For centuries, superstitions have surrounded black cat. They have secured a spot in world culture as revered, respected, or even frightening. Not just in India but this is a popular belief in the west too – black cat crossing the road is a bad omen. Do you want to know if it’s true or not?
The origin Of Superstition around the Black cat
The origin of this superstition has come from the Egyptians who believed that black cats were evil creatures and they bring bad luck. In India, black color is generally associated with Lord Shani. It is said that if a black cat is crossing your road, then you should let somebody else pass before you do. This way, the first person will have all the bad luck and you won’t. Most of Europe considers black cats a symbol of bad luck, particularly if one walks across the path in front of a person, which is believed to be an omen of misfortune and death.
Stop if a black cat crosses your way-
- Cat or Felidae is a biological family member of which are known as CAT. These members include Tigers, Leopard, Jaguars, Domestic Cat and black, etc with more others. In previous times, there was not much machinery and technology. People used to reap crops, vegetables, and other manufactured products to make business transactions. There were only carts to transport & travel in those times if one wishes to go to other towns for any purpose.
People still believe it without knowing the logic behind and thus a basic fact became a superstition.
- Cats were domesticated thousands of years before. Egyptians worshipped cats too. During the reign of Kings and Queens, the adult male member in each family needs to perform the national duty.
Note Further
They need to man the boundaries. Many will travel miles from their homes. When a king/any royal people goes for a hunt and if they happen to see a black cat, they won’t cross that region, thinking that women and children might be living around the area as their man already left the place to perform the national duty. Also, in the area where people live, the lesser will be the wild animals.
They will take it to account by seeing cats as they are domesticated and used as pets. Those were the times when people lived by principles and dharma. It might look funny by the way is defined, but it’s the fact. The words spread across and every kings’ men followed the rule. By seeing the cat, they will simply return. The real reason just got vanished and people considered it as a bad omen.
- This superstition arises from the best known being the Black Death in the 14th century. As cat includes rat in her diet and these rats are a medium of a vector-borne transmitter of fleas so cats also may be the contributor to the spreading of the plague.
So, to prevent common peoples from getting infected this superstition of bad luck was set up at that time. Thus, by teaching the entire foundation of reasoning science they were just given this superstitious idea.
If a black cat crosses your path, you’ll have bad luck.
The story goes, that when Egyptians began worshipping the black cat goddess Bast, Christians became convinced that black cats were demons in disguise. They believed that if a demon crossed your path, it created a barrier of evil, severing you from God and heaven. Other resources claim that black cats were thought to be witches in feline form, or carried out witches’ evil commands.
Black Cats Are Good Luck
In ancient Egypt, black cats were held in the highest esteem because they resembled Bastet, the cat-headed Egyptian goddess of the home, fertility, and protection from disease. Black cats are considered good luck in other parts of the globe, as well.
- Asia and the U.K – you’re going to be lucky in life if you own a black cat.
- Japan – you’ll have luck in finding love if you spot a black cat.
- England – a bride will have luck in her marriage if she receives a black cat as a gift.
- Europe – sailors will have a safe journey if they bring along a black cat on the ship.
- Scotland – you’ll have coming prosperity if a black cat appears at your doorway or on your porch.
- France – something magical is about to happen if you see a black cat.
In other cultures, around the world, it’s a sign of good luck if you dream about a black cat, see one walking towards you, or if you happen to find a stray white hair on its gleaming ebony fur.
Few interesting superstations relating to cats
- One white hair on a black cat is good luck.
- Kittens born in May have special powers.
- Black cats protect fishermen at sea.
- Put a cat in the empty cradle of newlyweds, and a baby will arrive soon.
- If a cat sneezes three times, someone will catch a cold.
- When a cat, washes its ears a lot, it will rain.
- Having a cat in a theatre is good luck.
Conclusion
Human beings have made a hell out of ridiculous superstitions. The cat simply walks its way and people make a fuss out of it. If that is how you see that it is not the cat that crosses your path – it is YOU who crosses her path. A black cat crossing your road simply means that the animal is going somewhere and that is all. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Get out of superstitious beliefs and live freely, respect animals – they are in existence on this planet when human beings were still to come.
Final note
As human beings – we all have a greater responsibility towards animals – let us not be so ignorant that we start condemning these innocent angels in the name of religious superstitious beliefs. If a black cat is crossing the road, left to right or right to left, in the night time or in day time means that it is going on it’s some business and since it does not concern you, it is none of your business.