Black Cats Have Been Enduring The Stigma Of Superstitions For Centuries, And Here’s How This Came To Be
There’s actually a National Black Cat Appreciation Day, which is August 17, and these felines could use some positive recognition all year round. For centuries, black cats have endured the stigma of superstitions and cultural and historical myths.
It is said that crossing paths with a black cat will bring you bad luck. This belief has persisted throughout the years and is still widely known today, although many people are much less superstitious than in the past. Still, it’s interesting to see where the idea of black cats being associated with misfortune has its roots.
Black cats were actually revered long before they were feared. In some of the world’s earliest civilizations, particularly ancient Egypt, cats were considered divine symbols.
Cats can also be found in ancient Greek mythology. Hecate, the goddess of magic, sorcery, and witchcraft, was described as having a black cat as a pet. At that time, witches and cats were not linked to evil–they were just a part of life.
It wasn’t until the thirteenth century that records depicting black cats as sinister and inauspicious appeared.
When Christianity took over Europe, the church deemed all pagan practices as works of the devil in their efforts to convert people.
However, things escalated when an official document called “Vox in Rama” was issued by Pope Gregory IX on June 13, 1233.
The document stated that black cats were an “incarnation of Satan,” and from there, church-sanctioned witch hunts ensued.
Black cats became affiliated with witches during the Middle Ages. As the church gained power, witches were seen as direct competition, preventing them from acquiring more Christian followers.
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The idea of independent women was not to be tolerated. They were considered a threat to the church. Cats were also feared because of the air of independence they exhibited. Unlike dogs, they weren’t obedient, which was viewed as disrespect against authority.
Since it was believed that witches and the devil could take the form of black cats, no one wanted to cross paths with one. So, to the average medieval person, the presence of a black cat was certainly cause for suspicion.
As the bubonic plague swept over Europe in the 1300s, black cats were to blame for the deaths and disease. Whenever they were spotted, they were swiftly killed to rid the world of evil.
However, this backfired and actually helped further the plague rather than mitigate it. In reality, rats were the carriers of the disease, and with the reduced number of cats to hunt the rodents, the plague grew even more widespread.
It seems like it didn’t take much to give black cats a bad name. Today, they may no longer be regarded as a threat to our lives, but they are still associated with spooky situations.
Look at the various Halloween decorations out there, and you’ll find black cats among the reserve of goods. Additionally, studies have found that they are more likely to be euthanized than felines of brighter colors.
So make sure to show your love to some black cats this Black Cat Appreciation Day. After all that they’ve been through, they definitely deserve it!
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