Saying Rabbit, Rabbit | The Luck of the English
What does “Rabbit Rabbit!” mean? Why do people say “Rabbit!” on the first day of each month? Read on to learn about this slightly superstitious tradition.
By Edie Clark|Mar 01 2022|
Do you say "Rabbit Rabbit" on the first day of the month?
Photo Credit:Today is the first day of the month and “Rabbit!” was the first word spoken in this house. Have you ever wondered why people say “Rabbit!” or “Rabbit, Rabbit!” on this day?
Why do people say “Rabbit, Rabbit!” on the first day of the month?
I grew up thinking that our family was the only family with this strange tradition. On the morning of the first day of every month, there was a slow chorus in our house, from room to room, the word “Rabbit” was spoken one and then another until we had all been granted our month’s worth of good luck. In my mind, my grandmother was the originator of the tradition, and it extended to all my aunts and uncles and cousins on my father’s side of the family. My mother was complicit so I didn’t realize it was not her tradition growing up, but rather something she adopted once she married my father. The superstition was that if you forgot to say rabbit, spoken as the first word on the first day of the month, you would have bad luck that month.
Now that I have written that down, I realize how spooky it sounds, as if we were a bunch of paleolithic cave people, clinging to the earth by virtue of luck and whimsy. Whenever I mentioned this custom to friends, they would usually ask me where that came from. My only answer was “from my grandmother,” which, of course, is the short answer. Beyond that, I had no idea. More recently, I’ve discovered a few friends who also indulge in this strange habit, one who not only says rabbit every month but who also collects rabbit figurines of all sizes and of all material, paper and stone not excluded. Another who feels that one must say the word twice, as in, “Rabbit, Rabbit,” for the luck to stick. But no one can explain to me why we say rabbit and where the tradition came from.
This morning, I woke up and spoke the word to the silence around me. And finally realized that in this new world of instant information, I finally have the means to answer that question. I went directly to my computer and Googled “rabbit first day of the month” and up came a variety of sites that referred to this strange habit. That validated me right there. According to the Wikipedia entry, the origin of this custom in unknown but it can be traced back to perhaps the 15th century, maybe even the 13th—good heavens! And it came from England, which makes sense since that is where my grandmother’s family came from. The reasons for the word rabbit (as opposed to Luck! Or Help! Or Hello!—it seems that any nonsense word would probably do the trick) aren’t particularly clear (they link it to a lucky rabbit’s foot but then you have to ask, what is so lucky about a rabbit’s foot?) but the entry continues to say that one reason for the word rabbit might be that “it is jumping into the future and moving ahead with life and happiness.”
It is ironic to me that both my grandmother and my father, in fact, their entire family, were possessed of the notion that they were unlucky, that fortune did not favor them. They were badly affected by the Depression and further by World War II and so perhaps the idea of saying rabbit had a particular resonance and force for them. They were devoted to the ritual.
The tradition was extended on the first day of the new year, which called for walking backwards down the stairs and saying “Rabbit” at the same time. I remember an especially hilarious evening spent with my cousins on Cape Cod, not so long ago. I was visiting them at their beach house which had a treacherous set of wooden stairs that lead to the ocean. It was New Year’s Eve and particularly blustery outside but their house being a kind of one-story bungalow, did not have any stairs. And so we all trooped outside into the cold and inky darkness and walked backward down the steps toward the ocean, shouting “Rabbit!” into the stiff ocean breeze. Fortunately, there wasn’t anyone to witness this spectacle and we all made it to the sand safely, laughing hysterically at our irrational claim to this family tradition.
I don’t remember if that year was any different from any other, in terms of luck or no luck. For that matter, once I say the word at the beginning of the month, I tend to forget the whole thing. I don’t subscribe to the idea that we need to perform ritual in order to call fortune into our lives. But I do believe I should honor my family and maybe this is how I do it. At this late date in the family history, it would seem sacrilegious to abandon this tradition. And so I keep on. And delight when I find another soul who has carried this old superstition into the 21st century. And to all, I say, “Rabbit!”
Do you say “Rabbit, Rabbit!” on the first of the month? Have you ever wondered “What does ‘Rabbit, Rabbit’ mean?” Let us know!
This post was first published in 2008 and has been updated.
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Thank you for sharing this! I was raised in Ohio where my mother always announced the beginning of each month with Rabbit Rabbit. I’ve passed this along to my daughters who have passed it along to their children who, in childish humor, respond with Monkey-Monkey or Elephant-Elephant.
Being the first to say Rabbit Rabbit was always important. Now my daughters and I compete to see who can be first to text-message each other. On September First of this year I found the following on my cell phone: “RABBIT x 2 !”
Somewhere I picked up the habit to say “white rabbit, white rabbit” when I am at a campfire and the smoke is blowing at me. It’s very catchy. I like the “rabbit” think on the first too!
Edie, I had never heard of such a tradition until you wrote about it (maybe because I’m French-Canadian) but I like it! Traditions are very important to me and my family no matter how odd they may seem to be. We have always celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve and that was the only day of the entire year that we would feast on the meat pies that my grandmother had so lovingly made for my family. Not so odd of a tradition but a tradition none the less. Thanks for sharing with us.
I am American, married to an Englishman. We live in Ireland, and over here I somehow picked up saying “White Rabbit, White Rabbit” on the first day of every month, while my husband says “Pinch, punch, first day of the month” with the accompanying gentle pinch and punch!
When I lived in Boston/Brookline in the mid 80’s my roommate who was from the main line part of Philly always said Rabbit, Rabbit on the first of each month. Me being a midwestern girl thought it was a little strange, but she thought my “uffda” comment was also strange to be spoken in times of distress or annoyance.9/14/08
We compete to see who can say it first too! Too funny! My OCD kicks in on this though and if I say it an even number of times I feel like I’m canceling it out LOL
Thank- you for validating my sanity. I thought maybe it was just me and my silly lot.
RABBIT RABBIT EVERYBODY!!!
Yes!
Just heard about this on NPR.
I teach at a private school where “white rabbits” are exchanged on the first of each month. I’ve long wondered about the origin. Now I know! Our school has a different twist on this, however, in the form of competition to say it first upon meeting each new face that day. I’ve grown weary of the tradition and have drawn a rabbit’s outline on the white board with festive accoutrement for the month: holly, heart, shamrock, etc. maybe I am shortchanging myself of some good fortune by doing so?
I have been saying this since the 60’s in New Jersey
In my house we only said “rabbit rabbit” on New Year’s Day. I like the every month version, must consider.
I am from the south west corner of NH and have said “white rabbit, white rabbit” on the first of every month, and said it three times on the first of January, for as long as I can remember. In my tradition, they must be the first words spoken on that day for the “luck” to stick. Half of my family is Canadian French and the rest are of Scots/English descent, so I’m not really sure from where I picked up this tradition. I also have a collection of white rabbit figurines that, until this moment, I had never given a second thought. Hmm. I inherited the majority of them from my mother, and added a few of my own. I have never thought of them as “lucky”, but maybe on some subconscious level they relate to the saying? I will add that I don’t believe in “luck”, per se. I believe you make your own luck with your words and deeds, so to me, this is just a fun monthly tradition from my childhood that I still enjoy. 🙂
This is bringing back happy memories of my English father who would announce with great Gilbert & Sullivan type flourish that he was going to bring in the New Year by walking out the front door and re-entering from the back door of the house but the first thing he would say would always be “Rabbit, rabbit”! I didn’t know anyone else’s family that did the same where I grew up in North Carolina. He was a Cambridge educated scientist with a good dollop of superstition & mystical leanings. Thank you for writing about the origins of “Rabbit, rabbit”!
I am in disbelief!!!! I have been saying Rabbit Rabbit the first day of the month before I get out of bed for many decades and I never knew where I got it from! Now I know! It was my English, very superstitious grandma!!!!! Very cool article!!!
I grew up with Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit; my husband with Rabbit Rabbit. His English ancestors arrived in Jamestown, VA in 1607; my English ancestors arrived in MA before and on the Mayflower early 1600’s; so this is a very old custom!
We’re swamp Yankees of Scottish/English origin, and while I’ve never heard anyone in the family say “rabbit, rabbit”, I would be very hurt if the first person to see me on the morning of my birthday each year didn’t butter my nose! Any ideas on the origin of this tradition??
My mom and I also do this. My mom first heard of it from her grandmother, my great granmother. We also were told as part of yhis ritual it was also important to say Hare, Hare as the last words the night before. I dont always remember the Hare Hare but I do rememer the Rabbit Rabbit. I try to say 2 Rabbit Rabbits for each person I want to have good luck. I dont know if it works as I dont think Im paticularly lucky but at this point I cant stop doing it. Ive done it for years!! Glad to hear there are others who have this traditin as well. And to all of you on this April 1st I say…Rabbit Rabbit!!
I learned to say “White Rabbit” 3 times and I still try to remember to do it. Can’t hurt, right? I grew up on Quebec, don’t know if that’s the way it’s done there or just how I learned it.
I was born and raised in the Caribbean As long as I can remember my family had followed this tradition of “rabbit,rabbit” which I thought was concocted by my very superstitious mother. How comforting to know tha
My DIL whose family is from Connecticutt also has the tradition of buttering the nose of the birthday guy. She doesn’t know why’
I was raised in Michigan by a 2nd generation Irish American and a 10th generation English American (our great + grandfather arrived in Jamestown in 1619) and we never had a first of the month tradition. However, we lived in Australia for 3 years and picked up the tradition of “Pinch and a punch, first of the month” like a commenter above living in Ireland. It’s interesting how these traditions travel!
My mother, of Irish descent, always said “Rabbit” on the first day of each month. I have continued this tradition with one modification. On the first of May I say “Bunny, Bunny” and on the first of June I say “Bunny.” My two daughters were born in May and my son was born in June. My ex-husband and I still text it to each other esch May and June! Great tradition!
Edie, my mom by the same as you, was faithful to this tradition in our New Haven CT household. She had paternal English roots though our family was predominately Irish American. She had a rhyme I wish I could remember it completely…”Rabbit, Rabbit, you nab it and you can have it; Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit!”
The tradition I know is that “rabbit, rabbit” has to be the first words spoken on the 1st day of the month in order to have good luck all month. HOWEVER, if you forget, you can still save the month by walking down the stairs backward (while saying “rabbit, rabbit”) and washing your face with the morning dew.
I am from Rhode Island, and my grandfather always buttered our noses on our birthdays… and now we keep the tradition going. I have no idea where it came from, but most of my friends think we’re crazy for doing so!
If you forget to say rabbit, you can still make your month lucky by say it backwards twice:
Tibbar, Tibbar!
I remembered to say Rabbit, Rabbit this morning, for good luck this month of June.
I started it with my friend, Maria in 1976, who introduced it to me. It stuck! It can’t hurt. It’s fun in a unique way.
I am so glad to hear so many of you do this and the history of it. Yesterday I whispered it, as I was staying at the home of a friend and thought she might think me crazy. Whenever we learned of this it came with the need to hang off the bottom of the bed and say Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit. I think my sister brought it home from a year in Switzerland. For decades I gave it up as I had had the one of the worst months of my life, following the monthly ritual. Now I wonder how much worse it might have been had I not said it. Now with this abbreviated version and no need to do anything but speak, I am back in the game.
My husband and I made up a New Year’s Eve tradition of running around the house at midnight for good luck (north of Boston, usually cold). Those who scoffed were always the first to run screaming out the door at midnight.
I say happy rabbit,rabbit day to my mother and her sisters every first of the month. My mom passed away in 96 and her sisters before her. they called each other every 1st of the month and wished each other happy rabbit,rabbit day every 1st of the month so i yell up to them every 1st of the month to keep it going for them,but i don’t the meaning of it.
Here in Decatur GA we say “bunnies”. Got it from a friend 22years ago.
I always wondered where this came from! My sister and I used to always say this, but we got it from a book series – the Trixie Belden mysteries. I never gave it much thought until I read a blog where the person said that her family competed to see who could be the first person to say “Rabbit Rabbit” on the first of the month. I decided to finally look it up – close to 40 years later – and see where it came from. Now I know. 🙂
I got it from Trixie Belden, too! Never knew the origin until I Googled it tonight.
My friend, that I met in sixth grade, told me that you would have good luck if you said rabbit before saying anything else on the first of every month. That was almost 50 years ago and I still remember to say this almost every first of the month. I’ve told many friends and my third grade students over the years as well.
Scotch irish mother and her sister always said rabbit at the first of the month. I always thought it was just their tradition . when i was in college i forgot about this and yet after my mother died i found myself thinkikng about all the small kind thoughtful and fun things she used to do and this was one of them .
So like others on this blog i am ” back in the game” and i know where it came from
thank you !! RABBIT and good luck to you this and every month
I am Italian and I say it too.
My family has been saying “rabbit rabbit” since forever as well. If forgotten before getting out of bed we say “tibbar, tibbar”. Also, as a Rhode Islander, we grew up with butter on our birthday noses.
It’s Rabbit Rabbit in our house. We race to see who remembers to say it first
Did your grandmother teach you to butter peoples noses when they woke up on their birthday, Edie?
my family also had tourtierre every Christmas eve, we called it tutcare 🙂
I also grew up saying “rabbit” and continue to do so. My mother did this with us, and her family came to the US from Poland when she was a tot. However, I had a coworker from Russia, and she insisted it was “rabbit rabbit” (two times).
In our family we always competed to be the first to say Rabbit! one time on the first day of the month … and I’ve continued the tradition with my husband and children. It’s fun! I added the rule that you can’t say it to a person’s back … you need to see their eyes! (Otherwise it isn’t satisfying … and the other person needs to be trying, too.) This tradition came from my dad’s Irish grandmother, I believe. The other side is all early New England.
I say this to my family and we try to make it a contest to see who can say it first……..
Happy rabit day peoples !!!!!
I’ve been “rabbiting” on the first day of the month for over sixty years. However, an important variation in my family is that on March 1st. you must shout “hare”! Has anyone else come across this quirk?
I read this on 11/1. The night before we ate rabbit sausages. We always greet each other with happy first of the months abyhow but for no other reason than its a new month.
I thought…how close I came in way.
Now I know …
When I first read of this, I started doing it, saying Rabbit Rabbit White Rabbit on waking on the 1st of the month. Now, I’m an adoptee raised in a primarily German family. When I found my birth ma it turned out I am primarily Irish-Scottish & English- her father’s line 100% English (0% German at this point). Following English folk ways feels to me like I am reaching out to my ancestors, reaching to my roots.
My grandmother (family from PEI of Irish/English descent) ALWAYS did this – there was something about the butter helping you slide into the next year.
I’m from CT and many of the Italian families in our area would use the butter cream frosting of the birthday cake to “butter” your nose. The belief was that it “greased you through to the next year.” As for the “rabbit” there’s a mix here. Many of my friends say “Rabbit, Rabbit” while I say “White Rabbit”. I was always under the impression that it had something to do with “Alice in Wonderland” but I was never quite sure what. I’m not superstitious so I think it’s a fun thing to do but, quite honestly, I forget more than I remember.
My Grandmother always said Hares Hares Rabbits Rabbits on the 1st of everymonth and they had to be the first words said for luck. Also when there was a full moon you had to face the moon and turn over silver in your hand, this would usually be a sixpence or a 5p piece.
So the teaser was “Why”, and you have no answer beyond some “mights” and “seems”.
Just my luck.
My family has been doing this since I was a kid, and I am 74. We practice it monthly, with a little gamesmanship as to who does it first. But near and far, to our relatives and loved ones, we text, call, e-mail to our closest and say Rabbit! Sometimes with pictures of Rabbits. It is a short touch of love and to say good luck for the month. I knew that others did it, but didn’t have all this history. Yes, my folks were mostly English and came here in the 1600’s. It definitely was from my maternal side. Mom and Grama are gone now and I am the one to keep the kids in touch with each other. We won’t stop it, it is a fun and loving thing.
When you wake up on the first day of the month, you are also required,after saying “rabitt, rabbit”, to climb out of bed via the bottom of the bed. If you don’t do both the saying and the climbing you are doomed to have a bad month!
Thank you! I was wondering where this came from.
Saying “rabbit, rabbit” on the first of the month was something I heard about through others, so it wasn’t a family tradition.. As far as keeping the smoke away at a campfire, I was told to say “I hate rabbits!” I like your version better, Heather.
Well I thank you all for the personal reflections, yet I remain seeking the origin of the declaration (exp. The origin hails from a 13’th century king, etc.) but have not been able to find one. Don’t get me wrong, I love the stories, and utter the the expression every month. I hold if forgotten, the only way not to be cursed for the month, is when realized that you spoke prior to speaking “rabbit, rabbit” upon waking for the month is to stop dead in one’s track and to express the words loudly and without care where one is, or what one is doing. I would love to hear what other individuals do, or their parents do did or have done for years. I heard that FDR carried a rabbit’s foot in his pocket for most of his life. True or not true I am not sur but remain intrigued by.
Well good luck to all,
Bill
Interesting! I am also a Swamp Yankee and grew up saying “Rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit” on the first of every month. Never heard of buttering the birthday nose.
hello.im wanting to buy a lucky rabbit’s foot but i have a question first..#1 what do i do or say to the rabbit’s foot and is there a certain time i have to do or say something to the rabbit’s foot if so what time do i have to do this..if people can give me some tips before 4-3-15 that would be nice.thank you
I love this tradition! I learned it by saying 3 times
But I always forget to do it! I guess that’s why I have not have much good luck
Thanks for finally talking about >Why People Say Rabbit Rabbit
on the First Day of the Month <Loved it!
I was taught to utter “rabbit, rabbit” on the first day of a new month before saying ANYTHING else. To bring good luck, it had to be the very first words spoken. Also, the original tradition (at least as it was taught to me) was to say “rabbit, rabbit” while hopping down stairs backward, which sounds more likely to end in disaster than to bring good luck, so we skip the hopping downstairs bit… I’ve only met a couple of people who admit to following the “rabbit, rabbit” tradition on the first day of a new month, so it’s good to know there are many others!
I realized that tomorrow was the 1st and it was Friday and I remember what I was told 13 years ago. I was looking this up because a co worker from Jamaica told me this. But she explained it was important to do it especially when the 1st falls on a Friday. But the saying was ” Bunny Rabbit, Bunny Rabbit bring me luck. ” Anyone else heard it this way?
I grew up saying this and continued the tradition with my kids. Im 46 and today is the first time I actually googled to find out how this started. Funny that I found your article. Its a tradition I hope to continue with my grandkids eventually!
I am part of a huge worldwide house rabbit community on the web as well as a volunteer at a rabbit sanctuary.I have done this for so long,my family on both sides is of English ancestry also,as well as numerous online and personal friends that are also in this community of rabbit owners and rabbit lovers.Always heard that to say this on the first of the month was indeed for good fortune and good luck.I say White Rabbit and Rabbit three times for security,lol.
I heard that you were supposed to say “Hare, hare” last thing before going to sleep on the last day of the month, then “Rabbit, rabbit” first thing in the new month. I was never able to remember to do both.
I say “I love white rabbits” over and over. I think it’s from girl scouts but no one else seems to know it (although they have gotten the habit from me), I was starting to think it was a made up memory!
I’ve always wondered about this tradition. My children were taught by friends in the 1970’s to say “rabbit, rabbit,rabbit” upon awakening the first of every month, and I have continued to do so. I read that Gilda Radner, the great comedienne always said “bunny, bunny” on the first day of the month, and figured these practices must be related. Although the purported reason is to bring good luck, I see it as a consciousness exercise. You have to maintain a continuing consciousness from night till morning, and an awareness of time. I’m 77 and have had good luck most of my life, so I guess it works!
My mother is from Beverly MA and my brother and I grew up saying Rabbit Rabbit on the first day of the month, although we were taught that the first one to say it got the luck and the rest of us were out of luck. I’ve taught my kids (too well) and now one or both of them will text me at midnight on the first of the month. I think I like the idea that everybody is lucky if they say it. My mother also said you were supposed to do a somersault off the end of the bed, but then I think she realized the hazard that posed.
I heard of this habit/tradition for the very first time just this morning! Hadn’t gotten around to looking it up yet though so, thanks!
I love this tradition but have adapted it a bit. “Rabbits” on the first day of the month gives good luck. The first person to say it to another is the receiver! When I taught school, I would give a piece of candy – a Jolly Rancher – to any student who said Rabbits to me, as a thank you for wishing me good luck. So it can work both ways. I still do this with my youngest daughter and her daughter, and my friend Ed who was my team teacher. He actually is better at remembering than I am!
3 times since usually only 3 survived to adult weight.
I found this interesting. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1466046/Caves-hold-clue-to-the-riddle-of-the-three-hares.html
I was raised in Poland, I am 100% Polish and I also say White Rabbit White Rabbit White Rabbit (always x 3) on the 1st day of a month. A couple of years ago I picked it up from my English friends and I liked it very much. It ‘s better to be protected!:-) I spread it among my friends now.
Happy Rabit Day to everybody!
When I was in boarding school in the 1960s I learned to say “Bunny, bunny” last thing before going to sleep, and “Rabbit, rabbit” first thing on waking up. I didn’t even remember why until I came across this article while browsing. I rarely remembered both morning & night, and stopped trying before long. But I still think of it from time to time at the change of months.
I also remember, vaguely, a couple traditions about riding past a graveyard that some friend(s) taught me. I think one was simply to hold your breath, and the other to keep repeating “bunny” over & over until you were past the graves. Wish I could remember who taught me those. I wonder if this use of “bunny” is related to the one at the end of the month?
I have been saying “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” on the first of the month since my college days when a friend introduced me to the tradition (or oddity, if you will). It has since been validated by a few co-workers who share the habit. I also find photos or illustrations of rabbits (in threes, of course) to share on my Facebook page.
When others ask me if it REALLY brings me good luck during the month, my reply is, “Of course! And just to prove it, imagine how bad my month would have been if I had FORGOTTEN to say it!!” That quiets them down … 🙂
Not sure what happened to my message, my mother told me was old saying, and they used in in WW2 as when they could expect new kits. Usually only 3 were kept to slaughter weight. hence rabbit rabbit rabbit for fresh meat each month. Lucky indeed during starvation times.
I was brought up in NH, and my mother and her friend vied to be first to call and say rabbit rabbit each month. I have heard Robin Roberts on Good morning America say it, so knew it had some following. I asked my English neighbor, and she was not aware of it. We are of English descent, so guess that is where we got it. My husband thinks I am a bit looney, but that’s OK.
Thank you for posting this. I always love Rabbits my whole life. This information is very informative. I started thinking about the idea of how the Rabbit is lucky. I decided to Google it and find out more. My opinion is that saying the word rabbit once or twice or however many times on the first of the month or any day of the month does wonders for the person who speaks it. Rabbit is the common name of a beautiful animal. Careful observation of the Rabbit (s) over time will provide a very important lesson (s). One of the main lessons is one that can account for great success if precisely followed. Success, happiness and Protection from evil forces are only a list of some of the virtues that can be realized by people.
I live in Florida near Tampa my only desire in life is to open up a Rabbit Sanctuary a safe haven for Rabbits.
I have said “Rabbit, Rabbit” since grammar school in the early 60s yet never knew why. Some of my friends told me about it, but never the reason. It was also explained that you had to jump off the end of your bed. When the ceiling started to shower bits and pieces, I was told no more rabbits jumping off the bed!
I first heard this from a weather man radio announcer..may years ago..if you google it you will find that you should say Black Rabbit Black Rabbit the night before !
When I was a camper at a summer camp, we said “Rabbit Rabbit” to make the smoke blow the other way at campfires. There was also the saying that “Smoke follows beauty.”
Is that to put actual butter on your nose?
In my family if you forget your Rabbits on the first day of the month you can make up for it by saying Squirrel Squirrel
Rabbit. Rabbit. It’s February 1
My college roommate at the Univ of Illinois introduced me. Her family always did it. Somehow I thought it as related to Alice in Wonderland.
I like some the explanations. Jump into a new month. Lucky rabbits’ feet!
Some days at my school I do morning announcements and before the 1st I remind all 400 kids to say rabbit rabbit and to run around their room 3 times when they wake up. I’ve always wondered how many kids do it and remember it.
I’m Jamaican and I was told to say” White Rabbit White Rabbit White Rabbit, bring me good luck good luck good luck” but it had to be the first thing said out of your mouth that day…No “hellos” or “good mornings” first. I also remember the magic was made complete by gentle patting your head against your pillow rhythmically while saying the words! As you know Jamaica was ruled by England for many years and I too have a great deal of Scottish/English and Irish in my blood.
I think that is wonderful and I hope your dreams to keep rabbits safe comes true <3
Yes Bill, I am Jamaican and learned that you are supposed to say White Rabbit White Rabbit White Rabbit bring me good luck good luck good luck while hitting your head gently against your pillow case first thing before you rise. It has to be the first words you utter too 🙂
Yes, my family has the same tradition on March 1: “Hares” instead of “Rabbits.” My mother is from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire (England), but moved to the US in 1965. She passed away last year, but we keep up the tradition to honor our British heritage!
Thank you for your charming publication! And since it is almost September 1, 2016 “Rabbits” to one and all.
What a delightful article and charming responses. Some of you may enjoy the Facebook page Rabbits and I’m sure the readers would enjoy your stories and comments! (Only 17 days ’till November 2016!)
Being a Midwesterner by birth, I had never heard of this tradition. However, being of superstitious English and, particularly, Bohemian stock, I never take a chance on bringing myself bad luck…..especially a week away from this exceedingly strange election! So, on this November 1st, I say to you, “Rabbit, rabbit”…..with my fingers crossed for good luck! 🙂
Some years back, an elderly uncle of mine who lived in Connecticut began the tradition of sending an email message of “Rabbit Rabbit” to family members on the first of the month. As his health deteriorated, he asked for someone in the family to take over this responsibility. My brother who lives in Texas became the new correspondent. After a couple of years, he was ready to retire from this job. He asked for a volunteer and my son has been sending the message ever since. He is the third generation in our family to carry on the tradition. By and large, we have had good luck (knock wood).
I remember doing this as a child in the sixties and my mom would leave a note on the mirror in the hallway and it said rabbit rabbit rabbit and we had to say that the first day every month when you first woke up before you said anything else!
My Mom never missed saying “rabbit rabbit”and so my brother and I picked up the ttradition. Never knew the origin, but Mom was a born and bred New Englander, so I assume her parents taught her the tradition!
I have said “Rabbit, rabbit” for many years as the first thing I say on the first day of the month, but my mother, who is a Rhode Islander, never taught me that. I don’t know when or where I learnt it, but say it I do. Thanks for the article!
I first learned of it from my ninth grade algebra teacher in Falls Village, CT but I did not know why he said it. Through two years of algebra he never missed it. He was of English and Scottish extraction — Duncan Denny — a person of whom I have many fond memories.
My family (Mom’s family originally from Maine) were the “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” (3 times) tradition. Mom also said we should be running around our bed three times, but that was given up because the beds were too heavy to move away from the wall. I think the feeling was more for good luck for the month, rather than avoiding bad luck. I like the idea of “jumping into the future.” And that I’m not the only one saying it while alone in the room 😉
Well I read all of those comments, and nobody gave you the right answer. I’ve never said it before, never really heard of the tradition, but I know where it comes from, it’s absolute origin. Actually it just might become a tradition now. Every culture has known the rabbit, well not much of today’s? It’s exact origin, and this is true, Mare Moscoviense on the backside of our moon. I’m not even joking. That’s why some people say white rabbit. The name of the crater translates to Sea of Moscow, and for good reason, you know how Easter is very important to the Russians. Not only is this the rabbit you seek, but it’s why Faberge’ made those beautiful eggs too. Find a clear image of this crater on Google images, and take a good look at it, you will see your rabbit, inside of the egg. So how did the Russians know it was there in the 13-15 century? I could go on, and on about this crater’s importance, and how you will see this egg pattern in the weather over Europe , and the Atlantic during the month of March. Yes it will be reverse from how they would have seen it on the moon. Sailor Moon’s name is Usagi, or rabbit. That is why you say rabbit rabbit, or white rabbit, and that is the honest to god truth. Wait until March, then keep checking the weather satellite. Typhoon Usagi was a Mare Moscoviense weather pattern, and so was super storm Sandy. How’s that for bad luck? Keep saying it, I’m going to start in January..
I live in South Africa and for my whole life, family has said “Rabbits” on the first of the month. I know that the tradition was passed down from my grandmother on my father’s side and she learnt it from her Aunt who was from England. My husband thinks I’m nuts but my mom and I send a message to each other every first with the word “Rabbits” and a picture. My husband is starting to catch on now too and we are definitely going to teach our little girl (who is currently 1 year old), to carry on this tradition. My gran has passed on now and it always makes me think of her and smile, first thing in the morning on the 1st.
I grew up in London in the 1950s and my mother would always say “White Rabbit” on the first of every month. She was from a Sussex country family so I always imagined it was an ancient peasant superstition. Some people also said “A pinch and a punch for the first of the month” which I always suspected originated in some hellish Dickensian workhouse!
We don’t say it first of the month, we say it every Birthday morning, and have every year since I can remember. Yes, Connecticut.
I hlearned this from my mother 68 years ago; sometime at boarding school someone added “Bunny, Bunny” to be said the night before! A good friend and I still sare this each month, and I treasure it!
Good Morning America . I live in Warwick England and out of curiosity turned to the internet to see what, if any, was the explanation for the first of the month rabbit thing. My wife and I try – but usually fail – to say ‘White Rabbits’ as our first words on the first of the month. It is clearly an English superstition but the reasoning is still unclear. Anyway, my web search took me to your site i.e.New England Today. I just loved the comments and I sense a mindset, outlook etc. very similar to mine. All I can say is that old England and New England share a common background that might be a teensy bit old fashioned but overall the world is a better place for us being there. So back to my American speak – Have a Nice Day. Peter
Peter, I liked your comments. I am a native New Englander, though by choice of work that led me away; and meeting my husband who is a mid-southerner, alas, do not live there now. We are fine! But I have always had a strong attachment to New England and have always felt the connection to England, too. Strange, since we fought to get away and be on our own!! But the customs were so ingrained in the Colonists, they just stuck with us. We did not say Rabbit, Rabbit however, and I only learned of it in the last few years. I may or may not say it, if I remember, but only for fun. It doesn’t mean too much to me one way or the other. I, too, like the sense of being a “teensy bit old fashioned”, as you said, and always come here to New England Today/Yankee to stay connected. I’m glad you, too, have found Yankee, and enjoy “our ways”. Good day to you!
Lewis Carroll must have been aware of these traditions. “Alice in Wonderland” has both a white rabbit and a March hare.
I’ve said “Rabbit” on the first day of the month for as long as I can remember and on New Year’s day it’s “Rabbit & Hares” for reasons that are lost to me…
I didn’t grow up with the Rabbit tradition, but we did have another strange family tradition that goes back at least three generations. First thing in the morning of someone’s birthday, some member of the family sneaks up and smears butter on the birthday person’s nose! I wonder if anyone else has done that. Nobody in our family knows how it originated.
Wow- I have never heard of any other family buttering noses besides my own. My family didn’t do it in the morning, but if it was your birthday you knew that at some point you were going to be surprised with butter smeared on your nose. My brother and I always enjoyed being able to do this to each other. 🙂 I was told it was for luck “to help you slide into the next year of life”.
If you are going to butter my nose on my birthday, please first turn it into buttercream icing and add a few sprinkles, after all it is my birthday. If you make a full recipe, you can ice my cake with the rest of the recipe. 🙂
I first learned of the tradition from a teacher in high school, but it seemed to relate especially to March first. March hare, maybe?
“Tibbar Tibbar” on the second day of the month fixes the error of forgetting to say Rabbit Rabbit on the first. My family has always done this.
I love the Rabbit, Rabbit tradition. All the comments except the one who said he didn’t like rabbits? I ask you “what’s not to like about a rabbit?” To me they’re a sweet and gentle animal.
In our family it was “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” while turning around 3 times before bed the last day of the month and repeated in the morning without a word in between. It is almost impossible to remember.
Wow, so it’s like an ancient chain letter!
Yes, I too say rabbit every 1st of the month, it’s been handed down through my family so I always say it. Plus I am superstitious.
Our next door neighbor is the one that introduced us to Rabbit Rabbit when I was a child. I’ve said it monthly for maybe 3/4 of a century ……and my luck has been good, bad and some horrible ……….. but I still say it just in case it may ward of ????. Not sure if any of my children say it, but this was sent to me by my youngest, so it’s not been forgotten. Being New Years .. I said it right after midnight and again before I crept out of bed ( – 9 degrees outside) this morning. All I can say is — so far it’s been a good day. But thanks for the info, and I have noticed that Robin, on GMA also says it ……. but during the program. Hmmm.
I first heard of “Rabbit,Rabbit” from a friend who loved the movie “Harvey,” starring Jimmy Stewart. His character observed the tradition by climbing over the end of his bed first thing on the morning of the first of the month and saying, “Rabbit, Rabbit.” The result was supppsed to be good luck!
I was taught this by my Mother and have tried for 60 years to remember the 1st of every month, I like the challenge to remember ! I’ve been known to wake up at 4am, remember the date and shout “Rabbit Rabbit” at the top of my lungs, feel like I got something accomplished & fall back asleep with a smile. I was told it meant a good surprise and or good luck and I’ve noticed the last 5 years something wonderful happens within 72 hours….maybe that’s the powerful “law of intention”… maybe my luck is that I could fall back asleep, ha. I just lost my Mother and it’s a gentle reminder of her, I bet I won’t forget anymore!
We say Rabbit Rabbit on the first day of the month here on Cape Cod. The traditional response is Hare Hare. Does anyone else know of this tradition?
I also grew up with this tradition, saying “Rabbit, Rabbit” on the first day of each month. Somewhere along the way, I picked up the tradition of saying “Bunny, Bunny” on the 2nd day, and “Tibbar, Tibbar” on the 3rd (“Rabbit, Rabbit” backwards). This may have been something my friends and I concocted in high school; maybe a combination of traditions. I truly don’t remember, but it gives you 3 chances at good luck!
I first heard of rabbit rabbit in a book as a child. It was a book called Trixie Belden and The Mystery of the Emeralds. In the book, Trixie had to say it on the last night of the month before going to sleep and again in the morning. I tried it a few times but always forgot.
I´m so glad I´ve found fellow “rabbiters” as I really thought my family was strange! Having just turned 30, i thought “bloomin heck, I should really find out if we are the only wierd ones in the world” and finally found these comments – phew! We say “rabbits” (plural) – as far as I´m aware, it came down through my grandmother on mum´s side (British – Jersey, Channel Islands now). It has to be the first word spoken out loud upon waking up on the 1st of each month, and like many of you – into thin air! Mum claims this is not to avoid bad luck, but to bring good luck.. so thank goodness at least I didn´t believe something bad might happen if I accidently forgot or pronounced another word out loud beforehand! RA pleasure to have found you all!
In England (uk) its not so much ‘Rabbit Rabbit’ as ‘White Rabbits’….. With First of May an especially important time to say it.
I suspect it could well go back as far as the pre-Roman Celtic tribes for whom Hares were an important symbol.
For sure Witches, Wiccans and the like seem to derive much of their outlook from old Celtic and maybe pre-Celtic traditions so its maybe germane that they often take Hares to be an important symbol?
I first heard of this in 4th grade back in 1969. My teacher said her college roommate would say “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” and turn around 3 times. Being from the South she had never heard of this. Since she was my favorite teacher I try to remember this on the first of each month and do it. It is supposed to bring good luck and it brings back wonderful memories of a truly great teacher and lady.
I am from Alabama and first heard “rabbit, rabbit” from two popular deejays in Birmingham years ago. I never had the tradition explained to me until I heard the folklorist / storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham explain it at a festival. Of course, I assumed it was a Southern thing.
I learned of “Rabbit Rabbit” at the University of Arizona in 1975 while attending an Agronomy lecture. A classmate indicated that her mid-western farm family had this tradition. Ever since I have passed it along and love the ritual for myself.
Tomorrow is the first of June……..YEAH….Rabbit Rabbit.
I grew up in Upstate NY & my roots are primarily Irish & I was taught to say Rabit,Rabit on awakening before saying anything else& my roots are primarily Irish. One person commented on it coming from the Celts which would mesh with my Irish background. Interesting…
07- 04- 18 I have read a lot of these comments about the words rabbit rabbit and have enjoyed them. I use to raise rabbits to eat and also sale at one time . I think most of them are beautiful and make great pets. I got on line today and for some unknown reason and googled the word rabbit. I saw this article and it brought back something a lady told me back in 2003 . I was a deputy sheriff and was at a ladies home working a natural death case on her husband. She made a comment that he would always wake up first and say to her rabitt rabitt. I didn’t ask her what she meant by that. Now after 15 years i know. I think i will try to remember to say rabitt rabitt on the first day of each month from now on. Thanks for this info .
I grew up saying Rabbit Rabbit on the first of each month as a child. My dad told me that it brings good luck to those that say. I know a couple of years ago, Robin Roberts of Good Morning American said don’t forget to say Rabbit Rabbit on the first. It’s the first time I’ve heard someone (other then my dad) mention this suspicious. Robin said as soon as you wake up and touch the floor you say it. I heard you say it anytime. So, I wish everyone on the first a Rabbit Rabbit day, and hope they say it. Hey, we all need some good luck in our lives, I know I do. So to all you reading these comments, it’s August 1st, 2018, Rabbit Rabbit!!
I was out for a run with a fellow graduate student at the University of Michigan back in the late 1970s. I mentioned my family’s tradition of saying “Rabbit, rabbit” as the first thing at the beginning of each month. She was delighted – her family said the same thing. We were unrelated – she from the Midwest and me from the Mid-Atlantic states east coast. Then she told me she said, “Tibbar, tibbar” at the end of each month as the last thing said before going to sleep. So my wife and I started this tradition just for fun. Now we get some fun out of it with our sons and grandchildren each month – it’s become something to laugh about.
Happy December 1st – rabbit
Rabbit. I find it interesting that most comments come from the first or second of the month – I assume people saying rabbit googling why they say it
Being an avid student of symbolism I would think that the reason for saying “rabbit” to bring luck would be its positive aspect of representing abundance. Think about how rabbits multiply. They are a harbinger of Spring because of this symbolism of multiplying what we have, a new season of abundance after a season of slumber. We would say “rabbit, rabbit” to increase our material status, to multiply our riches.
I’ve always said “Rabbit, Rabbit” first thing in the morning of the 1st of the month! Don’t know why, but hope for good luck.Today, 1/1/19 is a special one! My neighbor says it also.
WOW! Readers still enjoying and reacting to Edie’s writings. Very fascinating to read her books and have her tell us how her career even got off the launch pad. I admire her talent and courage.
It was “rabbits” not rabbit, rabbit growing up in my house. My Mom was British and we had lots of bunnies! Beatrix Potter books were my favorite stories.????????????????
My boyfriend always says “Rabbit, rabbit” on the morning of the first day of each month. He said it’s a family tradition. I thought it was a joke as I’d never heard of it before, so I really enjoyed reading this article. I guess the joke was on me.
My college roommate started me saying “Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits” on the first of the month, and I always thought just remembering to do so was a good thing. Years ago I read an article about this in Smithsonian Magazine, and really felt validified! The article quoted people saying “White rabbits, white rabbits” as well.
Have a lucky month!
My Mom, age 77, has been saying “rabbit rabbit” since 4th grade when their teacher told the kids about it. As kids of course we did too. I called her today to ask if she said it and she did not because last month she had bad luck! I read this post to her on the phone and she LOVED it!! Her friends thinks she nuts! They will all be receiving a copy. Thank you for writing this and researching the origin.
I had a friend in college who said he jumped off the foot of the bed on the first day of the month, and said “Bunny, bunny”! A variation of “Rabbit, rabbit”, I suppose. ????
Thanks for researching on this charming English tradition. I’m German, my late husband was English and taught me to say “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” on the first day of the month. As far as I know, it was supposed to bring money, rather than general good luck. My husband never actually believed in it, neither did I, but we still said it on the first of every month, and I still do now, 6 years after his death.
I remember seeing this on Nickelodeon when I was a kid. I don’t remember the details, just was told to say Rabbit Rabbit on the first day of each month for good luck. My brother and I did this as a joke. I always wondered the origin.
I grew up here in Canada with a mother from the Caribbean. Every first of the month she encouraged us to say “White rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit” as the first thing you say before talking to anyone else. Love seeing all these comments of similar traditions in families!
From Bedfordshire, England. We say “white rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits” on the first of the month. My Mum is very superstitious though. She even kissed the coalman on her wedding day for good luck. Oh and something I found weird; A work colleague told me her Mum keeps a jar of loose thread. So if she picks it up or finds it from your clothing it belongs in the jar.
But WE ARE “a bunch of paleolithic cave people, clinging to the earth by virtue of luck and whimsy. ” Any sudden instance of trauma or tragedy teaches us that. For all we know, we may have lost touch long ago with all kinds of knowledge of the natural world we once shared… However, it seems to resonate with some childlike part of us that the act of sound based ritual itself is an ancestral honoring prayer and/or meditation. And meditation like physical exercise has no negative side effects, so good on ya!
I am English London is my home town….for as long as I can remember, the ritual of the rabbit rabbit the 1st day of the month all my family still say it,,,,,,,me too.
My Bostonian family and I all say Rabbits Rabbits on the first of every month; I did it this morning! No idea why we’ve pluralized it!
Our family never did this, but I lived with a group of women from the Arts College at Cornell University ( is that significant? I was in the Ag School…) Anyway, one of them mentioned that her family always said Rabbit Rabbit, first thing on the first day of the month to assure good luck for the entire month. I have said it ever since (40+ years) and told my husband and he says it, too. We have friend who also say it. This article was great fun because only now did I decide to search out the origin, and was pleasantly surprised to learn about tibbar tibbar if I forget. Now if only we could all say Rabbit Rabbit as the first thing on the first day of January 2020 while we walk backwards down the stairs….
I first read about the tradition as a young girl, as “Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit!” were the first words of a Trixie Belden novel, “The Mystery of the Emeralds” (1962). Fast forward about a decade and I was sitting with my grandmother just before midnight on the eve of August 1. She said “Rabbit” right before midnight (her last word of the month) and right after (her first word of the new month). I don’t remember asking her about it, but I do recall doing the same thing, from that point forward, including today, August 1, 2019.
I text “rabbit, rabbit” to all my kids and my husband first thing on the 1st of each month. Most respond back and, of course, emoji bunnies have krept into the conversation.
In third grade I had a dear friend named Carol. She was silly in all the best ways with a brilliant laugh, a short shock of black hair and freckled face. We would play in the pasture and slough behind her farm after school and almost every Saturday. The first-words-on-the-first-day tradition she shared with me was to utter ‘Jump Up Jackrabbit’. I have tried, most often without success, to remember to do so since she shared her good luck charm with me over 50 years ago. I’ve never heard this specific phrase used by anyone else. I’m curious if anyone else may have.
I grew up on the coastline of Maine. For Christmas, I got a Trixie Beldon Mystery book and there was an incident where you woke up on the first day of the month and it was bad luck not to say, “Rabbit, Rabbit.” Now, reading animal spirits/totems-Rabbits can be timid and fearful, but also symbolize rebirth and abundance. I believe this saying is kind of like a blessing-to honor time, but also supposedly a rabbit’s shadow can be see on a Full Moon…so, I sense this is a monthly blessing for the moon’s energy to align with yours.
From Indiana. We didn’t need to say it first thing, but we competed to say it first. So if my sister said it first she would get the good luck for the month.
So I found a book a while back called “Elemental Love Styles” that was explaining that air sign like myself are considered “the white rabbits” of the zodiac. This is because we behave like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland and run off. So I have always collected the white rabbit figurines, buttons, masks, etc. Fast forward to tonight and I am watching the Million Man March from 1995 on Youtube and Farrakhan starts talking about how the word Rabb basically means “one whom God sent” and this is where the word rabbi and the RAB in “Arab” comes from. I instantly connected this to a video I had seen a while back explaining that when in the Matrix when Neo was told to “Follow the White Rabbit” it was symbolic of Alice in Wonderland, which is similar to air signs, in that you “follow the rabbi” down the rabbit hole to get to wonderland, matrix, dreamland, or state of nirvana/heaven. So rabbit rabbit rabbit basically means GOD GOD GOD. Google the word “rabb”.
Back in my college days at UMass Amherst, my fellow Wheeler House residents and I would go to the dorm roof top deck to welcome in the new month. I never knew where the tradition originated. I only knew it was for good luck. And it made for great fun memories back in the dorm.
My mom (95 years old) born in Atlanta was raised with the help of a lovely Gullah woman from SC. Mom said rabbit rabbit as a kid taught by Ruthie. My siblings and I said it. Our children and grandchildren say it. It’s said so that the new month will be better than the old one—at least no worse!!! We sure can use that now!
Rabbit Rabbit means two rabbits or plural form for ‘rabbit’. Of course not in English. May be in New Englander dialect.
Wish you had posted this a day earlier! Oh well…there’s always next month! ????
I have been saying “rabbit rabbit hare hare” for approximately 60 years. Growing up in the suburbs of Massachusetts, and frequenting the outdoors of New Hampshire and Vermont, it was just a tradition. I think I heard my sister say it one day and she told me about it and the rest is history. The first you said on the first day of the month was “rabbit rabbit hare hare”. It is October 1, 2020, and I woke up briefly at 2 AM in the morning. I said “rabbit rabbit hare hare” six times, one time for each one of five family members plus me, then I added another five for brothers and sisters and close family friends, then I sprinkled a few more for all the people that attend my business, church and other organizations that I am so lucky to be a part of.
I went back to sleep and woke up and am having a fantastic day. In addition to the saying is having a lucky rabbit’s foot dangling from your car’s rearview mirror. Lucky for us but not so lucky for “lapin”. Be well and enjoy.
I was told by my late husband to say Happy Rabbit day, he got that about 25-30 years by a fellow worker John White who said the first person to say it had good luck all month.
I live in England and we usually say “White Rabbits, White Rabbits” on the first day of the month, another phrase used is “a pinch and a punch for the first of the month” followed up by a playful pinch and punch to someone who responds with “ a punch and a kick for being so quick “. I’ve no idea why, other than old superstition, that these words are used.
We said White Rabbit 3 times and also did pinch, punch, first of the month. Just for funsies. My mother was from England.
I’m from England and my Mum passed on the tradition of saying white rabbits! Every 1st of the month it’s the first word I say when I wake up!!
My little old seventh grade English teacher, who looked like a rabbit herself, all twitchy and frightened, told us about this tradition. I’ve never forgotten it although I never actually did it—I just remember nervous Miss Tighe with her pink-rimmed eyes saying “rabbit rabbit rabbit” (THREE times!) every first day we f the month. So interesting! So odd! I’m thrilled to read about it here, the night before the first of December! May we have a remarkable month!
I was born and raised in Trinidad until about the age of 10. I have held onto the rabbit rabbit rabbit on the first of each month my entire life. I now love in Montreal, Canada with my children. My mother will never let me forget, and she will call to ask « Did you remember to say rabbit rabbit rabbit? » 🙂 My entire Caribbean family does this. Thanks for sharing this article with us.
My Mother, who was from North Florida, taught me to say “rabbit” first thing on January 1 for good luck all year. My husband and I make sure to continue the tradition as soon as the ball drops in Times Square and before we kiss and clink glasses. A work colleague said that in college, she and her friends would compete to be the first to say “rabbit” on the first of each month (not for luck, just for fun). My husband and I have adopted this practice as well.
I am surprised and fascinated that so many people are familiar with doing this. I first heard it said in my college dorm in the seventies. To me it was just a fun thing and a bit if competition. I still think about it from time to time, but no one around me says it, so it remains a fond memory. Linda
I learned “Rabbit, Rabbit” on the first day of the month when I was in college in the 70s as well! And I still do it. I have no idea as I don’t believe in the superstition. I never did. I just did it. Maybe just in case!
The practice among the kids in my home town, on the first of the month was to greet others , chanting, a pinch and a punch on the first of the month and no returns, and you had to get in quick, to deliver a pinch and a punch. I have no idea where this practice came from.
white rabbit white rabbit. Never heard this growing up but something I picked up.
I grew up near Philadelphia and my mom always said Rabbits Rabbits in the first of month and I have said to my children now and they say it to me as well or change it to the flavor of the month like Turkey Turkey or Santa Santa. Thought it was a Pennsylvania thing since others I’ve met recently from PA say it too. I also post most months on FB and surprised how many respond.
Whoever says it first in our family decides what is for dinner and dessert that evening.
RABBIT RABBIT. ????????????????
RABBIT RABBIT EVERYONE.
We always say Jack Rabbit on the first of the month. It seems like forever, never thought about where it came from. We need all the luck we can get.
I’m sixth generation Yankee, why have I never heard of this tradition. I grew up in a multi-generational family where you threw salt over your shoulder if you spilled it. Putting up an umbrella in the house meant death in the family. You could never enter the house through a window as that meant a robber in your house. If you drop a fork , you will be visited by a woman, knife meant a man and a spoon meant a child!
I’m in Massachusetts and am Irish and English but growing up my family never practiced this tradition. I picked it up sometime in Junior High (can’t remember where I learned it from) and have been saying it ever since. I’m now 57. My adult daughters have been saying it too ever since they could talk. We say “Rabbit” once and first thing in the morning on the 1st of every month for good luck for the month! So glad to learn we are not alone 🙂
I’ve said rabbit thrice for as long as I can remember. My mom taught it to me, and my daughter says it too. Not sure if once, twice or thrice is right!
We always said Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit. We we were small my sister and I would say Bunny, Bunny, Bunny. My parents were is a group called” the Rabbits” and got together each month, usually at the beginning of the month!! I thought my parents made it up, and after the above article, I am astonished to learn it is a real thing!!
Rabbit or no rabbit, I love to start any month off by reading an essay from Edie Clark. Makes no difference at all when they were written, They’re all that good!
Yes, indeed!
I learned this at a bonfire on the beach in North Truro, MA Summer of 1979, we said “Rabbit” to make the smoke blow the other way. So funny. Later on I learned about the GOOD Luck if you said “Rabbit” on January 1, first thing.
Born and raised in Boston 74 years ago. My mom taught me to say, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit the first thing upon getting out of bed to ensure good luck. I have literally done this f as long as I remember, and “trained” two husbands to do the same. Finally I’ve come across a possible source of the saying from The Heirloom Gardner: “Ring in the first day of each month with hope and good content, before you speak another word, and to your heart’s content, say rabbit, rabbit, rabbit or hare, hare, hare, to ensure a month of joy and luck, not one of sad despair. Does anyone else remember this?
I am 8th generation Ozark-Arkansan and my husband and I follow this tradition, however, we follow it slightly differently than the variations I am seeing in these comments. We were always told to repeat the following on the 1st of the month and on the 1st of the New Year: “RABBIT RABBIT, RABBIT RABBIT WHITE RABBIT, RABBIT RABBIT WHITE RABBITS”. We are both of Scot-Irish family heritage but are American— we were told this tradition was Nordic. Who knows if it is true or if there are different variations from different parts of the world. I just love seeing that so many people share in the tradition; we are all connected in our shared experience.
I am 62 and never heard of this until very recently when someone on a message board I frequent wrote “Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” at the beginning of a post. I thought, “WTH?” but didn’t bother to ask them about it, nor research it. Now that I know what it’s about, I have to laugh at the subtitle of this article calling it “slightly superstitious.” I’d say it’s very superstitious! I came from a family that had very few superstitions. The one to which we did subscribe was always saying “god bless you” whenever someone sneezed. Thankfully, over the years, I have weaned myself off of that one! I do not care for ridiculous superstitious rituals like that.
From Louise Penny’s latest novel “A World of Curiosities” : “Harriet Landers’ aunt Myrna told her that on the first of every month she should say “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” for good luck. On June 1, she forgot to do it. That was a mistake which has terrible consequences.”
I’ve been saying “Rabbit-Rabbit!” on my social media since I worked at Yankee Magazine since 1996! It is for good luck!
Every month “Rabbit Rabbit” … I even say it on Facebook and now others say it also. Is it silly… maybe… is it fun… definitely.
Happy New Year and of course”Rabbit Rabbit” 🙂