Why are we conditioned to associate things like black cats, Friday the 13th, and mirrors with bad luck and eeriness? The answer lies deep within stories of mythology, ancient civilization, religious history, etc.

The superstition that cats are bad luck originated in Europe during the Middle Ages. During this time, cats became associated with witchcraft and were seen as demonic companions to witches. According to Mount St. Joseph University , a 1233 papal decree from Pope Gregory IX linked black cats to heretical rituals, increasing the fear. This fear was reinforced during witch hunts and the belief crossed the Atlantic with early settlers, becoming a lasting superstition.

However, the negative connotation is not universal throughout cultures. In ancient Egypt, black cats were revered

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