French Festivals Burned Cats Alive

From the medieval through the early modern period, communities in parts of Western and Central Europe burned live cats during public festivals because they associated the animals with witchcraft and believed the bonfire's ashes brought good luck. At Paris's Midsummer festival, crowds suspended a barrel, sack, or basket filled with cats over a bonfire and watched them burn for entertainment. French kings often attended and sometimes lit the fire themselves. In 1648, French king Louis XIV lit the Paris bonfire, danced around it, and joined the banquet afterward, while Metz continued its cat-burning custom until 1765.

Previous Fact Next Fact