In books of old time Halloween folklore, one can find images of a large room with two black cats alongside witches, a mouse or two in the kitchen’s corner, cauldrons boiling away over the hearth’s fire, cinders on the floor, logs in a box, coal in pails. One can’t help wondering why it is black cats that are portrayed. Why have they gotten a bad rap especially on Halloween? Well, the available answers are not good. Starting in Medieval times, in some European countries people had come to fear witch craft. They believed that witches could transform themselves into black cats and roam the nights creating havoc. Being black and on moonless nights, they were assured more protection from discovery. So it was that these Europeans who crossed the seas to come to America, brought their stories with them. We are told that the Pilgrims in the Plymouth colony, distrusted anything associated with witches and sorcery, including black cats. In time, the cats just became included in popular folklore right along with the witches. Over the centuries, those Halloween stories and rituals have evolved. Contemporary society understands that ancient peoples’ stories reflected an interpretation of the evil around them. One must remember that these people suffered from persecutions because of lack of understanding of human behavior. So, with better insights, Halloween events have evolved even in the last couple decades. There have been efforts to eliminate the “tricks” that could get out of hand. The focus is more a fun thing than it was in the past. I recall upsetting events in the 1950s-1960s with pranksters throwing over outdoor toilets, etc. As for Yorkton early history, it may surprise some readers that there was acceptance of Halloween benign themes such as — the Methodist Church Ladies Guild held an exhibition of old fashioned costumes at a Halloween party in the church basement! As for cats, a record shows that an early settler saved York City from real problems regarding food storage, etc. by bringing several cats from Manitoba to sell to settlers. They were so very welcomed that the vendor made good money. One can be sure that colour of the cats was not an issue! I did find a record of one nasty trick played by kids who had let out horses from the stock yards. The horses were rounded up but the villagers were not amused! As for black cats being bad cats, well I got to know a black cat who was a rescue kitty who had soon acquired an abundance of “catitude.” She was named “Spook” for fun and of those who all inhabited the new two-storey prairie home, she was the one with status! Spook was in charge of a two-member household “staff” who were on a daily 24 hour shift, niece and nephew Anne Marie and Dan Stohl of Warman, who had to facilitate her nocturnal walkabouts.
Contact Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher,
City of Yorkton Archives,
Box 400, 37 Third Avenue North
Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W3
306-786-1722
heritage@yorkton.ca
