Black Cat/Good Luck

I learned today that black cat statues/totems in Austrian wine cellars are a good thing.  In Ye Oldene Tymes, winemakers would keep a charcoal feline in the cellar to frighten away would be wine thieves.  Apparently these thieves of yore were ballsy enough to break into wine cellars; yet superstitious enough to runaway! when confronted with a black puddy.

In other cat-free cellars, I have often seen pictures & statues of St. Urban - the patron saint of all things wine.

Were I an Austrian vintner, relying on the oft fickle Ma' Nature, I would double up on good luck totems and invite both a black cat and honorable St. Urban to cold kick it in my cellar.  Just sayin.

Technorati Tags: austria, austrian wine, wine

Comments

[Dr. Vino]

Very nice - I love cities and wine so I am pleased that Sanctus Urbanus is looking over us all...