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8 Creepy Things To Know About Halloween 5

8 Creepy Things To Know

About The History Of

Halloween

Continued from Page 4

6. Spiders Symbolize Spirits

I'm pretty scared of spiders. And by "pretty
scared" I mean terrified. When I saw a giant
wolf spider scurrying across the living room a
few months ago it took every ounce of self
control not to scream and wake up my
roommate. According to Live Science, spiders
can have two meanings on Halloween — one
comforting and one scary.
"One superstition held that if a spider
falls into a candle-lit lamp and is consumed by
the flame, witches are nearby," Live Science
reported. "And, if you spot a spider on
Halloween, goes another superstition, it means up a husband seems way more creepy than October for fear of them being used sacrificially.
that the spirit of a deceased loved one is hanging out with black cats. If none of these
watching over you." things worked I suppose women who could not Black Cats Can Help Your Love Life
manifest a Halloween husband — before they
7. Witches Bring Wisdom became old maids in their late 20s — would Forget the stereotypical depiction of the
spend the rest of their days surrounded by black
perpetually single cat lady. In some parts of the
Historically, in the United States, being a witch cats and being accused of witchcraft because
world, it’s believed that black cats can actually
has not been considered a good thing. Salem their husband-hunting spells didn't work. Can I
improve your love life.
Witch Trials, anyone? However, in Celtic times interest anyone in the definition of irony? In Japan, for example, single women
witches were an important part of Samhain. who own black cats are believed to attract more
Witches stem from a pagan goddess known as Pawsitively Fascinating suitors. In Great Britain’s English Midlands, a
"the crone," according to Live Science. At some black cat is the ideal wedding gift; they’re
point old women, especially those who didn't Facts About Black Cats believed to bring good luck and happiness to the
marry, began to be feared and the term "witch" bride.
took on a much more sinister connotation.
Whether you are a cat owner or not, we can all
"The crone was also known as 'the old
agree that no other domesticated cat has a rap Black Cats Can Bring You Luck
one' and the 'Earth mother,' who symbolized
quite like black cats.
wisdom, change, and the turning of the seasons," While black cats are typically associated Not only can black cats better your love life, but
Live Science noted. "Today, the kind, all- with Halloween, witchcraft, and bad luck, they can amp up your good luck and improve
knowing old crone has morphed into the there’s much more to these fur balls than the your finances, too. Historically, sailors brought
menacing, cackling witch." creepy stuff. Learn the history of black cats and cats aboard ships to hunt mice—and,
how they became Halloween icons, where they presumably, for companionship—but British
8. Halloween = Husband Hunting are considered a symbol of good fortune, and sailors believed a black cat would bring the ship
how their genes may, one day, help prevent good luck and ensure a safe return home.
In less-than progressive times, marrying women certain diseases in humans. It was a little more complicated for
off was a top priority, and women were expected pirates, though. They believed a black cat
to help things along by participating in some The Background of Black Cats and walking toward you was bad luck, a black cat
pretty strange traditions on Halloween to Witches walking away from you was good luck, and if a
increase their chances of snagging themselves a cat boarded the ship and then jumped off, the
husband.
Black cats are quintessential Halloween icons— ship was going to sink.
"In Scotland, fortune-tellers
and the number one costume choice for both For those of us not in a maritime
recommended that an eligible young woman elementary-aged children and women in their profession, a black cat arriving at your doorstep
name a hazelnut for each of her suitors and then
freshman year of college, oddly enough—but do signals prosperity (a common belief in Scotland)
toss the nuts into the fireplace," History.com
you know how they got such a spooky rap? and a black cat crossing your path signals good
noted. "The nut that burned to ashes rather than
Beginning in the Middle Ages, black cats luck (in England and Ireland).
popping or exploding, the story went,
became associated with Satan, witches, and
represented the girl’s future husband."
witchcraft; some people went so far as to believe Black Cats Can Resist Disease
Another story suggests that eating a
that black cats were cohorts to witches or even
sugary bedtime snack made from nuts would
witches who had taken on another form. This Researchers at the National Institutes of Health
increase a woman's chances of dreaming about
wide-spread superstition resulted in the horrific discovered that the genetic mutations that cause
her future husband. Other tales have women mass killing of black cats—and sometimes even
throwing apple peels over their shoulders in the cats to have black coats may offer them some
their owners. protection from diseases. In fact, the mutations
hopes that the peels will land in a way that forms
Aside from continuing to represent all affect the same genes that offer HIV resistance
the initials of their future mates.
things eerie, the fear of black cats still has some to humans.
Still other women "tried to learn about
influence today. Many animal shelters won’t Since cats can experience many of the
their futures by peering at egg yolks floating in
place black cats in homes during the month of same health issues as we do—cancer, HIV and
a bowl of water; and stood in front of mirrors in
Alzheimer’s, to name a few—they make perfect
darkened rooms, holding candles and looking
SimulTV models for studying human disease. By figuring
over their shoulders for their husbands’ faces,"
Is Now Available On out how cats have evolved to resist diseases,
according to History.com.
Let's be honest, using spells to conjure ROKU researchers can, potentially, learn how to
Vist - www.simultv.com prevent disease in humans as well.