The association of cats with Samhain likely also carried over into Halloween. Likewise, the Cat Sìth cursed those houses that did not leave out a saucer of milk. On Samhain, it was believed that the Cat Sìth - a Celtic fairy creature that was said to resemble a large black cat with a white spot on its chest - would bless any house that left a saucer of milk out for it to drink. Over time, Samhain and All Saints’ Day merged to create the modern Halloween. In the 9th century, the Western Christian Church shifted the date of All Saints’ Day to November 1. Samhain takes place between sunset on October 31 and sunset on November 1 to mark the end of harvest season. Perhaps the most direct connection between black cats and contemporary Halloween symbols stems from the Celtic festival Samhain. For the next few centuries, cats, while no longer allowed to be revered and worshipped, were generally left unscathed. As the Egyptian empire fell to the reign of Christianity, the domestic cat spread rapidly into Europe.Ĭats were still heavily associated with goddesses when Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned all pagan worship in 391 CE. The ancient Egyptians downright revered cats, worshipping and devoting entire cities to feline deities that protected their people from loathsome creatures like snakes and scorpions. Prior to the 4th century, cats were held in positive regard around the world. Unfortunately, the answer involves a lot of dark history. However, the presence of this latter “decoration” got us wondering: How did black cats become such prevalent Halloween symbols?
Jack-o’-lanterns flash their toothy grins, skeletons greet us with open bones, and black cats hiss from shadowy corners. Every year as summer transitions into autumn, a slew of fun and ghoulish Halloween imagery inevitably pops up in stores, on front porches, and across your newsfeed.
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