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Pictures Of Halloween Cats
By peace | October 15, 2006
Many experts believe the druids were the first to observe Halloween. Dating back to 700 B.C., they celebrated the festival of Samhain (the end of the harvest and a time to honor the dead) on November 1. In the ensuing years, the night before became known as the Eve of All Hallows, a.k.a. Hallow Even, a.k.a. Hallow e’en.
The word witch comes from the Saxon word wicca, which means “wise one.”
Ever wonder how trick-or-treating got started? On the evening before Samhain, people left food on their doorsteps to keep hungry spirits from entering the house. Festivalgoers started dressing in ghost, witch, and goblin costumes so wandering spirits would leave them alone. To this day, these are Halloween’s most popular costumes.
Black cats, those customary Halloween icons, were originally believed to be witches’ familiars, a kind of cosmic sidekick who protected the witches’ powers from negative forces.
From being worshipped as a God in Ancient Egypt the poor cat became a persecuted creature in the Middle Ages. Cats were widely regarded as evil creatures, their teeth venomous and breath poisonous enough to cause consumption. Even their hair could suffocate an unsuspecting peasant foolish enough to swallow it. As they were primarily secretive nocturnal animals cats were regarded as being the supernatural servants of witches or even the witch herself if she possessed the power of shape shifting. It was widely believed that as familiars and companions they joined in the witches perverse and depraved rituals and orgies.
The black cat was particularly associated with witchcraft and magic. The Prince of Darkness himself was believed to borrow the coat of a black cat in order to torment his victims. Even today some cultures still believe they bring bad luck although in several countries it is believed good fortune for a black cat to cross your path as it signifies that evil has passed you by.
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February 24th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
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February 24th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
[…] Cats II Amazing Facts About Cats III Comparison of Dogs, cats and human age Black Cats Funny Cats Pictures of Halloween Cats Halloween Cats Cats and Dogs Story Pictures of cats and goldifish Cats Paintings with Fast Facts […]