As Halloween approaches and people start to bring out their decorations, there are many common symbols that appear and many spooky superstitions that become prominent as people get ready to celebrate. But where did these iconic Halloween symbols come from?
1. Black Cats
Many people are spooked when they spot a black cat due to a common superstition that they’re bad luck. This superstition stems all the way back to the Middle Ages, a time period in which many people lacked scientific understanding, resulting in them scrambling for reasons to explain bad things that happened. Many turned to the belief in witches. It became an understood belief that black cats were witches in disguise, witches’ familiars, or even animal shaped demons. While the belief in witchcraft became less popular over time as science advanced, people’s uneasy feelings surrounding black cats have remained, leaving a lasting superstition.
2. Witches
It is hard to go an entire Halloween season without seeing witches, whether it’s costumes, decorations, or something else. They are usually old, ugly or creepy looking women, often with exaggerated teeth, warts, and wrinkles. But why is this image the way witches are so often portrayed? This imagery connects back to the Middle Ages and Renaissance time periods.
People were accused of being witches for many reasons, most often due to something bad happening around them, such as a sudden death, which could be blamed on them. Commonly, midwives were accused of witchcraft following the death of babies that they interacted with, even though infant mortality rates were already extremely high due to the lack of scientific and medical knowledge at the time. Because of this, people accused of witchcraft were primarily women, a stereotype we still see in modern imagery of witches.
When the accused were being investigated, a common method was to examine witches for signs of evil magic or witchcraft. It was believed that the Devil would confirm his pact with a witch by leaving a mark, which could include things like unusual scars or birthmarks, moles, growths or warts. Many of these things occur naturally in people, but were still used as evidence against a large number of elderly women being accused of witchcraft, which likely led to the lasting image of what a witch looks like that many have today.
3. Orange and Black
Color symbolism is prominent across many holidays, including Halloween. One such example is orange and black’s prominence in Halloween decorations. The color orange is generally representative of autumn and the general harvest season, which is usually around Halloween. In contrast, the color black is associated with Halloween as many Halloween traditions take place at night or after dark, as well as during the transition to winter. Overall, the combination of these colors indicates that Halloween marks a sort of transition from the brightness of summer and harvest to the dark, cold, times of winter.
In conclusion, when celebrating Halloween, if you choose to do so, it is always interesting to think about the origins of the traditions and symbolism that many have participated in for a long time. Happy Halloween, stay safe, and have fun!
