As October rolls around, familiar signs of the season begin to appear. Starbucks has its staple pumpkin spice latte, homes are found with pumpkins perched on their porches, and black cats begin to renew their spooky symbolism.
So what do we think of when we think of Halloween and “spooky season?” Ghosts, skeletons, candy, trick-or-treating, scary movies, and costumes. Essentially, most things we think of are traditionally scary. Now, ghosts, zombies, and any sort of monster, I understand having an association with Halloween, but why black cats?
Some cultures have historically celebrated cats rather than fear them. Ancient Egypt is known for worshipping cats. Cats were associated with the goddess Bastet, who is the Egyptian goddess and the protector of everyone’s home and family. When it comes to specifically black cats, Japanese culture has represented black cats positively in pop culture. Sailor Moon features the beloved black cat, Luna, and Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service introduces audiences to Jiji, a witty and loyal black cat companion. Both of these characters portray black cats as lovable and protective companions rather than symbols of bad luck.
Western culture clashes with those images. So why the ominous perception? How did black cats become symbols of bad luck or spookiness?
To understand this, we can look back to European witchcraft persecutions that happened during the mid-15th to late 18th century, where women were burned at the stake and hanged for the belief of being witches and being symbols of “evil.” Elizabeth Yuko writes in her history article, “Why Black Cats Are Associated With Halloween and Bad Luck,” that cats and witches were seen as a threat to churches, which saw them as direct competition when it came to the people; therefore they hunted and executed them.
Oftentimes, cats, especially black cats, were associated with being a witch’s “familiar,” which meant an animal companion that would assist witches in performing magic or dealing in any other type of supernatural force. Cats aren’t the only animals associated with witchcraft; owls and frogs are commonly known for being animal familiars too, however, a black cat's mysterious reputation made them fitting for this belief. Since cats move quietly and black cats blend in with the night, it contributes to the fear and suspicion that surrounds them.
Over time, these associations have become embedded in European folklore as black cats have been increasingly portrayed as companions to witches, and therefore, symbols of darkness. One common belief that continues today is that if a black cat crosses your path, it brings you bad luck. Although the interpretations of this belief have varied, it does show how deeply these stories have influenced our current cultural perception of black cats, given how much it’s part of Halloween’s imagery.
Although people may now associate black cats with a playful or festive way during Halloween, some of the negative superstitions surrounding them still linger today. What began centuries ago as folklore still influences how these animals are perceived. What is maybe one of the more interesting parts of the black cat’s history is how differently they have been perceived in different parts of the world, that one culture sees black cats as protectors, while another symbolizes it with being bad luck.
Regardless of any superstitions, black cats are simply cats. So as we enter Halloween and see black cats appear in decor, perhaps it’s worth taking a moment to remember the history behind their symbolism. What we now consider to be a staple of Halloween was once something rooted in fear and cultural superstition. This Halloween, if a black cat crosses your path, it may not necessarily have to mean bad luck. It might be a sign of protection, companionship, or maybe it might just mean that you’ve crossed paths with a cat.
Sources:
https://www.history.com/articles/black-cats-superstitions
https://bastettravel.com/blog/the-egyptian-cat-goddess-bastet/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7SWgkx7oGo
Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-black-cat-sitting-on-top-of-a-wooden-bench-cOiUy0eBY0Q