Why are bats and spiders associated with Halloween?

[purplepoppy]

If you look at Halloween decorations in shops, a common theme is bats and spiders. Now I get the pumpkin, ghosts, monster, thing, but what's with the bats and spiders? Neither are spooky and bats tend to be more a summer animal that flutter around on warm summer evenings.

[Lliam]

I never asked myself that question. It prompted me to do some shallow research.

I think anything associated with night time or dark, spooky places is fodder for Halloween shivers and scares.

Bats are associated with Halloween for a number of reasons, including:
- The erratic swooping of bats hunting made the Celts believe they were spirits up to mischief.
- People feared the gods and believed in ghosts long before Halloween, and looked to the night sky for bats.
- Folklore has long associated bats with witches and lost souls.
- Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula depicted vampires that could shapeshift into bats.
- It is believed that witches worshipped horned figures with wings—possibly bats? Furthermore, it is said that witches used bat blood in their “flying” concoctions. Bats have a creepy reputation, but they're actually kind of cute!

Halloween as we know it was thought to have stemmed from an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced saw-wen), meaning ‘Summer’s End.’ During this time, the decaying of the land and oncoming darkness of winter was thought to evoke spirits.

To ward off those vengeful spirits, the Celts built huge, symbolically regenerative bonfires to invoke the help of the gods. These massive light sources attracted swarms of insects at night, which in turn attracted hunting bats. These opportunistic bats, swooping near the fire and capturing an insect before darting away, were interpreted to be the spirits of the dead which would only be scared off by their gods’ divine fire.

Christianity heavily influenced our views on bats during the Middle Ages. In the Bible, the bat is depicted as an inherently unclean animal unfit for consumption, perhaps because bat roosts can develop a layer of guano on the floor which was rightfully associated with illness. But it was Dante’s Inferno, a 700-year old epic medieval poem, that solidified bats as an allegory for the devil and his domain. Dante’s still-famous poem described Devil’s wings as looking similar to those of a bat.

Associating with bats quickly became linked with witchcraft, an offense punishable by death. Even nobility could not avoid this association; a French noblewoman, Lady Jacaume of Bayonne, was burned to death simply because crowds of bats frequented her garden. In reality, those bats were likely taking advantage of the insects drawn to her flowers.

More recently, the author Bram Stoker added more fuel to the fire when he published Dracula in 1897. Dracula was described as a monstrous blood-sucking vampire that could transform himself into a bat. Stoker was inspired by real vampire bats, which feed on the blood of vertebrate animals—but they feed on wildlife and livestock, not on humans, and only drink a tiny amount of blood which leaves their hosts basically unharmed. And their victims don’t turn into vampires!

Spiders:
- Medieval superstitions say that if you see a spider on Halloween, it's actually the spirit of a dead loved one watching you.
- Spiders were believed to be companions of witches, and were often found in dark, creepy places like dungeons, graveyards, and haunted houses.
- Spiders are more active in the days leading up to Halloween, as they try to find a warm place to spend the winter.
-The 1842 novella The Black Spider by Jeremias Gotthelf gave spiders an evil reputation, portraying them as a symbol of evil works and the consequences of making a pact with the devil.
- Scary movies.

Owls, crows, ravens, toads, rats and cats (especially black ones) are also associated with spirits, witches, evil, bad luck, death, and Halloween.

Before science, people associated everything with spirits.

[D_Bone_Steak]

It's the fear factor.

That's it. Spiders sort of get fear out of me, but that emotion just makes me kill the stupid mother fuckers. I'm the wrong mother fucker to scare, because I'll kill you. My sister thought it was funny to scare people until I punched her in the face. That's what happens when you jump scare dudes like me. So fuck spiders... there is no bugs in my house so stay the fuck out.

Bats are just sort of funny to me. I used to throw a laundry basket in the air and the stupid bats would try to eat it. But imagine rabies and these bats attack you... especially in a time when that is an instant death sentence. I can see how bats, rats, and...

My Great Grandfather told me a story of this cat that had rabies... it was trying to attack everyone. He said this dude went to the cat and just grabbed it up and it was biting and scratching and he thew it in one of those metal garbage cans and put a rock on top of the lid. Then got a 22lr and shot it to death. He said they cut the cat's head off and sent it in to confirm it was rabies and the dude had to get 9 shots in the stomach just to survive. So with that story... can you see how even a cat is fucking scary in the old days?

I will kill you because a rabid rat bit me, die mother fucker, die mother fucker, die.

[D_Bone_Steak]

I'm gonna wait for the first Marine to recognize my "die mother fucker" reference. I will owe you a beer or two.

[IslaTheWitch]

because they are perceived as scary :D

and for me, the spiders can give me a panic attack, so yes... they are scary :D

[avery58]

Bats 🦇 because of the whole cartoonish bat to vampire trope, spiders 🕷️ because most people find them scary

[AviatorTom]

Excellent question... I had to look it up, here's what I found.

According to the US National Wildlife Federation, Bats have a tradition of fear, and "Given their tendency to gather in the autumn before migration and hibernation, swarms of bats are a common sight during dusk this time of year."

According to various sources, Spiders have a stronger tie to Halloween:

1. In medieval times, spiders were considered companions of witches and other evil beings.
2. Spiders are often found in dark, abandoned places like haunted houses, graveyards, and dungeons, which are common Halloween settings.
3. Spiders are known for their intricate webs, and some cultures believed their web-spinning was a magical power.
4. In folklore, spiders are described as storytellers and oracles of fate, wealth, and death.
5. The colors of Halloween, orange and black, represent fall colors and death, which are associated with spiders.

[Arizona2]

Nice reply, Tom!

[mstbooblover]

Many people are afraid of bats and spiders because they live in general in the dark, and because of superstitions. Especially bats are associated with witchcraft. Spiders are often feared because of how they catch preys. Fascinating animals in any case.

An interesting aspect is how stupidity is depicted: a person with bats flying around their head, because one does never know in what direction their stupidity will rush...

Sometimes women are depicted as spiders in their web. No need to explain I guess ;0)

[lightbulb27]

they are a bit creepy to us and spiders spin webs around here to eat their final meals and lay eggs for next year. There's nothing quite like walking into a spider web in a dark basement!

I think they are cute and amazing creatures... imagine ability to spin a web like that and with such a tiny brain! If only we could talk to such bugs we'd give them more respect.

The ones in my house get treated well...

[Bricealan]

Interesting question. I guess I'm with you on this, but I guess, "The Day of the Dead" as they call it in Mexico (El dia de los Murete) is associated with 'dead things, and for me huge spiders and bats conjure up thought of death and dying?

You are right since the pumpkins, the view of corn stalks tied up in a fall corn field, black cats (skeletons seem to be popular too)

[electromagnetic]

I just thought they were a Dracula sorta connection. The spiders im not sure. Maybe because everyone is scared of spiders.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

If we ever need more spooky animals for Halloween, we could have humans as decorations as well !

[Makeushiver]

I Eli even that Halloween originated in Mexican el diamde los muertos and, as such, had always carried those macabre elements people often associate with Halloween.

[CuriousMufuxka]

Because they are both usually associated with fright. Black cats are around all year, but tend to become spooky for this awesome holiday..

[dragoblack]

Arachnophobia, and bats folk-tied to vampires & superstition. Their association with Halloween though is due to monotheistic religions saying creepy & scary things are works of the devil... so religious fearmongering and willful ignorance

[NathanDavis]

because a lot of people find themselves stressed by them... lol

[mandyfire98]

Spiders and bats seem to be a common fear of people. Rats probably should be on that list too.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Maybe because Halloween is supposed to be scary?

[ChicoFromThe305]

Cause enough people are scared of em I would assume

[Lynx122]

Because I'm Batman!!

[Aiko_E_Lara]

Because they lurk in abandon houses associated with ghosts and haunted stuff

[Aiko_E_Lara]

And the point is to make your house look like an abandoned house

[Liz1990]

To most spiders are scarey they spin webs. Bats were told the they have rabies.

[robocop666]

Spiders scare the shit out of me never mention them again

[Anonymous]

I guess because lots of people are afraid of them.

[PBandJ_Nerd]

Some people might be afraid of them?

[WhitneySnow]

Cause they’re scary/spooky

[MK1997]

They are creepy as fuck especially spiders

[TheStaleMarshmellow]

Rabies and venom are scary

[Staximus]

They're spooky n stuff

[Wiredone]

Because they add to the spookiness

[RedInnocent69]

Because they’re creepy

[Kingofkings1992]

Why wouldn’t they be?

[zombiewoof]

Fear factor

[justsam2525]

Dracula