* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson Did This “Humiliating” Thing to Prep for Sex Scenes – Yahoo

    Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson’s Hilarious Preparation for Steamy Sex Scenes!

    Meet the Cast of FX’s New Comedy ‘Adults’ – WFXG

    Meet the Cast of FX’s New Comedy ‘Adults’ – WFXG

    First Celebrities Playing in the 2025 American Century Championship Announced – El Paso Inc.

    Exciting Lineup Revealed: First Celebrities Set to Compete in the 2025 American Century Championship!

    Palm Beach Council approves Breakers plans for new Family Entertainment Center – Palm Beach Daily News

    Palm Beach Council Greenlights Exciting New Family Entertainment Center at The Breakers!

    Why Was Kanye West’s South Korea Tour Cancelled? – Yahoo

    Unraveling the Mystery: Why Kanye West’s South Korea Tour Was Canceled

    Entertainment Spotlight: ‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ – Atlanta News First

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Cellino’s iPSC Manufacturing Technology Receives FDA Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Designation – Business Wire

    Cellino’s Groundbreaking iPSC Manufacturing Technology Earns FDA’s Advanced Manufacturing Designation!

    New technology adapting the study of Anatomy | Why’s Guy’s – WCIA.com

    Revolutionizing Anatomy: How Cutting-Edge Technology is Transforming the Study of the Human Body

    We Think GigaCloud Technology’s (NASDAQ:GCT) Solid Earnings Are Understated – Yahoo Finance

    Unlocking Potential: Why GigaCloud Technology’s Impressive Earnings Deserve More Recognition

    JPMorgan Chase plans to spend $18B in technology in 2025 (JPM:NYSE) – Seeking Alpha

    JPMorgan Chase Unveils Ambitious $18 Billion Tech Investment Plan for 2025!

    Nvidia plans to sell tech to speed AI chip communication – The Indian Express

    Nvidia Unveils Game-Changing Technology to Accelerate AI Chip Communication!

    Murfreesboro LPR technology helps catch suspect in Henry County homicide case – WKRN News 2

    Murfreesboro LPR technology helps catch suspect in Henry County homicide case – WKRN News 2

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson Did This “Humiliating” Thing to Prep for Sex Scenes – Yahoo

    Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson’s Hilarious Preparation for Steamy Sex Scenes!

    Meet the Cast of FX’s New Comedy ‘Adults’ – WFXG

    Meet the Cast of FX’s New Comedy ‘Adults’ – WFXG

    First Celebrities Playing in the 2025 American Century Championship Announced – El Paso Inc.

    Exciting Lineup Revealed: First Celebrities Set to Compete in the 2025 American Century Championship!

    Palm Beach Council approves Breakers plans for new Family Entertainment Center – Palm Beach Daily News

    Palm Beach Council Greenlights Exciting New Family Entertainment Center at The Breakers!

    Why Was Kanye West’s South Korea Tour Cancelled? – Yahoo

    Unraveling the Mystery: Why Kanye West’s South Korea Tour Was Canceled

    Entertainment Spotlight: ‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ – Atlanta News First

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Cellino’s iPSC Manufacturing Technology Receives FDA Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Designation – Business Wire

    Cellino’s Groundbreaking iPSC Manufacturing Technology Earns FDA’s Advanced Manufacturing Designation!

    New technology adapting the study of Anatomy | Why’s Guy’s – WCIA.com

    Revolutionizing Anatomy: How Cutting-Edge Technology is Transforming the Study of the Human Body

    We Think GigaCloud Technology’s (NASDAQ:GCT) Solid Earnings Are Understated – Yahoo Finance

    Unlocking Potential: Why GigaCloud Technology’s Impressive Earnings Deserve More Recognition

    JPMorgan Chase plans to spend $18B in technology in 2025 (JPM:NYSE) – Seeking Alpha

    JPMorgan Chase Unveils Ambitious $18 Billion Tech Investment Plan for 2025!

    Nvidia plans to sell tech to speed AI chip communication – The Indian Express

    Nvidia Unveils Game-Changing Technology to Accelerate AI Chip Communication!

    Murfreesboro LPR technology helps catch suspect in Henry County homicide case – WKRN News 2

    Murfreesboro LPR technology helps catch suspect in Henry County homicide case – WKRN News 2

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

The Symbolism Behind What a Black Cat Means: Are They Really Bad Luck?

October 24, 2023
in Science
The Symbolism Behind What a Black Cat Means: Are They Really Bad Luck?
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Cats pop up in folklore and history all the way back to the Egyptians — who were notorious cat lovers and even cat worshippers. Cats were adored in ancient Rome, China, and the Middle East as well.

However, cats were not adored so much in the European middle ages — especially black cats. In 1233, Pope Gregory IX issued a papal bull — Vox in Rama — as an injunction against (as well as a screed about) satanic cults that he’d been informed were proliferating in parts of Germany.

The Origins of Black Cat Superstition

The origins of black cat superstitions can be traced back to various historical, cultural, and religious beliefs. In the document’s colorful (and disgusting) descriptions of these heretical practices, Pope Gregory claimed that devil worshippers were consorting with their master in the form of a creature that was half man, half black cat.

Among other bizarre activities, participants in the ritual kissed the “cat’s rear,” according to a description by medievalist Irina Metzler in the scholarly paper, “Heretical Cats: Animal Symbolism in Religious Discourse.”

The pope disliked other animals, too. He disliked frogs and toads, but they never caught on as Halloween symbols. And the idea that cats were evil, particularly black cats, had staying power. Most serious scholars dismiss the connection between black cats and the increased ravages of the plague, but it didn’t help their reputation.

Read more: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About … Cats

The Superstition of Black Cats and Witches

By the 15th century, witches had been added to the list of those who consorted with the devil by means of cats. In 1486, Pope Innocent VII announced that the cat was “the devil’s favorite animal and the idol of all witches.”

Why Black Cats Have A Reputation For Evil

Black cats have a reputation for evil because the stories of witches and cats at satanic rituals as well as witches turning into cats at night were common. The latter stories often featured a cat that was wounded; the next day a suspected witch would show similar wounds. Tales of this sort were so frequent you might call it a genre.

All of this may have led to a centuries-long association between cats and evil — and thus the charming arch-backed cat silhouettes that today spruce up our secular decorations around Halloween.

Read More: Can Cats Dream? What Do Their Sleep Patterns Tell Us?

What Does a Black Cat Symbolize?

The symbolism of a black cat is a complex matter. In different cultures and throughout history, black cats have been associated with both good and bad omens. Here are some of the contrasting beliefs and associations with black cats.

Positive Black Cat Symbolism

In ancient Egypt, cats in general, including black ones, were highly revered and considered sacred. They were believed to bring good luck and protection.

Some considered a black cat on a ship as a lucky omen in some parts of England. If a black cat walked onto a ship and stayed, it was seen as a sign of good luck.

In Japan, black cats today are believed to bring prosperity, bless marriages, ensure good harvests, and even help bring success to theater productions.

Negative Black Cat Symbolism

In various Western cultures, including medieval Europe, black cats were associated with witches and considered to be witches’ familiars. They were often viewed as signs of bad luck and evil.

In 16th-century Italy, it was believed that if a sick person had a black cat lying on their bed, they would die. The fear of black cats was reinforced during the Middle Ages, particularly during outbreaks of the Bubonic Plague. Some believed black cats could spread disease, and they were often associated with the devil and witchcraft.

Read More: We’ve Relied On These 5 Animals Throughout History

Why Do We Think Cats Have Mystical Powers?

But why did cats grab and hold the imagination, and not, say, frogs? Metzler suggests the answer might lie in the fact that cats are not really all that domesticated. Having one foot in our world (sleeping peacefully by the hearth and chasing away rodents) and one foot somewhere else (who knows where cats go when they disappear for days at a time?) creates what Metzler calls a “conceptual tension.”

How Are Cats Useful?

Cats are useful because they hunt rodents. But it’s this very behavior that keeps them at least semi-wild. Metzler compares this to heretics, who are themselves not completely domesticated, she says, because they challenge orthodoxy and interpret religious belief however they like. Insisting on freedom and refusing to be constrained by rules. Sounds a lot like a cat, doesn’t it?

“As symbolic animals,” Metzler writes, “cats may be the heretical animal par excellence.”

Read more: Cats Ruled These 4 Ancient Civilizations

Are Black Cats Bad Luck or Good Luck?

Not every culture — even in Europe — thinks black cats are bad luck. Last May, Mark Rees, a Welsh author who recently published a book of Welsh myth and legend, posted on Twitter this verse from Welsh folklore (attributing the translation to the Reverend Elias Owen): 

A black cat, I’ve heard it said,
Can charm all ill away,
And keep the house wherein she dwells
From fever’s deadly sway.

Why Are Black Cats Unlucky?

Most modern black cats are considered bad luck. Both anecdotal reports and scientific studies have shown that black cats are adopted less often and euthanized more often than cats of other colors. So this Halloween, enjoy the decorations and the folklore, but if you see a black cat, be nice to it. And don’t try to kiss its butt.

Read more: 5 Cats Who Owned Famous Scientists

This article was originally published on Oct. 22, 2022 and has since been updated with information from the Discover staff.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Discover Magazine – https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/why-do-black-cats-have-a-reputation-for-evil

Tags: BehindscienceSymbolism
Previous Post

Space Launches Are on the Rise and So Is a New Kind of Air Pollution

Next Post

Are retrospective adjustments to sustainability reports helping CEOs score a bonus?

China to give $500 million to WHO in next 5 years, official says – Reuters

China to give $500 million to WHO in next 5 years, official says – Reuters

May 21, 2025
Consumers Prop Up the Economy. They’re Showing Signs of Strain. – The New York Times

Consumers Prop Up the Economy. They’re Showing Signs of Strain. – The New York Times

May 21, 2025
Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson Did This “Humiliating” Thing to Prep for Sex Scenes – Yahoo

Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson’s Hilarious Preparation for Steamy Sex Scenes!

May 21, 2025
United States Appears Set to Skip World Health Assembly while China Sends Over 180 Delegates to Geneva – Health Policy Watch

United States Appears Set to Skip World Health Assembly while China Sends Over 180 Delegates to Geneva – Health Policy Watch

May 21, 2025
Trump administration working on plan to move 1 million Palestinians to Libya – NBC News

Trump Administration’s Bold Proposal: Relocating 1 Million Palestinians to Libya

May 21, 2025
Airbus Subsidiary Chooses Aeva to Provide 4D LiDAR Technology for Project – Thomasnet

Airbus Subsidiary Partners with Aeva for Cutting-Edge 4D LiDAR Technology in Exciting New Project!

May 21, 2025
Notre Dame hires alum Pat Garrity to trailblazing role overseeing both men’s and women’s basketball teams – CBS Sports

Notre Dame hires alum Pat Garrity to trailblazing role overseeing both men’s and women’s basketball teams – CBS Sports

May 20, 2025
4th Open Forum on Ecology and Preservation of Water Bodies Held at SUSU – South Ural State University

4th Open Forum on Ecology and Preservation of Water Bodies Held at SUSU – South Ural State University

May 20, 2025
Kalley Hurt, a Carnegie High School science teacher, receives a $150 check from representative Mike Hixson – Southwest Ledger

Kalley Hurt, a Carnegie High School science teacher, receives a $150 check from representative Mike Hixson – Southwest Ledger

May 20, 2025
Hospital superbug can feed on medical plastic, first-of-its-kind study reveals – Live Science

Revolutionary Study Uncovers Hospital Superbug’s Ability to Thrive on Medical Plastics!

May 20, 2025

Categories

Archives

May 2025
MTWTFSS
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
« Apr    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (624)
  • Economy (638)
  • Entertainment (21,552)
  • General (15,224)
  • Health (9,680)
  • Lifestyle (642)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (640)
  • Politics (646)
  • Science (15,861)
  • Sports (21,148)
  • Technology (15,628)
  • World (628)

Recent News

China to give $500 million to WHO in next 5 years, official says – Reuters

China to give $500 million to WHO in next 5 years, official says – Reuters

May 21, 2025
Consumers Prop Up the Economy. They’re Showing Signs of Strain. – The New York Times

Consumers Prop Up the Economy. They’re Showing Signs of Strain. – The New York Times

May 21, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version