Expert: Lorry - 1/1/2004

Question
I'm not sure if this is your area or not but here goes...For as long as I can remember my mother has said "Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit" first thing in a new month.  She said her grandmother in England always did it and it is supposed to bring good luck for the month if it is said before anything else on the first of the month.  Have you heard of this and if so do you know where it originated?
Thanks very much and Happy New Year!

Answer
Hi Kim,

In the 1920s, there was a custom in the UK to say the word 'rabbit' three times when going to bed on the last day of the month. The superstition did not end there: on rising, the person was to say 'hare' three times. However, sources differ on this point, with one saying that the words 'rabbit,rabbit, rabbit', and not 'hare' should be said on the morning of the month's first day.

A 1953 source puts a different 'complexion' on the custom yet again:

"On the first day of the month when you wake up in the morning shout ‘White Rabbit' and when you go to bed at night shout ‘Black Rabbit' and you will have good luck."

and by 1982 we have plurality suggested:

"The first words you say for a lucky month are ‘White Rabbits.'"

Of all the animals that are to be found in Europe, I can think of none more prevalent in folklore than the rabbit, and its cousin the hare. The bunny has long been associated with good luck; consider the lucky rabbit's foot, and the Easter Bunny.

So, 'white rabbits' to all on this first day of December, and may your month be full of happiness and good fortune. And to the unsuccessful searcher at my site: the search engine will be able to locate your keywords (in this editorial) in just a couple of days, like everything else in Wilson's Almanac ezine and website.

From: http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/ed4.html

Please see the following sites:

http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/CORNISH/2003-04/1049211278

http://www.kevinhenkes.com/novels/stone.asp

In the 1920s, there was a custom in the UK to say the word 'rabbit' three times when going to bed on the last day of the month. The superstition did not end there: on rising, the person was to say 'hare' three times. However, sources differ on this point, with one saying that the words 'rabbit, rabbit, rabbit', and not 'hare' should be said on the morning of the month's first day.

From: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WilsonsAlmanac/message/774

Happy New Year!
Lorry