There are numerous superstitions relating to the mercurial behavior of felines. When a cat washes behind its ears, it is thought to be a sign of impending rain and gales. In England, if a black cat crosses your path, it is believed to be good luck and means bad luck has missed you, and in Welsh folklore, cats are thought to bring luck good luck into the home.
It is said that if a black cat walks onto a ship, turns around, and leaves, the ship will sink the next time it sails. An old Irish superstition suggests that cats on board a ship will bring good luck. In southern parts of Europe, it is said that if a cat leaps over a person’s grave, the corpse will rise as a vampire the next night. In France, it was believed that if a young girl stepped on a cat’s tail, she would be unlucky in love, and if one dreams of a cat, it is considered a warning that someone is backstabbing you or about to betray you.
It is believed that if a cat shows up at a wedding, it will bring good luck, and if a cat sneezes on a bride’s wedding day, her marriage will be happy. Vikings are said to have gifted cats to new brides. A tradition is associated with Freyja, the Norse goddess of love, who drives a chariot pulled by two cats.
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