Black Cat Appreciation Day

Apparently it is Black Cat Appreciation Day. Read about it here. Black Cats and Witchcraft have long history of being related in Traditional Lore. So I find a bit of joy in this holiday that I wouldn’t otherwise. Why single out Black Cats? What about the poor tabby or calico, where is their appreciation day? But because of the connection between black cats and Witches, I’m not too worried about it. In fact, it feels a bit like a mini-holiday in favor of Witchy Familiars. Maybe we should have a toad, serpent, or hare appreciation day too, just to round out the appreciation of Witch animals.

As you have probably heard through folk lore, Black Cats are the traditionally associated animal when it comes to portraying a Witches’ Familiar. This would take one of two forms usually. Either the Black Cat was a magickal assistant/servant, or a husk whereby the Witch could take the form of the Black Cat as if it were a permanent external vehicle. Black Cats are also associated with luck and fortune. To own a Black Cat is suppose to be very luck in parts of the U.K., but strangely to have one cross your path is suppose to be unlucky.

So, as it is Black Cat Appreciation Day, and if you own a Black Cat, as I happen to, then at some point during the day take an extra moment or two to strengthen the bond between owner and Black Cat, or you could just feed it and give it a good scratching behind the ears.

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

"Lost in a thicket bare-footed upon a thorned path."