Wampus cat
The Wampus cat is a cat-like creature in American folklore that varies widely in appearance, ranging from frightful to comical, depending on region.
Description[]
Early references, by the American Dialect Society, noted the wampus cat as: "A creature heard whining about camps at night," "A mythical green-eyed cat, having occult powers," or "an undefined imaginary animal."[1] Folklorist Vance Randolph described the wampus cat as, "a kind of amphibious panther which leaps into the water and swims like a colossal mink."[2] Other commentators liken the wampus cat to a creature of Cherokee mythology.
In Cherokee mythology, the monster is the cat-like embodiment of a female onlooker cursed by tribal elders, as punishment for hiding beneath the pelt of a wild cat to witness a sacred ceremony. The wampus cat is used as a mascot for several educational institutions. During the 1920–30s, newspapers reported of a "Wampus" cat killing livestock in North Carolina to Georgia. Though possibly due to early intrusions of coyotes or jaguarundi, the livestock deaths were attributed to the Wampus cat.[3][4]
Examples[]
The Wampus cat is the mascot of the following:
- Clark Fork Junior/Senior High School, Clark Fork, Idaho – seen as a yellow cougar with a spiked ball on its tail[5] akin to legends of the ball-tailed cat.
- Conway Junior High/ High School, Conway, Arkansas – seen as a six-legged cat. Described by locals as "a mountain lion with six legs: four for running, and two for fighting.[6]
- Atoka High School, Atoka, Oklahoma[7]
- Itasca High School, Itasca, Texas[8]
- Leesville High School, Leesville, Louisiana[9]
- The Wampus Cat has been associated in several South-Eastern tribal beliefs as a shapeshifter. One can find the story in Cherokee folklore.[10]
In popular culture[]
- A musical ensemble who recorded several tracks in 1937 and 1938, and consisting of six or seven string musicians including Oscar "Buddy" Woods, were billed as 'The Wampus Cats'.[11]
- J. K. Rowling's Pottermore story History of Magic In North America[12] lists the Wampus cat as a source for hair used in magic wands.[13] The American School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ilvermorny, also has named one of its four houses for the mythical beast. [14]
- Strangeways Brewing in Virginia brews a beer[15] named after the cat.
- In the Cormac McCarthy novel The Orchard Keeper, the character Uncle Ather tells stories about wampus cats, or "painters".[16]
- In the Roald Dahl novel James and the Giant Peach, the police officers and firemen of New York City mistook the Centipede for a Wampus.
- In Skylanders: Imaginators, the Skylander Sensei Mysticat is a sphinx who evokes the traits of the wampus cat.
References[]
- ^ "American Dialect Society. Dialect Notes (1905-1912). Volume III. (New Haven: The Turtle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1913)". Retrieved March 17, 2012.
- ^ Randolph, Vance. We Always Lie to Strangers: Tall Tales from the Ozarks. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1951.)
- ^ "The Wampus Cat - North Carolina Ghosts". northcarolinaghosts.com. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ Tribune, Dale Gowing Mooresville. "Wampus and other spooky tales…". Mooresville Tribune. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ Clark Fork Junior/Senior High School website Legend written by lifelong Clark Fork resident Shirley Dawson Crawford
- ^ Owens, Judy (June 20, 2008). "Reporters Looking for Stories, Finding Wampus Cats | Daily Yonder | Keep It Rural". Daily Yonder. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ^ "Atoka Alumni Association – Home". Wampuscatalumni.com. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ^ Itasca ISD - TX - IISD Home Archived September 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Leesville High School - Home Archived April 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Stonestreet, O.C. (2016). O.C. Stonestreet IV, Curse of the Wampus, and other Short Spooky Stories of Piedmont North Carolina (1st ed.). Duke Libraries: Createspace. p. 74. ISBN 978-1523237494. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Uncle Dave Lewis. "Buddy Woods". Allmusic. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
- ^ Sian Cain. "New JK Rowling story History of Magic in North America depicts Native American wizards". the Guardian.
- ^ Rowling, J.K. (March 11, 2016). "1920s Wizarding America", "History of Magic in North America". Pottermore.
- ^ Rowling, J.K. (June 28, 2016). "Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry", "Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry". Pottermore.
- ^ "Strangeways Wampus Cat Triple IPA". RateBeer. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
- ^ McCarthy, Cormac (August 11, 2010). The Orchard Keeper. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN 9780307762504.
External links[]
- Fearsome critters
- Tennessee culture
- Mythological felines
- Fictional cats
- High school mascots