Halloween - Why Cats, Bats and Spiders?

What makes Halloween spooky? All the night animals, of course. All those things that go bump in the night.

 ~ The stories about the bats that suck your blood and fly in your hair.
 ~ The spiders that spin their sticky webs.
 ~ The owls, once thought to be harbingers of evil, that who-hoot at you and then fly down silently and snatch up their prey.
 ~ And let's not forget the witches' familiar, the cat.
 ~ The little toad even got a bad rap in ancient times.

Our superstitions about animals and their association with Halloween has been passed down through the generations and cultures. Today it makes great, spooky fun, but we know that most of the superstitions are untrue.

To the people of the middle ages, who feared anything that they didn't understand, just the way bats looked was enough to link them with evil and witches. When you add the fact that it was thought that witches used them in their brews and that bat blood was an ingredient in an ointment that witches rubbed on their bodies before attending a Sabbath, then bats were destined to be a symbol of Halloween.

After all, Bats fly through the night (using their radar) to avoid objects and catch their insect prey. But people of the middle ages knew little about science. Bats also gather in large numbers in dark, caves, sleeping with their wings wrapped around them just like the long black cloaks that witches wear.

In South America, the vampire bat drinks the blood of animals, including humans, but most other bats help humans by eating thousands of insects each night. The other bats eat fruit.

Because of superstition and misunderstandings, the bat has become a permanent part of Halloween.

Reference: Barth, Edna, Witches, Pumpkins and Grinning Ghosts, The Story of the Halloween Symbols.

Little Bat Infant Costume - $ 15.00
This caped cutie , lil' bat costume makes an adorable Halloween Costume or portrait outfit. The costume includes: The Hooded Cape, Bat Mittens and Bat Booties with Nonskid Soles. Size: 0-9 Months

In ancient Greece, the owl was sacred and was a familiar of the Goddess of wisdom, Athene. But in Rome, owls were harbingers of evil.

Europeans in the middle ages feared the owls stare and its eerie call. The Screech Owl, with its witch-like scream was the most feared. In fact, at that time it was believed that witches could turn into owls that would trick the unsuspecting traveler.

Today, some cultures and superstitious people believe that the call of a screech owl signals death or a disaster.

So that is why owls have become part of our Halloween decorations and parties.

Reference: Barth, Edna, Witches, Pumpkins and Grinning Ghosts, The Story of the Halloween Symbols.

Did you ever wonder why one of the favorite symbols of Halloween is a black cat?

In ancient times, cats have been a symbol of magic and power. Witches had cats as familiars, but these cats came in all colors, not just black. During the "witch trials" many innocent cats were killed along with the so called witches, because their accusers thought that they were the witches' familiar. Even after the trials, people distrusted cats because of the stealthy way they move, those sinister yellow eyes and their calm demeanor during scary times. Since most cats look dark colored at night, the black cat became linked with witches, the Druid Samhain and the night, thus becoming a part of Halloween.

There were many sayings about cats:

 ~ Never let a cat into the same room with a corpse. It might be a demon and turn the dead soul into a vampire.

 ~ A ship with a cat on board is never wrecked, for the cat acts as a counter-charm.

 ~ Honest as a cat when the cream is out of reach.

 ~ A cat that sits with its back to the fire is raising a storm.

 ~ If a cat rubs against you, expect good luck. It it yawns, opportunity awaits.

Reference: Barth, Edna, Witches, Pumpkins and Grinning Ghosts, The Story of the Halloween Symbols.

Black Cat Toddler Costume -
$ 13.00
This Black Cat costume is one of our Caped Cuties. It includes the Black Hooded Cape with Hot Pink Witch Embroidery and the Black Cat Chest Emblem, the attached hood with cat ears, and an attached cat tail. Size: Toddler (2-4)

 
Spiders work tirelessly to spin their webs each night in hope of capturing some insect prey, but these webs and their makers have become associated with haunted houses and graveyard crypts. Also, the poisonous Black Widow spider, with it's black and red colors just looks evil and her bite can be deadly.

Most gardeners welcome spiders because they are like having a pest control service that works 24/7 for free. But none the less, Spiders and Spider webs are an integral part of our Halloween decorations.
 

Spider with Young Poster by naturegirl7

Round about the caldron go;
In the poisoned entrails throw.
Toad, that under the cold stone,
Days and nights hast thirty-one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!
    from William Shakespeare's, Macbeth

Because of a toads self defense system of excreting a skin irritant, people in Europe during the time of the "witch scare" thought that they were poisonous and that witches made familiars of toads.

Today we know that toads are very helpful creatures that eat harmful insects so they are good to have in the garden. Toads skin absorbs water and this is why they can appear to swell up "magically". Toads are wonderful little creatures that can live as long as thirty-five years.

But because of their early association with witches, have become a small part of Halloween.

Reference: Barth, Edna, Witches, Pumpkins and Grinning Ghosts, The Story of the Halloween Symbols.

Lil' Frog Prince Costume - $ 22.00
This adorable Frog Prince costume is a perfect fit for Halloween or for family portraits. Included with this costume is the Frog Romper with nonskid soles, Headpiece with Frog Eyes and Crown, and The Lily Pad that makes sound "RIBBIT" Size: 1-2

Instead of using those wasteful and environmentally unfriendly plastic bags for Halloween trick or treating, try a reusable cloth bag this year. These can be customized with the child's name, but are cute just like they are.

These are designed by naturegirl7

Scarecrow Black Cat Card by naturegirl7