It’s that time of the year again. As Halloween decorations go up, animals take on a new role this season. From black cats being put in front yards to pet costume contests, it’s a special time not only for us but also for our furry friends.
Yet, is it true that our beloved pets play more of a role?
Apparently, it is. Because throughout time, our favorite furry friends have not only served humans but actually held deep cultural significance. Read on to find out some interesting cultural facts about our favorite pets during the spooky season.
Cats
Cats are mysterious and interesting creatures. If anyone has ever had experience with a cat or has a cat, they know that cats have strong boundaries, they’re playful, and they have those ever so cute faces. But they have had great significance throughout history.
Cats once showed up as hunters of rats, and rats in turn were attracted to human food. As this brought cats closer to early human civilizations, it is said that cats domesticated themselves. They were not created by humans; rather, they existed as naturally as other animals did.
In Ancient Egypt, cats were widely revered and even became holy symbols. There was even a god that was a cat, otherwise known as Bastet according to Four Paws, an animal organization located in Australia.
Cats remained a popular symbol in Japan due to a story about a Japanese emperor who evaded a lightning strike when he spotted a cat raising his paw at him. In other cultures, cats were respected simply for their ability to catch rats until they became beloved house pets.
Today, cats have become an emblem for Halloween. Black cats in particular were associated with witchcraft, a belief that arose out of Medieval Europe. This explains their cultural connection to the supernatural and Halloween’s cultural obsession with ghosts, monsters, and fall.
While in Japan, black cats were seen as omens of good luck and good fortune. It is interesting to see just how many cultures have defined cats around the world.
Dogs
Dogs are seen as a person’s best friend. They are loyal, compassionate, and protective. They serve a variety of other roles today, from serving in the police force to being service dogs for the disabled.
Yet, it is interesting how they emerged. They were believed to have been domesticated many millennia ago. In Ancient Egypt, dogs were believed to assist souls who were moving on to the afterlife.
Meanwhile, they were even seen as guards of the doors to the afterlife in Norse mythology. They have also been used as soldiers and herders in Roman mythology.
If you thought dogs don’t have much connection to Halloween lore, you are sorely mistaken! Dogs have a presence in countless legends and cultural myths around the world.
One of the most obvious representations of the dog is Carribis, the three-headed dog that was the guardian protector of the afterlife. Dogs have also shown up in many spooky English stories such as the Hound of Dartmoor.
Today, dogs are a comforting presence. Especially now, if it’s Halloween and you’re afraid of the dark as you or someone you know goes out for festivities, having a dog by your side definitely helps.
Spiders
Spiders are another common element of Halloween. We see them weave almost perfect, symmetrical webs of staggering sizes, intricate and beautiful in their own right.
Yet, spiders and webs add to the horror and uncanniness that make up so much of Halloween lore and decorations. Spiders are another household pet, and yet, it is interesting to see the contrast in what they represent.
Just how did they become messengers of the spooky?
Throughout ancient traditions, spider-like archetypes have been known as weavers that create the future. This is true in both ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, with mythological figures representing spiders or being turned into them.
In ancient Japan, spiders were believed to turn into beautiful women. In indigenous and Native American cultures like the Cherokee tribe, Mother Spider was known to end darkness.
The negative portrayal of spiders emerged in Europe during the Middle Ages when they became associated with infection, illness, and famine. This symbolism was intensified during the Gothic era.
Today, animal enthusiasts find spiders one of the easiest animals to maintain. They are self-sufficient and don’t take much expense. So this Halloween, you can now remember the positive symbolism that spiders have and be a little less afraid of them.
Snakes
Snakes have widely been known to represent betrayal. They are also a ubiquitous Halloween and fall symbol. They have countless representations throughout culture and history.
In Mesopotamian culture, “snakes were worshiped as gods as seen in Aztec religion when worshiping Quetzalcoatl who was a large feathered serpent (Rudolfo) as well as in other cultures such as the Inca (Métraux).”
What is also interesting is how the snake was a symbol of the Greek God Asclypius, where its venom also had power to heal. In the Halloween season, the snakes inspire fear and demonism as they become part of the decoration.
Yet as housepets, snakes are akin to spiders. They are low maintenance and if you are ever in the market for a pet snake, the PrucePets is a valuable resource.
Owls
Yes, you heard me right. They are significant in fall for their ties to witchcraft and for being guardians of the dead, a motif that has been portrayed through many cultures.
While it’s not yet possible to own a pet owl due to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, they remain popular in fall and Halloween imagery.
Halloween may use these animals to instill fear, taking in the cultural meanings of these beloved creatures can help us all the more.
As the world becomes faster, transactional, and less peaceful, these animals allow us to slow down and appreciate how much they have served us throughout history, from being holy symbols, war heroes, to assisting us in everyday life.
What’s your favorite Halloween critter? Let us know @hercampussjsu!