrested the day after the cat passed and was beheaded two years later.
The Cat Síth | Irish and Scottish Folklore
Unlike other traditions, the Celtic people once believed in the Cat Síth, which means the Fairy Cat. This fairy cat would be large—the size of a dog—and be all black with a spot of white on its chest is said to haunt the Scottish Highlands. Many feared them, but they had been known to bring good fortune. While it’s largely considered to be a fairy, some lore suggests the cat is actually a witch that can take the form of a cat nine times.
The Cat Síth wasn’t a trusted figure. It was believed that the cat could steal a person’s soul before the gods could take it by crossing over a corpse before burial. That’s why the Late Wake began—to have someone guard the body day and night—to keep the sly Cat Síth away.
Do you enjoy learning the history of folklore? Check out the fascinating lore behind “lucky” rabbit’s feet.
Black Cat Day
Despite their charm and mystery, black cats are often overlooked when people chose to adopt a pet. Black Cat Day is celebrated on October 27th to remedy this. A day to celebrate the history, lore, and beauty of these lovely animals. I find black cats beautiful and enchanting, so I love that there is a day to celebrate them and give loads of them good homes.
Black cats have had a bad rap, but it’s all in how you look at them—how you choose to view the legends. I think it’s important to know that evil, along with goodness, comes in all forms.
Some believe crossing a black cat to be fortunate, and others see it as an impending omen. Luck, it seems, is in the eye of the beholder.
It’s celebrated October 27th to encourage people to adopt black cats.
Music:
“An Awful Ending” by Spectacles Wallet and Watch https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/fQtBo94I24/
Ghostpocalypse – 6 Crossing the Threshold by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
