Calendar for August 17th, 2008

Cat Nights Begin

The term "Cat Nights" harks back to a rather obscure Irish legend concerning witches and the belief that a witch could turn herself into a cat eight times, but on the ninth time, August 17, she couldn't regain her human form. This bit of folklore also led to the idea that a cat has nine lives. Since August is a "yowly" time for cats, this may have prompted the speculation about witches on the prowl.