Cat-Astrophic Halloween
When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
‘tis near Halloween.
—Author Unknown
On National Cat Day, we ask: why are black cats in ;articular associated with Halloween (October 31)? A midnight-furred kitty, yellow eyed, spiky, back arched and howling, has become a highly visible and immediately identifiable Halloween symbol. While felines have been objects of superstition for thousands of years, what’s the connection with the spookiest holiday of the year?
Black: The color black is, in many cultures, symbolic of death, darkness and/or evil. Humans fear the unknown because the dark hides unseen dangers.
Nocturnal: Cats are nocturnal predators, hunting prey once darkness has fallen. They’ve got excellent night vision, are light on their feet, quiet, and enjoy hiding in ambush. These qualities make some people feel uneasy around cats and likely helped give rise to the cat’s history as an object of of both reverence and fear.
Witches: It was believed in some parts of the world that when threatened, a witch could turn herself into a cat. Particularly in Europe and North America, black cats—the color of evil—became witches’ familiars, their servants who assisted them in committing bad deeds and casting curses. Cats are also associated more with female/women and were believed to have special powers, further enhancing the connection to witchcraft.
Because of these associations, many superstitions have arisen about our feline friends.
Greeting Card Universe loves our feline friends and wishes everyone a purr-fectly fine, fun and safe Howl-oween! There’s still time to grab unique, super spooky cat Halloween cards if you order on-line. Buy 5+ cards, get free in-store pick-up, usually in 1 hour, at most Target and Bartell Drug stores.
What Are Happy Shoppers Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“I love your cards and especially happy with your Halloween selection! Love being able to personalize, as well! Delighted to have found Greeting Card Universe! Everyone I show loves them!!!” – ANNETTE – October 25, 2014