If a male cat shows itself friendly to anyone, it is a good omen.

If a black cat comes to your house, it is bad luck to send it away before the year is out.

If a cat is thrown into a new house before the family arrives, it will avert bad luck, as it is believed that the first to enter a new house will die.

If a cat jumps through a window, it portends death.

Unlucky is the girl in Russia, and never will she marry, if she touches a dead cat.

If a cat startles you by brushing up against your chair, something unexpected is about to happen.

To meet a cat the first thing in the morning, is a forerunner of bad luck.

In Crovie, the cat is considered a bringer of bad luck.

White cats are unlucky.

It is unlucky to play with a cat; you cannot have good health.

If a cat wipes its face with its paws, it is preparing for company.

Maidens who are particularly fond of cats, will be old maids.

If a cat lies on its back, with the top of its head flat on the ground, it is a sign of a big storm.

Black cats are witches. Don't kill them.

In Bavaria, a cat that is black, red, and white is called a "fire" cat, if thrown on the fire, will put it out.

In Sweden, the peasants think if you are ugly to your cat, you will be ugly to your man.

In Bohemia, unlike many other countries, it is believed kittens born in May, if they are four-colored, will be excellent mousers.

If a sleeping cat turns the upper part of its head far back, it is the sign of rain.

Shut up the cat in a cool room, and it will bring visitors.

Anyone swallowing a hair of a cat, will be subjected to fainting.

In some parts of Germany, to swallow cat's hair, is supposed to cause consumption.

It is unlucky to let anything touch a cat's ear.

If a cat died in a private house, in ancient Egypt, all members of the family clipped off their hair from their brows, in sign of mourning.

It means good luck to a family when a she-cat comes to the house. (Rio Grande Indians.)

Cats in Japan have a natural tendency to become goblins, and this can only be checked by cutting off their tails in kittenhood.

Japanese cats are under a curse, since only the cat and the venomous serpent wept not at the death of Buddha; and these shall therefore never enter into the bliss of Gokuraku.

If you want your pet cat to stay at home, measure its tail with a piece of wood and burn it in the oven, and it will never leave you.(Persia.)

If the cat stretches so that her paws touch each other, it is a sign of bad weather.

It is taught that a cat's eyes wax and wane as the man in the moon's eyes wax and wane, and the course of the sun is followed by the apples of her eye.

To kick a cat, will make it steal chickens. (Madagascar.)

A cat about to kitten, must not be spoken of by its name, but called a witch. (Madagascar.)

When a cat wags its tail, it is a sign that it is angry.

To keep cats from roaming from home at night, cut the hair from the insides of their ears. The dew gets into the pussies' ears, and they don't like it, and the next night they stay at home.

Cats are considered uncanny. They will maliciously nibble the exposed parts of corpses and "suck the breath of sleeping infants," and
even that of adults.

A dead cat planted at the roots of a barren tree, will cause it to bear fruit.

If a cat tears at the cushions and carpets with its claws, it is a sign of wind. Hence the expression, "the cat is raising the wind."

It is unlucky to kill a cat.

A cat's hair is said to be indigestible, and you will die if you get one in your stomach.

A cat sneezing, indicates that the family will have colds.

A bunch of hair taken from a black tomcat, sewed in a bag and worn around the neck, will relieve the wearer of witches and other undesirable visitors.

In Ireland, one hears much of demon cats. The father of one of the present editors of the Fort-nightly had such a cat, say county Dublin Peasantry. One day the priest dined with him, and objecting to see a cat feed before Christians, said something over it that made it go up the chimney in a flame of fire. "I will have the law on you for doing such a thing to my cat," said the father of the editor. "Would you like to see your cat?" said the priest. "I would," said he, and the priest brought it up, covered with chains, through the hearth-rug, straight out of hell.

If a cat scratches you, it is a sign that someone will try to do you harm.

The possession of a black-nosed ("smutty-nosed") cat, brings wealth; the ownership of a white cat brings poverty. (Maine.)

If a cat jumps on the bed of a sick person, it is a sign that they will never get well.

If a black cat sits outside of the window on the sill and meows, it is a sign of death.

If a white cat sits outside of the window on the sill and meows, it is the sign of a party.

In Massachusetts, a cat is not allowed in a living room during a thunderstorm, for fear she will draw lightning.

Catcalls on the top of a house, signifies death.

If a cat enters a room where lies a corpse at night, one of the watchers will die within twelve months.

To stumble over a cat in a dark room, is a sign that you will soon dine at a wedding.

It is unlucky for a person to throw a black cat in your lap or place one on your back.

If a cat plays with a gown or apron, it is a sign of a great gale.

In the Shetland Isles, it is thought unlucky to kill a male cat.

When a cat is hungry, it will eat coals.

"Kiss the black cat and it will make you fat;
Kiss the white one, 'twill make you lean."

A kitten born in May, must be killed or it will bring vermin into the house. Others claim that a cat born in May will never catch mice.

It is unlucky to have a cat pass between a person and a dead body.

Here are some more superstitions about cats (part 2) from the 1900's:

If two cats bite each other, in a house where a sick person lies, the person will die soon. (German.)

If Erris cats are seen scratching the legs of the table, they are scratching up a storm, and to avert it they must be struck with the tongs.

The Irish believe a red and white cat to be particularly ominous.

To stroke a black cat's tail seven tunes, will bring good luck at cards.

In Cochin, no one would think of continuing a walk should a black cat happen to run across the road soon after starting.

If your black cat has kittens in the garret, it is a fortunate omen. Should she have them in the cellar, look out for trouble.

"If a cat washes her face over the ear,
*Tis a sign the weather will be fine and clear."

A black cat taking a fancy to establish itself in a house, introduces good fortune to it.

Take a black cat on board ship, and if there is a mirage seen, it will be calm until you are weary.

For a black cat to lie on a grave, is a sign that the soul of the departed is in the possession of the evil one. (German.)

A black cat coming between two persons, is a sign of quarrels or separation. To avert this, throw water where the cat has passed. (Turkish.)

For a black cat to lie on a sickbed, foretells death. (German.)

If a cat looks at you while she is trimming herself, you will get a new dress.

Butter a kitten's feet, and it will forget its old home and be contented.

If you can catch hold of a cat's hind paw while it is washing itself, you can make a wish and it will come true.

An Irish omen says that if a cat looks straight at you when washing itself, it is a sign of your death, unless you make a wish.

If the cat sits and washes its face before the family breakfast, you may expect company to share your hospitality soon.

If the cat is seen washing its face at night, it will surely rain on the morrow.

For a double-pawed cat to be born in the house, is good luck.

It is said to be lucky to own a cat that likes to stand out in the rain.

To see a cat lick its young, is a sign of future happiness.

If a cat washes its face in a room where are many people, the first one whom it looks at when it has finished, is the one who will die first.

To be presented with an Angora cat, brings scandal, vexations, disappointment, poverty and an early death. In fact, all the evils follow the receiving of this gift.

Never bring a cat from one house to another on Friday; it is a sure sign of ill luck.

When the cat sits with her back to the door, it will rain.

If the cat's fur snaps with electricity, it is a sign of cold weather.

If you throw a cat overboard, you will have very bad luck.

For a cat to cry around in a pitiful way at night, is a sign that the witches are tormenting it.

If you see a pure white cat on a moonlight night, it means marriage.

Here are some superstitions about cats from the 1900s:

If a cat, lying down, turns its tail north or east, it will storm; if it turns its tail south or west, it will be clear weather.

In Spain, if the cat's skin looks bright, it is a sure sign that the next day will be fair.

Marshal Saxe, who knew no fear in the hottest battle, would run and scream with fear when he saw a cat.

If you spit on a cat, it will avenge itself, and you will have ill luck.

If a cat licks your face, expect much trouble in the near future.

It is unlucky to be in a room with a tailless cat.

Never cut a cat's whiskers.

An old rhyme, which is said to be of old Saxon origin, runs thus:

"True calendars as pussies are,
They wash to tell what change is near."

If a cat follows a person, it is a sign of good luck.

If a cat purrs around a man, even if it is repeatedly driven off, it is a sign that he is about to die. (Fiji.)

To own a cat of three colors in Canada, is lucky.

When the housewife's cat was ill fed and consequently of a lean and meager appearance, it was thought in Scotland, that it was due to the witches riding them in the night.

If a woman does not treat her cats well, she will have rainy washing days.

Three-colored cats, as for instance, black, white and yellow, are lucky creatures for the owner.In England, a reward of two thousand pounds is said to have been offered some time ago, for a male cat of that description.

A black cat with a white face, is very auspicious.

When the cat's eyes are oval, the tide is out. When round, the tide is in.

The one who stops a cat from singing, will lose in their next venture.

If a tortoise-shell cat comes to you, it is a sure sign that you are going to get money.

When Wyat had been cast into prison by King Richard III., there to starve to death, a cat appeared at the window grating and dropped into his hand a pigeon, which the warder cooked for him. This continued daily, and thus Wyat was kept alive.

In Devonshire, a superstition prevails that a cat will never stay in the house with a corpse, and stories are often told how, on the death of any inmate of the house, the cat suddenly made its disappearance, and did not return again until after the funeral.

If you see a cat marching around with its tail stiffly erect instead of hanging down as usual, there is a storm approaching.

Those cats having the most electricity in them, will have their tails most erect.

If a strange cat spits at you, the devil is in it, and you may look for misfortune.

It is said that a cat that never purrs, is as dangerous as a snake.

If a person, going after the doctor after dark, sees a black cat run across the road in front of him, he may expect the death of the patient.

To find a cat asleep in a chair which you wish to occupy, signifies good luck.

If you castrate a cat, it will never stray from home.

Some believe cats suck the breath of sleeping infants.

"If a cat washes over the ear, storm is near;
If a cat washes over the eye, storm will pass by."

If you own a cat and take it away, trying to lose it, you will go home to bad luck.

If you find a dead cat on your premises, look out for robbers.

Never cut a cat's whiskers. It cannot feel out any more good luck for you till they grow out again.

"A black cat in the morning.
Of an accident gives warning."

There is a German superstition that anyone who has made cats his enemies through life, will be accompanied to his grave by a storm of wind and rain.

When the cats, in their quarrels, keep up for days that peculiar cry which sounds like a baby's cry of distress, disaster and death are impending, to the one who hears them. (Irish.)

It is an unlucky omen to have a cat jump over a corpse.

If a cat goes off and stays away from home a long time and then comes back, it is a sign of good fortune.

Here are some superstitions and folk-lore about bats from the 1900's:

If a bat bites you, the wound will never heal.

The bat, or bawdy-bird, is the witches' bird; and when they hover around it is the witches' hour, when they have power over all human beings who are not shielded from their influence. A bat is therefore very generally considered a bird of evil omen, in many parts foretelling death.

Bats flying late in the evening, indicate fair weather.

Bats who squeak flying, tell of rain to-morrow.

If bats flutter and beetles fly about, there will be a fine morrow.

It is unlucky to kill a bat that flies into your room; it is a good omen if it lights for a moment on some object in the room.

If a bat flies into the kitchen and at once hangs on to the ceiling, it is lucky; but if it circles around twice before alighting, it is bad.

If, in trying to drive a bat out of the room, the creature should fly against a light or candle and put it out, it is a very bad omen.

If a bat flies into your house, look out for bedbugs.

Bats are regarded as unlucky; but the evil attending their coming into a house can be warded off, by catching them and hanging them over the door.

The name of the bat is never mentioned in India after nightfall; people who do, will lose all their property.

If a bat flies around the house three times in succession, it is a sign of bad luck.

In Scotland, if the bat, in flying rises, and then descends again east-ward, it is thought dangerous to go out of the house.

Some people think that bats fasten themselves in the hair, and that the hair would have to be clipped to remove them.

If a bat circles around your head three times, it presages a death.

The bat (a winged animal) was regarded by the Caribs as a good angel, which protected their dwellings at night; and it was accounted sacrilegious to kill one.

There existed formerly in Alsace, a curious belief that bats had the power to render the eggs of storks unfruitful.

You will die soon, if you kill a bat.

If, in the evening, you see a bat in the chimney, a misfortune is coming. (Belgium.)

In regard to the superstition that the bat is an omen of evil, a correspondent from Gloucestershire, England, writes: "A lady told me that three of her sisters had died, and that on each occasion a bat had flown into the house. But one evening a bat came in when everybody in the house was well, and there was no cause for anxiety at home or abroad. This they took for a good sign and believed the spell was broken, but that very night the cook died suddenly of heart-complaint, having gone to bed, as all believed, in her usual good health."

It is believed in Italy, that the presence of bats will throw some people into convulsions. A physician, Antonio Vallisneri, relates a curious instance of this kind. He shut up a bat in a box in the room of the patient, who, on entering, although unaware of the presence of the bat, went into convulsions, and did not come out of them until the bat was removed.

At Polperro, Cornwall, the bat is thus addressed:

"Airy mouse, airy mouse! fly over myhead,
And you shall have a crust of bread;
And when I brew and when I bake,
You shall have a piece of my wedding cake."

Hallowe'en or All Hallow Even, the name given of October 31, and the eve of All Saints' Day (November 1)  is one of the most delightful opportunities for entertaining.  On such a night there should be nothing but laughter, jollity and mystery. It is the night best loved by sprightly little fairies, gnomes, elves, and witches, and is the night of their great anniversary.

Of all nights in the year this is the one upon which supernatural influences most prevail. The spirits of the dead wander abroad, together with witches, devils, and mischief-making elves, and in some cases the spirits of living persons have the temporary power to leave their bodies and join the ghostly crew.

Children born on this day preserve through their youth the power to converse with these airy visitants. But often the latter reveal themselves to ordinary folk, to advise or warn them. Hence it is the night of all nights for divination. Impartially weighed against the others, it is the very best time of the whole year for discovering just what sort of a husband or wife one is to be blessed withal.

Hallowe'en is a curious recrudescence of classic mythology, Druidic beliefs, and Christian superstitions. On November 1 the Romans had a feast to Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, and it was then that the stores laid up in the summer for use in the winter were opened. Hence the appropriateness of the use of nuts and apples at this time. November 1 or thereabouts was also the great autumn festival to the sun which the Druids celebrated in thanksgiving for their harvest.

November was also one of the quaternary periods when the Druids lighted their bonfires in honor of Baal. The custom was kept up in many portions of Great Britain until a" comparatively recejit period. Wales was especially tenacious of it, and the observances which marked the November fire may be held to have descended directly from the Druids. Each family used to make its own fire; and, as it was dying out, each member would throw a white stone into it, the stones being marked for future identification. Then all said their prayers and went to -fe^'d, and in the morning they tried to find all the stones again. If any stone was missing, it betokened that the owner of it would die within a year. Some superstitions are pretty and picturesque and attractive; tHis was one of the many that were cruel as well as picturesque. It would take but a slight accident to cause a fright that might be actually dangerous to a superstitious person, and it would not be hard for an enemy of such a person to cause that fright by stealing his stone from the fire.

These fires in Wales were commonly followed by feasting on nuts, apples, and parsnips, and by games.    Sometimes nuts were thrown into the fires, in the belief that they indicated prosperity to those who threw them if they burned well, and the reverse if they simply smoldered and turned black.    There were fires also in Scotland, and there, in some parts of the country at least, the ashes were carefully raked into a circle and just within this the stones were placed, one for each person present. If in the morning any of these appeared to have been disturbed, it betokened death. Sometimes it was the custom to make large torches by binding combustible material to the tops of poles and to bear them blazing about the village, lighting new ones as often as the old were burned out. Fires were also used at different times and places on All Saints' Night, which is the eve of All Souls' Day, and on All Souls' Day itself, the 2nd of November.  In these cases the fires were regarded as typical of immortality, and were thought to be efficacious, as an outward and visible sign at least, for lighting souls from purgatory.


On this night the peasants in Ireland assemble with sticks and clubs, going from house to house, collecting money, bread-cake, butter, cheese, eggs, etc., for the feast, repeating verses in honor of the solemnity, demanding preparations for the festival in the name of St. Columb Kill, desiring them to lay aside the fatted calf and to bring forth the black sheep.. The good women are employed in making the griddle-cakes and candles; these last are sent from house to house in the vicinity, and are lighted up on the (Saman) next day, before which they pray, or are supposed to pray, for the departed soul of the donor. Every house abounds in the best viands it can afford; apples and nuts are devoured in abundance; the nut-shells are burned and from the ashes many strange things are foretold; cabbages are torn up by the root; hemp-seed is sown by the maidens, and they believe if they look back they will see the apparition of the man intended for their future spouse; they hang a smock before the fire, on the close of the feast, and sit up all night, concealed in a corner of the room, convinced that his apparition will come down the chimney and turn the smock; they throfr a ball of yarn out of the window, and wind it on the reel within, convinced,that if they repeat the Pater Noster backward, and look at the ball of yarn without, they will then also see his apparition:  they dip for apples in a tub of water, and endeavor to bring one up in the mouth; they suspend a cord with a cross-stick, with apples at one point, and candles lighted at the other, and endeavor to catch the apple, while it is in a circular motion, in the mouth.

If in the word Saman the Irish preserve a distinct evidence of Druidism, on the other hand in the drink called "lambs-wool" they equally confess the Roman intermixture. Lambs-wool is made by bruising roasted apples and mixing them with ale or sometimes with milk. The " Gentleman's Magazine" for May, 1784, says: "This is a constant ingredient at a merrymaking on Holy Eve." Vallency makes a shrewd etymological guess when he says;. "The first day of November was dedicated to the angel presiding over fruits, seeds, etc., and was therefore named La Mas Ubhal—that is, the day of the apple fruit,—and being pronounced ' lamasool,' the English have corrupted the name to ' lambs-wool'.  The "angel presiding over fruits, seeds, etc," was obviously a reminiscence of Pomona.

Everybody is familiar with Burns's famous poem "Hallowe'en," which gives a panoramic insight into the customs of Old Scotia on this night of mirth and mystery. Perhaps no influence has done more than this to preserve and spread these observances among English-speaking folk.

But what was once a ceremony of belief has now become a thing of sport, of welcome sport in a day of such serious thought and work and sense of responsibility that any excuse for sport should be laid hold of; so that now its observances are all a jest which young people lay upon themselves, not in the least believing in the consequences, only half hoping there may be something in it, and saying to themselves that stranger things have happened.

Hallowe'en has become so popular among the schools and colleges that each in turn tries to outdo the other, and the night is given over to the pranks of the students, and the sounds of revelry are heard issuing from residence hall, chapter-house, and around the grounds of the school or college.

If the place where the festivities are held is in the country, the lawn in front of house should be decorated with hanging lighted jack-o'-lanterns. The eyes, nose, mouth in each one should be different and as grotesque as possible. If there is a fence around the grounds, put a jack-o'-lantern on each post. Drape black above entrance to house; and, at center, over door, skull and cross-bones.

Entrance to house:

On Hallowe'en put a sign up telling guests to knock low and slow.

Hall:

The hall should be in total darkness except for light coming from jack-o'-lanterns of all shapes and sizes on tables, and hanging from doors and ceiling, or from frame in open fire-place. The hall should be draped in black; and the person who opens the door, and those who conduct guests to dressing-rooms, should all be gowned in black.

Parlors:

Decorate parlors with jack-o'-lanterns made from apples, cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins, etc., hanging them somewhere in room or place on stand, piano or mantle. Use also green branches, autumn leaves, apples, tomatoes, ears of corn—red and white—and drape room with red and yellow scrim and cheese-cloth. If possible, have an open fire in parlor—a grate fire will do. Have white portieres.

Place of mysteries :

The best for mystic rites is the barn; second best is an attic full of shadows; third best is a cellar into which guests descend immediately after removing wraps; fourth best is large hall; lastly the kitchen. If affair is held in barn, build a large bonfire in front for use of guests for after-supper sports. The place where the mysteries are performed should be decorated with gruesome things — jack-o'-lanterns, skulls and cross-bones, black draperies, witches made out of cardboard and suspended from the walls, cats, bats, owls, etc. The shades and spirits should flit about.

Dining-room:

The dining-room should have festoons of nuts, branches of oats, strings of cranberries, autumn leaves, goldenrod, odd lanterns, yellow chrysanthemums, etc. All the decorations of this room should be cheerful and suitable to the season. Charming maidens flit about serving the guests. For table center-piece use a large pumpkin with top cut off, pulp removed, and filled with water holding a large bunch of chrysanthemums or goldenrod. Bay leaves should be scattered over table and around the dishes. The menu card at each guest's plate should be of burnt leather bearing a sketch of a witch. After all unmask, lights in dining-should be turned up and room made brilliant.