Double, double, toil and trouble, find a kitty and give them a cuddle!
We all know October means Halloween, and Halloween brings up images of ghoulish monsters, cackling witches, bloodthirsty beasts, and black cats.
Black cats are a well-known yet frequently misunderstood omen. It is widely believed seeing a black cat is bad luck, but this is actually a misremembering of the original omen. Rather than being a symbol of misfortune, when a black cat crosses your path it is actually good luck to greet it, as well as being good manners! Unfortunately, their negative reputation has caused Halloween to be a dangerous time for black cats, with unsavoury types looking to make mischief and often mistreating such felines. Keep this in mind, and keep your cats safe.
Cats have been regarded as closely associated with night since way back when the ancient Egyptians began to worship them, if not longer. The Egyptian goddess Bast was depicted as a cat goddess, and recognised as one of the three main typical “Great Mother” deities. You’ll find Egypt’s culture riddled with feline representation; kitty mummies in particular lend weight toward their sometimes spooky reputation.
In stark contrast to being deified, more recently cats fell under suspicion as familiars when stories of wicked witches ran rampant through villages. A familiar is more or less a demonic assistant, aiding in dastardly deeds such as curses and the summoning of dark spirits. It was also sometimes suspected that a witch possessed the ability to transform into a black cat if they needed a stealthy disguise, as witches often did. It is very possible that witches’ affiliation with Halloween is partly responsible for that of cats; guilty by association, as it were.
However, a stronger link is tied between Samhain (pronunciation varies from so-wen, sow-en, etc.) and a fae known as siths. A sith may appear in the form of a black cat with a white spot on their chest, roaming the Scottish highlands. While we are big fans of snuggling kitties, these fairy felines are best avoided if you value your soul, as siths are known to fancy souls as a snack.
The traditional holiday of Samhain marks harvest’s end and Winter’s beginning. It is part of a year-long reverence for the circle of life, marking the inevitable season of death that makes way for new life in the Spring. Current Western culture sees death as dark, glum, and scary, so it’s no wonder the idea of death at this time of year is emphasised.
These insightful snippets from history may seem dark, dangerous, and foreboding, but however you celebrate the spooky season, we hope it’s filled with safe and vibrant fun! Snuggle your kitties close at home, and cosy up with something warm while the wheel of the year turns toward ever darker winter days.