It is very normal that, on a Friday the 13th, in the halloween or even in horror movies and books, a black cat is related to bad luck. This is a lie that has been told in our society for many, many years. But have you ever wondered how it came to be?
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First of all, we must reinforce that no black cat brings bad luck or bad luck. If you come across one on the street, he can give you a lot of love and affection or even go on with his life quietly. However, it will never bring you bad luck.
This common sense leads to a real hunt for black pussies. Some people even mistreat, abandon or even kill these animals because of this legend.
“Back in my day, it was different…”
At the ancient egypt, cats were venerated and treated as sacred animals, for their work hunting mice, insects and snakes. However, the black kittens were special, as they referred to the goddess Bastet..
She was the goddess defender of homes. In addition, those who worshiped her also sought protection and fertility. Therefore, it was common for people to associate black cats with divinity.
How did the black cat go from divine to mouthpiece of bad luck?
The best indications are that it all started in Europe, with the Catholic Church. In 1230, Pope Gregory IX signed a papal document declaring the black cat to be a "demonic" animal.
That's because, according to gossip at the time, a German inquisitor would have witnessed a supposed ritual in which people kissed the bottom of a black cat. After that, they obeyed the animal's commands.
Crazy talk, isn't it? But the Catholic Church at the time agreed with what was reported and, afraid of what might happen, asked to eliminate all the black cats in the small German town where the inquisitor lived.
gossip people
But gossip you've seen, right? Ti-ti-ti spread across the continent. And, years later, this conversation ended up far away, including here in Brazil.
With the advancement of population and the passing of stories by word of mouth, the public image of pussycats was forever tarnished.
This cliché, coupled with the old story that cats and witches are intertwined, led to a near-extinction of cats in parts of Europe by the 13th century. Therefore, even today, with so much information available, there are still people who believe in these legends.
And did the death of so many black cats have consequences?
Of course. As cats were essential for the biological control of mice and insects, these animals began to proliferate freely.
With the increase in the rodent population – added to the poor hygiene of the population at the time – came the bubonic plague. Some researchers, however, refute this theory.
Graduated in Social Communication at the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.
