Tis the Season for Witches!
Witches have had a long history with Halloween. Legends tell of witches gathering twice a year when the seasons changed, on April 30 - the eve of May Day and the other was on the eve of October 31 - All Hallow's Eve.The witches would gather on these nights, arriving on broomsticks, to celebrate a party hosted by the devil. Superstitions told of witches casing spells on unsuspecting people, transform themselves into different forms and causing other magical mischief.It was said that to meet a witch you had to put your clothes on wrong side out and you had to walk backwards on Halloween night. Then at midnight you would see a witch.When the early settlers came to America, they brought along their belief in witches. In American the legends of witches spread and mixed with the beliefs of others, the Native Americans - who also believed in witches, and then later with the black magic beliefs of the African slaves.The black cat has long been associated with witches. Many superstitions have evolved about cats. It was believed that witches could change into cats. Some people also believed that cats were the spirits of the dead.One of the best known superstitions is that of the black cat. If a black cat was to cross your path you would have to turn around and go back because many people believe if you continued bad luck would strike you.
2 comments:
When I was 16 and drove with my mom for the first time. We turned the corner and there went a black cat. She screamed stop. So I did. She said you have to get out turn around 3 times and back up. I put the car in park and walked home. I was not going to back up on a steep hill and back out into traffic. But she did. I never drove with her again as a kid. He upbringing was full of ways that was superstition.
Oh my! That's pretty funny. I admit I don't believe too many superstitions. I probably would have walked home too! Ha!
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