Have a haunting, howling, Halloween from PennyCat

Eye of Newt, and toe of frog,

Wool of bat, and tongue of dog.

Adder’s fork, and blind-worms sting,

lizards leg, and owlets wing.

For a charm of powerful trouble

like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

  -William Shakespeare-

Feline Frivolity

 

What do Vampires sing on New Year’s Eve?

Auld fang syne!

Ahh, Kitty Humor…..it’s funny stuff

Black Cats and Witches

 

Black cats have long been associated with witches and witchcraft so much that during October, the Month of Halloween, black cats and witches are favorite icons used for costumes, home decor, and party themes. This trend is so popular that we’ve forgotten that the holiday we celebrate as Halloween has ancient beginnings.

Samhain
The religious year of Pagans starts and ends with Samhain, which is also the beginning of the Celtic new year.  Samhaim is also a time for honoring ancestors who came before.

All Hallows’ Eve
In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints’ Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints’, All Saints’, and All Souls’, were called Hallowmas.

 

Penny’s Points (Volume 26)

The first Halloween took place in Anoka, Minnesota in 1921.

86% of Americans decorate their homes for Halloween.

Over 1.5 billion is spent on costumes and 2 billion on candy each year. 

Of all the candy sold annually, one quarter of it is sold during Halloween time, making it the sweetest day of the year.

The number one candy of choice for Halloween is Snickers.

It is very rare for a full moon to occur at the same time as Halloween. It has only occurred in 1925, 1944 1955 and 1974,  The next time it will happen will be October 2020.

Over 10% of pet owners dress their pets up for the holiday!  Come on people, get a life!!

Tuesday’s topic

 

 I think animal testing is a terrible idea; I get all nervous and give the wrong answers.

Black Cats (friend or foe)

Black Cats throughout history have been blamed for a lot of the wrongs in the world, from blasphemy to the plaque.

Backs arched, fur on end with eyes glowing, hissing, claws drawn!

For thousands of years cats (especially black ones) have been regarded as mysterious with supernatural powers.  They have been associated with witches and death.  Edgar Allan Poe wrote about one.

It was believed that witches could change into cats and that they could make that change nine times.   This is thought to be the origin of the belief that cats have nine lives.

Here are a few of the supersitions about cats from various countries:

A strange black cat on your porch brings prosperity. – Scottish superstition

A cat sneezing is a good omen for everyone who hears it. – Italian superstition

It is bad luck to see a white cat at night. – American supersition

In the Netherlands, cats were not allowed in rooms where private family discussions were going on.

In Egypt, it was once believed that the life-giving rays of the sun were kept in a cat’s eyes at night for safekeeping.

To kill a cat brings seventeen years bad luck. Irish superstition

Sunday’s Kitty Connection

Wow,  what a great day!!!  I had the opportunity to try a sample of egg salad….and let me tell you..that’s pretty good stuff.  Dad was not too happy that he had to share….but hey I am cute and I deserve it!!

Both humans were home today, which is highly irregular here.  Yard work was done, lawn furniture was stored for the winter, leaves were mulched.  They really worked hard and I, well I supervised nicely. 

So this week is Halloween week and I shall post  a lot about my vast knowledge of the holiday.  I have interviewed  black cats, witches and warlocks.  But let’s start out with foolishness…..because I love funny stuff

What’s a mummy’s favorite music?  Wrap!! Ha, Ha!!

Growing big pumpkins is a big time hobby. And, serious at that. Top prize money for the biggest giant pumpkin is as much as $25,000 dollars at fall festivals. The current world record for giant pumpkins is 1446 pounds. Now that’s a lot of pumpkin pies! See the current world record pumpkin.

Feline Frivolity

 

Hey!  What do Italians eat on Halloween?

Fettucinni Alfraid-O!!!  Ha! Kitty Humor!

Soggy Slow Saturday

It’s a soggy slow Saturday here.  The rain has been falling steadily most of the early morning and the wind is howling through the eves of the house.  We have several of the cast iron bells (Arcosanti Bells from Arizona) and it takes a lot of wind to make them chime.  But they have been ringing continually since 3 a.m. this morning.  The weather is odd enough that I feel the need to “dart and dash” through the house and act “a little crazy”  I get a little “spooked” with storm fronts. 

Snow is in our forecast for the next ten days, nothing significant I hope, but its bound to happen soon!!  Each year an average of 105 snow-producing storms happen in the US, and we get our share here.  Rochester, New York has the title of being the snowiest city in the US with an average of 94 inches of snow annually.  We have friends that live there.  I don’t know what they were thinking!!  I am not a big fan of the cold white stuff.  I myself prefer Phoenix Arizona’s snow statistic with their greatest snowfall being one inch!  That’s more like it!

I am still waiting for the new computer to get all the software loaded.  We are still unable to download new pictures.  I am using what is stored in the blog media library.  The technician of the family has been busy with his 22 million dollar work project.  Yes, the human Dad here is our computer geek.  Thanks to him we have a shiny new computer and all the tech equipment you could ever need.  Its great having the knowledge to be able to figure all this stuff out……however, it also means you have to keep all the friends and family computers running which is a FULL TIME job in addition to the full time job……..DAD, can you help with this?  Dad can you make this work?  Dad I can’t get this to download?  Dad why am I getting the BLUE screen of death?  Dad I can’t get this kitty food nubbin out from between my Caps Lock and Shift key!!!

CATNIP – Just say “No”

Today, fellow bloggers I want to talk to you about the growing problem of Catnip Addiction.  Each year thousands of cats are exposed to this herb.

Why do cats enjoy this plant so…..well it stimulates the pheromonic receptors and makes them happy baby!

Catnip or Nepeta has about two hundred and fifty varieties.  It has medicinal purposes as well as being a “good high” for cats.  Catnip tea is beneficial for colds and fevers.  In tincture form it is good for upset tummies.  Some say it helps with morning sickness for pregnant women.  It is also a great mosquito repellent.

Cats do not always eat catnip, some will react mostly to the smell.  Eighty percent of adult cats (including tigers and leopards) will react to catnip.  Kittens won’t until they are three months old.  Only some lions will react to catnip based on heredity. 

If given too much catnip cats can become immune to the scent and won’t want it anymore.  What a shame that human addictions to drugs and alcohol don’t foster the same reaction.  This is why only giving your cat catnip once in awhile is the best method.  Don’t be alarmed if your cat doesn’t react at all to catnip, not all cats do depending on genetics and the effects on its olfactory glands.