It’s one of my favorite times of year. My book DOG LIFE includes fun Halloween and dog myths and superstitions. These are fun spooky stories to shiver over, but loving dogs and dispelling myth-teries should happen all year long.
Take a look at how many of these spooky dog stories from around the world sound familiar even today. Of course, you want to keep all your pets safe over Halloween. But it’s sure fun to read about ghosties and goblins, especially of the canine kind. More of these fascinating tales can be found in my book DOG LIFE: Celebrating the History, Culture & Love of the Dog.
Here’s a bit more of the interior–and yes, that song is from our show STRAYS, THE MUSICAL. *S*
Dogs As Gods
Some very early religions worshipped both the wolf and the dog. They appeared in creation fables or as fantastical creatures with supernatural powers. In South America, early people believed that human life was first released from the underworld by a dog scratching up at the earth from below.
Religions of several ancient cultures held that the passage between this world and the next was guarded by a huge dog. The Icelandic goddess of the dead is Garm, the Dog of Hel. Anyone who fed the needy while on earth will find bread in their hand with which to bribe Garm for safe passage.
The sacred book of the Persians (the Avesta) tells of a rainbow bridge guarded by a yellow-eared dog whose bark drives out the fiend from the souls of the good. Wow, ever hear of a Rainbow Bridge? *s*
The dog has also acted as a spiritual guide. At one time in Greenland, children who died were buried with the head of a dog. Dogs were a trustworthy guide into the next world.
To the early people of Mexico, the dog was the symbol of the “fire from heaven” (lightning) that upon striking the ground opens the way to hell. A pet dog was killed when its owner died, and its body was placed beside the body of its master so that the dead person could safely reach the other side.
Good Luck & Bad Luck Dogs
Cerberus, a three-headed dog of Hades, fawned on those who entered and devoured those who tried to escape. Cerberus (in the picture above being wrestled by the hero Hercules) had the head of a lion, wolf, and dog, with a mane of writhing snakes, a dragon’s tail, and a Mastiff’s body.
Hindu folklore holds that a dog walking between pupil and teacher nullifies the day’s lessons. To hear barking dogs predicts depressing news. And the baying of a dog foretells a death.
But if a black dog follows you home, good luck is sure to come after. And to dream of a black dog or to see the likeness of a dog in the fire are both signs that a friend is near!
Dreaming of dogs means a variety of things. Dreaming of traveling alone with a dog following you signifies steadfast friends and successful undertakings.
And dreaming of a friendly white dog is an omen of early marriage for a woman. And a dream of swimming dogs predicts happiness and fortune.
To dream that a dog snuggles up to you indicates great gain and constant friendships, and a dream of owning a fine dog indicates future wealth.
A favorite dog legend…
Shawnee Legend: Our Grandmother and her dog live close to the Land Of The Dead, where she weaves a basket. When the basket is finished, the world will end.
But each night while Our Grandmother sleeps, her little dog unravels the day’s work…and buys us a little more time.
Good dog!
Many religions include cats (and dogs) in their history. Do pets go to heaven? This post considers the question.
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Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE! Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!
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