The Black Cats of Halloween
This is a good time to make sure the cat
is inside
MetPet.com Staff Writer
Every October, owners
of all black and predominantly black cats become a little more nervous about
their indoor/outdoor cats. In a season filled with the images of black
cats, they wonder if the urban legend is true: people sacrifice or otherwise
harm black cats on Halloween. How did this negative association between
Halloween and black cats come about and which, if any, of the legends are
true?
 Halloween probably
originated as a Pagan day of celebration. It was the time between the light
of summer and the darkness of winter, the passing of the Sun God and the
beginning of a new year. The celebration passed through the Druids, the
Celts and into the Christian tradition when Pope Gregory III declared
November 1 as All Saints Day. The night before became the night for evil
spirits, witches and their familiars.
There are a number of explanations for how Halloween became the holiday it
is today. Costumes and candy may have come from the pagan tradition of
feasting and then honoring the dead by dressing as ghosts. The
tradition of Trick or Treat
may have originated from the belief that evil spirits performed mischievous
deeds that night, such as turning the milk sour.
A more negative tradition and one directly related to black cats, was the
Celtic belief that the sinful dead came back on that night and inhabited the
bodies of animals. Only animal sacrifice would release their spirits. When
Europeans traveled to the New World, they brought with them the myths of
witches and evil spirits including the one that made the black cat the
companion, or the familiar, of witches. This unfortunate connection has
passed into tradition in the US and has now become an integral part of the
Halloween season.
Although few believe that black cats are evil, the myths persist so it is
always safest to leave all your pets inside on Halloween. Unless, of
course, they are dressed up and going Trick or Treating with you in tow.
Related Information:
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