The many roles of a black cat
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Black cats played many roles
By Rene Knapp
For the Norwich Bulletin
Source : http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051023/LIFESTYLE/510230340/1024
Oct. 31 is Samheim, the New Year’s Eve of the Wiccan year. Most of us know the holiday as Halloween, a time of ghosts, goblins, spirits and black cat silhouettes clinging to our windows of cats and witches, and children waiting to get into their costumes. We have made Halloween a fun, social time for children and our neighbors. But you must remember while we find this whole costume thing nostalgic, and a reminder of what we did as children, the animals often find these same sights frightening. Please remember your cats and dogs should be indoors during the trick or treating times and also kept away from Halloween candy. Chocolate especially, is quite dangerous to animals.One could not have the mystery of Halloween without including the superstitions of the black cat. We often see the cat with arched back, glowing eyes, curled lips, claws drawn, ready to pounce. The black cat has consistently been blamed for the ills of the world, and so becomes an important part of the world of witches during Samheim.
For thousands of years, black cats have been regarded as mysterious creatures with supernatural power. It is believed witches can turn into cats and they could make the change nine times — hence, the belief cats have nine lives. Since the black cat was once considered a witch in disguise, and is still viewed as a witch’s familiar, history has given this animal many special powers.
It was thought if a black cat jumped over a corpse, the corpse would turn into a vampire and the only way to prevent that from happening was to kill the cat. However, since it was also considered bad luck to kill a cat, people realized they needed to lock away the dead bodies so a cat couldn’t find them. This is how the first stone crypts came to be built underneath churches.
Then, there is the belief if a black cat looks in a mirror, bad luck will follow. Since black cats are supposedly witches in disguise, and since witches use mirrors to cast harmful spells, a cat staring into a mirror could mean nothing but trouble. And of course, we all know if a black cat crosses your path, you will have bad luck. This belief stems from the idea black cats are evil — an encounter with one means Satan has taken notice of you.
However, in the Orient, it is actually considered very good luck if a black cat crosses your path. And although the black cat in the West was treated with suspicion and fear, they were also revered among farmers and sailors for their ability to kill vermin.
Because of their ability to keep the ships and farms vermin free, the cat also had its Golden Days in history. Everybody wanted their own cat and they became an essential part of everyday life.
People love mystery and cats soon became a part of ritual and center of various cults. Cats were once again worshiped.
We all know what happened to the cat during the Dark Ages– women and cats were killed, tortured, hanged and burned at the stake. During the years of the plague, the cats redeemed themselves by killing the rats that caused the plague. When the plague ended, man went back to hunting and killing witches and cats until the 20th century.
There have always been people who have loved cats. There are always people who have hated cats, because they are intimidated by creatures who seem to have their own mind.
During this Halloween season ,please keep your pets safe and secure in their home and enjoy the festivities of Samheim.
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Black cats played many roles
By Rene Knapp
For the Norwich Bulletin
Source : http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051023/LIFESTYLE/510230340/1024
Oct. 31 is Samheim, the New Year’s Eve of the Wiccan year. Most of us know the holiday as Halloween, a time of ghosts, goblins, spirits and black cat silhouettes clinging to our windows of cats and witches, and children waiting to get into their costumes. We have made Halloween a fun, social time for children and our neighbors. But you must remember while we find this whole costume thing nostalgic, and a reminder of what we did as children, the animals often find these same sights frightening. Please remember your cats and dogs should be indoors during the trick or treating times and also kept away from Halloween candy. Chocolate especially, is quite dangerous to animals.One could not have the mystery of Halloween without including the superstitions of the black cat. We often see the cat with arched back, glowing eyes, curled lips, claws drawn, ready to pounce. The black cat has consistently been blamed for the ills of the world, and so becomes an important part of the world of witches during Samheim.
For thousands of years, black cats have been regarded as mysterious creatures with supernatural power. It is believed witches can turn into cats and they could make the change nine times — hence, the belief cats have nine lives. Since the black cat was once considered a witch in disguise, and is still viewed as a witch’s familiar, history has given this animal many special powers.
It was thought if a black cat jumped over a corpse, the corpse would turn into a vampire and the only way to prevent that from happening was to kill the cat. However, since it was also considered bad luck to kill a cat, people realized they needed to lock away the dead bodies so a cat couldn’t find them. This is how the first stone crypts came to be built underneath churches.
Then, there is the belief if a black cat looks in a mirror, bad luck will follow. Since black cats are supposedly witches in disguise, and since witches use mirrors to cast harmful spells, a cat staring into a mirror could mean nothing but trouble. And of course, we all know if a black cat crosses your path, you will have bad luck. This belief stems from the idea black cats are evil — an encounter with one means Satan has taken notice of you.
However, in the Orient, it is actually considered very good luck if a black cat crosses your path. And although the black cat in the West was treated with suspicion and fear, they were also revered among farmers and sailors for their ability to kill vermin.
Because of their ability to keep the ships and farms vermin free, the cat also had its Golden Days in history. Everybody wanted their own cat and they became an essential part of everyday life.
People love mystery and cats soon became a part of ritual and center of various cults. Cats were once again worshiped.
We all know what happened to the cat during the Dark Ages– women and cats were killed, tortured, hanged and burned at the stake. During the years of the plague, the cats redeemed themselves by killing the rats that caused the plague. When the plague ended, man went back to hunting and killing witches and cats until the 20th century.
There have always been people who have loved cats. There are always people who have hated cats, because they are intimidated by creatures who seem to have their own mind.
During this Halloween season ,please keep your pets safe and secure in their home and enjoy the festivities of Samheim.
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