A black cat has always intrigued the human being, with his duet of mystery and protection luck. Western folklore tends to paint them as harbingers of bad luck or otherworldly witches, but centuries-old global mythology weaves a richer tapestry of positive beliefs about these mysterious beings. To try and redress these balances another side of the symbolism surrounding black cats will be explored, that of positive associations in connection with good luck this can illustrate a perspective where they are bringers or guardians.
History and Conceptual Importance
Historical, cultural, and religious beliefs explain the roots of a black cat superstitions. Describing (in some unappetizing detail) how these heretics were behaving, Pope Gregory — writing under the apostolic pen name to sound more authoritative — had said they would commune with their master in the guise of a beast that was a black cat and man combined.
According to the scholarly paper “Heretical Cats: Animal Symbolism in Religious Discourse” by medievalist Irina Metzler, part of this bizarre process included participants kissing that cat’s ‘rear.’
The pope was also judgy about other animals. He hated frogs and toads but they never became Halloween symbols. And so the concept of evil cats and in particular evil black ones carried on. Black cats were linked to the accompanying rampages of the plague by virtually no serious scholars, but that did little for their public image.
Ancient Egyptian Reverence
The species of black cat in ancient Egypt was the worshipped symbol for Bastet, a home deity family and fertility. Black cats were believed to embody the protective and nurturing qualities of Bastet, who was traditionally shown as a lioness or female cat. It was a duty for everyday life, they placed these exotic black cats throughout the village in huts that were general pets and connected with them under favorable stars as guardians. The notion of good and bad luck associated with black cats mirrored the idea that they were holy beings; consequently, tormenting or killing a cat would be an offense to God himself — one serious enough for capital punishment. This cultural reverence casts a sharp contrast to the aversion present in some other parts of the world.
Folklore Good Significance British, Irish
A black cat is a reverse symbol of prosperity and brings good luck to households all over Britain & Ireland. According to English folklore, a black cat crossing your path is said to be lucky, especially if it walks from left and right. Scottish folklore says that a black cat found on your doorstep is good fortune. Likewise, in British and Irish maritime folklore those same black cats are seen as protective totems, with sailors and fishermen believing that the presence of a ship’s cat would prevent storms from materializing. This high regard for black cats reflects how deeply imbued they are in regional mythology and the quotidian.
Japanese Cultural Beliefs
Erected across Japan, the maneki-neko figurine (or “beckoning cat”) also has a reputation for good luck and financial prosperity. The maneki-neko is based on legends from the Edo period of a cat that raised its paw to beckon patrons into shops. The traditional maneki-neko white figurines are considered to be quite powerful as singular, but one can say that black maleki neko figures hold special protective functions carrying away negative energy and attracting good luck. It is a favorable belief and this positive perspective is reflected in Japanese folklore where black cats symbolize protection from evil, wealth & bringer of fortune.
Scottish and German Folklore
Black cats are believed to bring good luck in Scottish folklore. If you see one land on your doorstep, it is said to be a sign of wealth coming soon. This belief has high practical underpinning, practicing as it does the useful property of cats in neighboring rats and other vermin; but over time became a more general sign of good fortune. The meaning of a black cat crossing one’s path is also based on the direction in which it crosses, according to German superstition. Kittens if they cross right to left are in the case of bad luck, and on the contrary, when crossing from board to Board in a positive way. It is this more nuanced outlook that captures the ambiguity when it comes to superstitions involving black cats.
Modern Cultural Readings
As of modern times, however; we are seeing a significant difference as people begin to flip the coin and unravel those positive symbols that black cats have come to represent. There is a fear of black cats that exist, but animal advocates are fighting back on this with the hashtag #blackcatappreciationday and dispelling those myths by stating just how loving and free-willing these animals can be. Black Cats are now celebrated in the media and art as symbols of wisdom, magic, or spiritual guides. Black cats get a special place on Social media where they win our hearts by showing their charm and playfulness. This newfound appreciation is important because it goes against a history of superstition and promotes the idea that black cats are fashionable.
Halloween Costumes and Media Representation
Most of us know black cats as that element of mystery and the supernatural surrounding Halloween. We see them in decorations, costumes,… The link during this period goes back to ideas from the Dark Ages about black cats in witchcraft, but other versions are shown as more amusing and less ghastly. At the same time, black cats are also laid in high esteem and revered as a form of protection on Halloween due to their historical association with protecting against malevolent forces. This positive image is only reinforced by media portrayals of black cats like the smart Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch or the magical Thackery Binx in Hocus Pocus, depicting them as cherished companions and guardians.
Positive Black Cat Symbolism
Ancient Egypt held all cats, including black ones in the highest regard — they were worshiped. They were thought to help bring luck and protection. In parts of England, a black cat on a ship wasn’t just fortunate; it was deemed lucky. If a black cat walked onto the ship and remained, having it around was considered to bring in good fortune.
Today, in Japan, black cats are considered an omen of praying that a visitor will arrive home or exit long alienation for the first time and touring by folk tradition & superstitious belief suggested about 1000 years ago from Europe where they once believed bringing joy thrived braiding so far margins promotions even good movie screenings.
Negative Black Cat Symbolism
Black cats were associated with witches across various Western cultures, such as in medieval Europe. They were often interpreted as omens of ill fortune and wickedness.
In 16th century Italy, it was thought that if a black cat lay on what ill person’s bed he would die. The notion that black cats are evil was further perpetuated in 14th-century Medieval Europe when the Black Death blazed a trail throughout this part of the world. Black magic and the nasty ole Devil played a key role in black cats’ lives during this period, with some people believing that they could spread diseases.
Are Black Cats Bad Luck?
Black cats are bad luck to a degree here as well, but not in every culture — even in Europe! Welsh author Mark Rees, who recently released a book of Welsh myth and legend in May this year shared on Twitter the following lines from Welsh folklore:
A black cat, so it is told, Can charm all ills away And every row and heart’s dull thud in rooms where she might play.
Why Are Black Cats Unlucky?
These days black cats are typically looked upon with superstition. Numerous anecdotal reports and studies have also shown that black cats are adopted less frequently and euthanized more often than their feline counterparts of different colors. So go have fun with the decorations and the fiction this Halloween, but if you encounter a black cat (or any animal), just be kind! Nor should you pander to it.
Photograph of Black Cats in Art
Artistic renderings of black cats tend to depict them with puffed-up fur and arched backs that seem locked in defense or offense, their alert if not menacing visages a fitting metaphor for modern Halloween fences against perceived malignity. This depiction is even more common in Halloween art when black cats and yellow eyes abound with the harvest moon as a backdrop. Many years ago, in the realm of more historical art (frequently tied to superstitions), the eyes and especially that fierce gaze were associated with things like black cats who could peer into devil realms at will.
The most iconic of these is Théophile Steinlen’s Le Chat Noir, a late-19th-century poster. Created as a poster for the Parisian cabaret, this artwork features its central composition and casually positioned black cat that ultimately became an enduring symbol of the beautiful era.
It came as no surprise then when tarot cards showed me yet another fresh take on black cats. In tarot art, black cats can serve as huge symbolism for mystery alongside intuition and independence. The tarot appearance of the cats calls on people to follow their intuition rather than relying too heavily upon others, and this self-care motif parallels a cat’s independent attitude toward life.
Black Cats in Literature
They are also associated with popular archetypes of guilt and superstitions about bad luck in literary representations. Black cats have been buried alive, put into walls, sealed into graves; they’re victims more often than antagonists. The Black Cat is a short story that tells of the descent into madness and sadism begun by its unnamed narrator after he becomes an alcoholic. This causes him to commit increasingly atrocious acts, until it culminates with his killing and skinning of one of his cats. The specter of the cat becomes woven between those bars and works its way into ideas about sinners paying for their sins, reaching a moving climax in which we get The Chilling Realization.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland host Lewis Carroll fleshes out the creepy cat characteristics of black cats with his Cheshire Cat. While the Cheshire Cat is inspired by a British-sounding Shorthair, its enigmatic smile and eerie glare add to that infamous otherworldliness that black cats are known for engendering.
Conclusion
Throughout history and across cultures, a rich tapestry of myths and symbolism has surrounded black cats. Black cats were also believed to be lucky and sacred in ancient Egypt, where they watched over the sick; as symbols of good fortune in British (and Irish), Japanese, Scottish and German legend. Reassessing and debunking the negative superstitions surrounding a black cat enables us to recognize their abstract importance, and promotes a more inclusive, as well as positive comprehension of these creatures in lore around the world. Celebrating the wide array of cultural myths and legends around black cats is one way to pay homage to how they have come to stand for everything from guardian spirits, good luck charms, or just plain old buddy beans.
FAQs
Black cats often appear in Halloween art as well, usually with their backs arched and fur bristling to make them look more scary. Dark Ages superstitions associated black cats with bad luck, demons, and other sinister supernatural forces. This portrayal may have something to do with that play.
Black cats are generally seen as a symbol of mystery, intuition, and independence in tarot. If the owl appears on tarot cards, this suggests a need to dig deeper and ask yourself questions before making some type of project or decision.
They symbolize themes of guilt, torment, and supernatural retribution used by Edgar Allan Poe in The Black Cat. The cat in the story symbolizes a key figure to describe how the narrator goes from a sense of uncomfortableness with himself and acting out later on in criminal ways.
