the black cat Feline Folklore & Myths
Photo by Tasos Mansour on Unsplash
By Laura B . Tennyson
“ Black Cat crossed my path ; I think every day is gonna be my last !” Nina Simone sang in “ Mississippi Goddam ,” her seminal 1964 song about the turmoil in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement . The association of black cats and death is so commonly held that it has transcended continents and cultures , even finding its way into a Nina Simone song . Since ancient times , across cultures and countries , black cats have symbolized evil , bad luck , witches , warlocks and the dark side . But where did this myth begin ? How did it become so ingrained in popular culture that no Halloween décor would be complete without a cutout of a black cat with an arched back ? As a kid , I was afraid of my neighbor ’ s black cat , convinced it was a witch . Granted , I read lots of Grimm Brothers fairytales and Greek mythology , and I also believed that trolls lived under bridges . Are you spooked when you see a black cat ? If so , think back and ask yourself , “ When did I start believing that evil lurked in our ebonycolored feline friends ?”
Folklores vary from culture to culture , and are usually transmitted through songs , books , art , and from person to person . The myth of the evil black cat can be found throughout European , Asian , and Native American folklore and culture . “ Cats are a pervasive motif in folklore ,” says Dr . Lynne McNeill , a doctorate professor of Folklore at Utah State University . “ Their roles in stories , legends and beliefs mirror the roles of other supernatural creatures such as fairies , demons , ghosts and monsters .”
In Western culture , superstitions about black cats date back to Medieval Europe , where black cats were seen as supernatural entities that assisted witches in black magic and helped witches disguise themselves as black cats . With her sturdy cat apprentice , the idea of the evil , powerful witch consumed and threatened small villages , hamlets and entire religions . Going back even further , in ancient Greek mythology , Zeus ’ s wife Hera once transformed her servant , Galinthias , into a black cat as punishment for impeding the birth of Hercules . Galinthias went on to become an assistant to Hecate , the goddess of witchcraft , and black cats have had unique meanings in various cultures ever since .
Myths are also rooted in historic fact . Notably , in the year 1233 , Pope Gregory IX wrote the
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