Superstitions: If a black cat crossed your path would you turn around and go the other way?

If a black cat crossed your path would you turn around and go the other way?

Where did this particular superstition begin?

I think that maybe being superstitious is passed down through our parents. I know that I grew up with some interesting superstitions:

1) Owls are bad luck for native americans to have in thier homes...and...
2) Never move a broom from your old house to your new.

I have concluded that the unstated reasons behind these two superstitions are:
1) Suppose an owl makes it's nest in the house (teepee) of an american indian. The nest would be up in the smoke hole and could possibly catch fire since that is how hot ahses and smoke escapes. It could also maybe cause the teepee to fill with smoke and we all know that it is the smoke that usually kills in fires! That would be terrible luck, for sure. This makes this superstition true.
2) Never move a broom. The reasoning behind this, I suspect, is that if you take your broom with you, along with it you would be also taking with you all the germs and bacteria that could have caused illness and disease. I think that this is a true superstition, too.

Make since to anyone?

No....yes?

Well, what about that black cat superstition??? I have had many times had them cross my path of travel. There have been times that I have went the other way...and times that I could not.

I knew a woman once who had a black cat cross her path. Upon arriving home she recieved a phone call that her oldest son had been killed in a car accident. Sadly, after that, she was always sure that it was that black cat that had brought this terrible event to her life.

So, would you turn around or not?

Not at all.

I used to have a black cat as a pet. The only time I had problems with her crossing my path was when I tripped over her after too much

Hey, I had a black cat, too, Pisky! I loved her a lot. I have heard that if a black cat comes to your house not to chase it away...is bad luck...lol!

Black cats kick ass! My mom had one for 15 years, she now has 2, no bad luck. Sorry, superstitions are bad luck to those who think they are bad luck, the whole mind over matter.

Here's a great ebook on the origins of superstitions.
I'm not endorsing it as truth however, still you might find something
of Interest.
The Black Cat superstition is chapter 23 I think.

Thank you, Madhatter.

Here is another link:
www.sacredspiral.com...
IT is kindda long, though.

I guess i should have posted some links about superstitions in my original post, sorry!

I believe I read that the black cat superstition came from people believing cats to be witches familiars.

I'm pretty sure that if you are observant enough to notice a black cat crossing your path you will think twice about whatmay happen to you. Theres been times where i've taken another path just because I felt uncomfortable. But in my opinion we need to eliminate pets from the face of the earth to this give world a 'hygenic facelift'. Cats suck.

Theres been times where i've taken another path just because I felt uncomfortable.

I've never done that with cats, but with the walking under the ladder
thing, I'll walk around every time.

Sim, how could you hate cats.
There the master race that will someday rule us all dont you know.

All hale the master cats.

There might be something to the cat master race...ever hear of the "Felines"?

www.fourwinds10.com...

I grew up under the impression that black cats were good fortune and it was black dogs that posed cause for concern, so I always considered it lucky when one crossed my path.

Now I find out is is bad luck. Hmmnn... that might explain the first few decades of my life.

Jack

Ok, I have been gone and it has been a long time since I read my ATS. So in honor of halloween I will respond to the last post and give this a bump (mods please don't get mad)

Wow, Jak. I have never heard of the dogs thing but I did read somewhere that it was unlucky to chase a black cat from your house because they take thier luck with them. I have also read that if you own a black cat and it leaves it means that someone is going to die. Sorry I can't provide a link. I read about it in pre-internet days.

The links above about the origins of superstitions are pretty cool, though.

Happy Halloween!

i'd pick it up and pet it, then it wouldnt cross my path, it would be on the path with me, but i might let it loose just as someone was comming by so it would cross theirs


A cat master race? i dont belive it.. wouldnt david icke have written a book about it by now if that were true???

"If a black cat crossed your path would you turn around and go the other way?"


Why's it always have to be about race? What if it was a white cat? Huh??!?!?

As far as I know, in some cultures, black cats are lucky and in others they are unlucky. Ive always considered black cats as lucky creatures. Black dogs however are another thing, as an old woman set her huge black mongrel on me when I was 12 and it took a lump out of my side.