WW - Black Cat Appreciation Day 2016

Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day 2016! While our cat Sid (short for Obsidian) would argue that this should be every day, today is the official celebration. I wrote about this last year (and scored a featured spot on BlogHer for it!), but since it falls on a Witchy Wednesday this year, I thought I’d give it a magical spin.

First, as I explained last year, this day was essentially created in an effort to combat the bad PR black cats have endured (they have the lowest adoption rate and the highest rate of euthanasia at shelters). I found the best description of the holiday on the site, I Can Has Cheeseburger? –

Black cats have a bad rep. We have all been taught that they’re unlucky and evil, and because of these superstitions black cats are often the last cats to be adopted, and the first ones to be put to sleep in shelters. Shelters have also said that October is often a tough month for our black feline friends. They get roughed up and abandoned, so it’s extra important that they find loving homes now. And though July was officially “Black Cat Adoption Month”, many shelters will also host adoption specials for Black Cat Appreciation Day—maybe it’s time to look for your own ebony kitteh!

Black Cat Appreciation day was actually the brainchild of Wayne Morris, who invented the day in honor of his sister who passed away years ago on August 17, and the black cat that she loved. He used social networking to spread the word…and BAM! Black Cat Appreciation Day was born. You can visit Wayne’s Facebook page For the Love of Black Cats (Black Cat Appreciation Page)

I also found this description of a serendipitous witchy holiday over at Almanac.com –

Calendar for August 17th, 2015 – Cat Nights Begin

The term “Cat Nights” harks back to a rather obscure old Irish legend concerning witches and the belief that a witch could turn herself into a cat eight times, but on the ninth time (August 17), she couldn’t regain her human form. This bit of folklore also gives us the saying, “A cat has nine lives.” Because August is a yowly time for cats, this may have prompted the speculation about witches on the prowl in the first place.

Then there’s this tidbit from the most excellent Patti Wigington, that’s part of her article, Black Cats.

Black Cat Folklore and Legends

Sixteenth-century Italians believed that if a black cat jumped on the bed of an ill person, the person would soon die.

In Colonial America, Scottish immigrants believed that a black cat entering a wake was bad luck, and could indicated the death of a family member.

The Norse goddess Freyja drove a chariot pulled by a pair of black cats.

A Roman solder killed a black cat in Egypt, and was killed by an angry mob of locals.

Appalachian folklore said that if you had a stye on the eyelid, rubbing the tail of a black cat on it would make the stye go away.

If you find a single white hair on your otherwise-black cat, it’s a good omen.

In England’s border countries and southern Scotland, a strange black cat on the front porch brings good fortune.

Finally, a graphic I created using a picture I took of Sid (and a rare instance of me photoshopping a picture – I thought clipart would be the safest way of getting him to wear a hat… *grin*), and a protection spell written by Dorothy Morrison. Bright yowly blessings!