Maneki Neko the Chinese waving cat...
Maybe you have seen Chinese restaurants with a ceramic cat statue near the front of their store. Typically, the paw of the cat articulates, moving back and forth as though it's waving.I'm told it's to bring them good fortune but all the research I've done has different stories to the origin of the waving cat.
One website called it the Maneki Neko, Lucky Cat (or Fortune Cat) and it's commonly placed in near the cash register.
Folklore? of course and the story I liked best, was a the shop keeper with a failing business. He was off the main path and people didn't always see his business. Unable to pay the rent and worried about having to close his business he left the door open one day and a stray cat wandered inside looking for food. Without much food for himself, he fed the cat and went to the back to continue moving things and preparing to move.
A customer came inside and made a purchase, soon after another, and another, and another. This went on for a few hours and though delighted to have so much business he was puzzled as to how his luck changed and so quickly. It was then he notice the cat he fed earlier that day was sitting in the front window with his paw up waving as though to summon people to come inside!
Is this version BS? I don't know, but I mentioned it a few times and people I've told think it's a good story to hear!
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