September 29 is Japan’s “Beckoning Cat Day” (Maneki-neko Day)! The date comes from a Japanese play on words: the numbers 9-2-9 can be read as ku-ru-fu-ku, meaning “good fortune is coming”✨ 

The exact origins of the maneki-neko, or “beckoning cat,” are unclear. Several shrines and temples have legends about cats guiding people away from danger. Perhaps stories like these helped give rise to the idea of cats bringing good fortune.

Many countries have their own symbols of good luck and charms to ward off misfortune. In China, for example, the three-legged toad is associated with wealth and success in business. In Germany, pigs are symbols of prosperity and good luck.

Still, I’m so glad Japan’s iconic good-luck animal is the cat🤭! Getting to spend every day with these adorable cats makes me feel incredibly lucky already😄🐈🐈!