The “black cat – bad luck” superstition is one of the most popularized superstitions in the world. And even though the folklore may vary among cultures, in the vast majority of the countries, black cats are considered to bring bad luck to someone. But have you ever wondered how this belief came to be? Why black cats are considered so unlucky?
Well, here’s how it goes.
During the Middle Ages, Europe was literally overrun by cats. Because they were considered lucky at the time (how things change), many poor people adopted them as pets. But later in the 16th century when the witch hysteria hit Europe, many old poor women who had cats as pets were accused of being witches and their cats were considered their “evil partners”. Therefore, the consensus for cats shifted from being lucky, to be seen as evil. The reason why only black cats are considered unlucky and not all cats in general is widely believed to have its origins in a story that was popularized in England during the 1560s. (the article continues after the ad)
THE STORY
As the story goes, a father and a son living in Lincolnshire started making the rounds in a moonless night. While they were walking a dark road, a small, dark creature sneaked up and frightened them. They immediately pelted it with rocks and saw it limp away to the home of a woman that was suspected of being a witch. While they were still shocked and trying to figure out what was going on, they watched through the window and saw that this creature was, in fact, a black cat.
The next day, when the old woman appeared in town, she had bruises on her face and a bandaged arm. The townspeople, who were already been told the story by the father the son, concluded that the witch herself was the black cat who got transformed and got out for a nightly prowl. From that time on, all the woes were describing a witch crossing the father’s and son’s path in the form of a black cat, and not just a black cat. As a result, people started believing that all black cats are somehow evil and that’s why, even today, black cats are considered bad luck in various cultures around the world.
If you like what you read, then you will definitely love this one: Why A Rabbit’s Foot Is Considered So Lucky?
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Sources: Black Cats Folklore – Witches and Beliefs About Black Cats | Ever Wonder Why?: Here Are the Answers!
