Rabbit rabbit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Rabbit rabbit" is a common superstition, held particularly among children. The most common modern version states that a person should say "rabbit, rabbit" upon waking on the first day of each new month, and on doing so will receive good luck for the remainder of that month.
Origins and history
The exact origin of the superstition is unknown, though it has appeared in print at least as early as 1920 in England, where is is most commonly said to have originated, though some reports place its origins even earlier, into the 1800s. Today it has spread to most of the English-speaking countries of the world, although like all folklore, determining its exact area of distribution is difficult. The superstition is related to the broader belief in the rabbit or hare being a "lucky" animal, as exhibited in the practice of carrying a rabbit's foot for luck.
Variations
As with most folklore, which is traditionally spread by word of mouth, there are numerous variant versions of the "rabbit, rabbit" superstition, in some cases specific to a certain time period or region. There are hundreds of variants, some of the most common of which include...
* The inverse: instead of believing that saying it will bring good luck, believing that not saying it will bring bad luck.
* Instead of saying "rabbit, rabbit", saying just "rabbit", or "rabbits". Some also extend it to three rabbits: "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit."
* Using the night of the new moon instead of the first night of the month.
* Saying "black rabbits" the night before, and "white rabbits" on the morning in question.
* Believing that the effect is stronger on one's month of birth.
* Referring to the first day of each month as "Rabbit Day".
* Various ways to counteract forgetting to say it, most commonly saying it backwards ("tibbar, tibbar") before falling asleep.
* A different but related practice of saying "Happy White Rabbit's Day" to someone in order to bring good luck.
2 comments:
How can I edit my original comment?
Sorry Brian I am not really good at playlists!Is there something you heard? Describe it and I'll tell you about it.
I really SHOuld keep a playlist-there is one on the log at the station I am just too lazy to transcibe it.
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