Black Cats: Unlucky Omens or Misunderstood Companions?
But recently, I had a sudden urge to look up some information! I discovered that black cats are often associated with folk superstitions and stories.
The "black cat" is highly similar to the Bombay cat, and those with a red tinge are known as "Xuanmao" cats. But how do black cats have red in them? After searching on Wikipedia, I found out that the red is due to the sun making the pure black fur appear slightly brownishred. The longer a cat spends in the sun, the more pronounced this effect becomes!
Although people have always had both positive and negative sayings about black cats, cultural differences also mean that people's views on black cats vary!
In Chinese culture, black cats are generally considered to be auspicious symbols that ward off evil and bring wealth. That's why many ancient wealthy families would have wind chimes, ornaments, and other decorations shaped like black cats!
However, some people believe that black cats can ward off evil spirits and see things that others cannot. Therefore, the presence of a black cat in a place might indicate the existence of supernatural elements, leading some to think that black cats bring bad luck and unclean things. After all, everyone fears attracting supernatural entities!
Cats are nocturnal creatures, often wandering the dark nights. In Western culture, people believe that black cats are the minions of witches, mediums, and symbols of evil and misfortune!
When people talk about "black cats," they often associate them with witches and witchcraft, which is why during Halloween, decorations, costumes, and party themes often feature elements of black cats and witches. I actually hadn't noticed this before; I thought Halloween was just about witches and pumpkins, but I didn't realize it also included black cats!
Black cats are not only objects of religious worship but are also revered as the embodiment of the goddess Bastet, and cats are held in awe. In ancient times, accidentally killing a cat could result in a life sentence, and when a pet cat died unexpectedly, the entire family would have to pluck their eyebrows as a sign of mourning!
Superstitions like "black cats ward off evil, while white cats attract ghosts" are also quite common!
