Witches, Tradition

[azurelunatic]

I've figured out why traditional witches tend to have black cats.

1. With superstitions about black cats being bad luck, witches are the ones who will dare to keep them anyway.

2. If the witch is doing the traditional all-black wardrobe thing, it's smartest to have a cat that matches.

Comments

[wibbble]

Black cat hairs show up against black clothes.

Black cats are only bad luck in the US.

Our other cat is black. :o)

[azurelunatic]

Black cat hairs match black clothes far better than grey or tabby cat hairs.

Tabby cats don't match solid colors. I only wear solid colors, in general. shammash is a tabby and eris_raven is grey.

[juuro.livejournal.com]

Black cats are only bad luck in the US.

I'm not sure. I've encountered the belief in Scandinavia and in Germany. Cannot be certain, of course, if it is a recent import or indigenous.

[wibbble]

Black cats are good luck here, in the UK.

I also think...

[it-wasnt-me.livejournal.com]

I think that there's a degree of menacing imagery involved as well. Can you imagine a sinister, cackling hag and...her Siamese? Seems less intimidating, somehow. Almost as if the witches' cauldron were replaced by a bag of microwave popcorn.

Re: I also think...

[thette.livejournal.com]

It seems to work for spervillains.

Re: I also think...

[azurelunatic]

Sadly for your chances of entering into a mature and reasoned dialogue with this user, that is the former Mr. Anonymous who was creating all the troll trouble a bit ago, and he has since been banned from this journal.

[ashlupa.livejournal.com]

Finally, a reason that makes sense...I knew there was a reason that my wardrobe felt safe when visiting friends with all-black cats. *g*

Of course, also note that in the (mostly southern) European countries where white cats are bad luck, tradition also sometimes clothes witches in white.

[azurelunatic]

See? It's all about the color-coordination!

[ashlupa.livejournal.com]

It isn't just lately that witches have kept up with fashion...