dogs and cats victims of false beliefs

False beliefs about dogs and cats for Friday the 17th they are really numerous!

Speaking of lucky or bad luck animals, the first things that come to mind concern the superstitions about black cats; however, there are many popular sayings that have characterized the civilizations of the whole world for centuries.

Dogs, cats and Friday the 17th

Before delving into the most hidden secrets of animals, it is good to remember that, despite the overwhelming diffusion of these myths and legends, they remain so, that is ancient cults devoid of any scientific foundation which often and willingly result contradictory among the various countries of the world.

The white cat in a dream, for example, indicates a bad omen in England and an imminent fortune in the United States of America!

Dogs and cats as lucky charms

In some cultures dogs and cats are considered real natural lucky charmsprized for their cognitive characteristics, cunning, resourcefulness, and great escape and communication skills.

Here are some beliefs that will brighten the day for the most superstitious.

Cats:

• A cat next to a newborn’s crib drives away evil spirits and prevent them from coming into contact with the child.
• A tricolor cat bring good luck to the house in which you choose to live.
• When you meet a one-eyed cat on the street, you need to spit on your thumb, print an imprint on the palm of your left hand and make a wish. This will come true.
• Hearing a cat sneeze, on the other hand, heralds a lot of luck and a lot of money. If hearing him sneeze is a newly wed, most likely hers will be a prosperous marriage.
• In Scotland it is customary to believe that a black cat that finds refuge in front of the entrance to a house will bring much happiness to the family that lives there.
• In Indonesia, on the other hand, pouring water on a cat favors the arrival of rain in the driest months.
• Finally, according to a German belief, single young women who take care of a cat have a better chance of finding a husband.

Dogs

Man’s best friends are also real ones lucky charms. Let’s see together when Fido is a symbol of good luck:

• According to some popular beliefs, if a dog puts a paw on a young woman’s foot, she will soon get married!
• meet a pregnant dog instead, it leads to a long period of serenity.
• In England there is a superstition that being followed by a dog brings good luck.
• In several European countries, on the other hand, the only way to ward off bad luck after having passed under a ladder is to keep your fingers crossed until the sight of a dog.
• In India dogs are considered the protectors of children, so much so that in 2009 a 12-year-old girl was symbolically given marry a dog to drive away the evil eye.
• Remaining in Asia, a Chinese cult plans to hang a bag containing the dog hair to ward off evil spirits.
• Some Muslim superstitions, on the other hand, hold that tying a newborn baby around the neck dog toothwould promote the painless growth of the baby’s teeth.
• Finally, the belief that stepping on dog poop brings good luck is the one that most countries in the world have in common.

Dogs and cats: when are they a symbol of bad luck?

Cats

Given the large number of negative superstitions against them, cats undoubtedly earn the first place in this category. Here are some beliefs:

• Associated with witches and the devil during the Middle Ages, seeing a black cat crossing the road is a bad omen. In fact, it was said that witches had the ability to transform themselves into black cats and to enter people’s homes to steal children.
• The legends of black cats don’t stop on dry land. Where once fishing was one of the activities necessary for the survival of the community, it was thought that a black cat walking on a ship would be able to do it sink during the next crossing.
• According to a Chinese belief, when a white-tailed cat enters the house, it announces the death of one of the inhabitants.
• Furthermore, in some countries of southern Europe, it is thought that if a cat jumps on the grave of a deceased, this will come back to life in the form of vampire.
• In Holland, on the other hand, cats are considered as grans gossip: those who believe in this superstition, for fear that the cats will reveal their most intimate secrets around, avoid having intimate conversations when the felines are in the room.
• In France, crossing a stream with a cat in your arms is bad luck.
• In Italy there is the saying «see the cat yawn, the storm wants to burst».
• If, on the other hand, the cat meows during the night between Friday and Saturday, a quarrel is announced.
• Finally, in Ireland it is customary to believe that for anyone who kills a cat, even accidentally, well foreseen 17 years of bad luck.

Dogs

However, dogs are also the protagonists of some popular beliefs, a sign of bad luck. Let’s see which ones:

• The black pet curse doesn’t just stop at cats. According to some beliefs from northern France, if you meet a black dog leaving the house early in the morning, you must return immediately since it is a clear sign of bad luck.
• A dog that walk between two friends, instead, it announces a fight.
• According to some beliefs, if we see a puppy making a wish, it won’t come true.
• An agitated dog in the house instead announces the bad weather.
• If a dog stares at us insistently and we don’t give him a piece of our food, he’ll get a sty.
• In Turkey, on the other hand, if a dog barks during prayer it is a bad omen.

And you, which of these popular beliefs do you know?