Why do some people say "Rabbit rabbit" on the first day of the month

 

Saying “Rabbit, rabbit” before saying any other words on the first day of the month is a quirky little tradition that many people follow for good luck. But where did it come from and what does it mean?

   Rabbits are a common symbol of good luck, positivity, fertility, and growth in many cultures—from North America to Europe and Asia. Most prominent in spring, they are associated with renewal and rebirth after winter. Rabbits are typically gentle, peaceful creatures favored as pets, though they may destroy your garden! 

   According to superstition, saying “rabbit rabbit” before anything else on the first day of the month will bring you good luck for 30 days. Saying “bunny bunny” is said to have the same effect, while some people opt for “rabbits” or “white rabbit.”

   The origin of the superstition in the United Kingdom may have been inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland (1865) in which a young girl is 'luckily' guided by a white rabbit through fantastical adventures.

  The first written record of the phrase being said for luck was in the English periodical Notes and Queries (March 27, 1909). A parent noted that his children called “rabbit rabbit” up the chimney on the first of each month, with the hope of receiving a present. Over the following decades, the expression was used by many people who were hoping to assure their financial prosperity and, in general, bring them good luck all month long.

  President Franklin Delano Roosevelt claimed to say “rabbits” on the first of each month. He was known to carry a lucky rabbit’s foot around with him during the 1932 presidential election, which he won by a landslide—becoming the first Democrat to win both the electoral college and the popular vote in 80 years.

  During World War II, many British fighter pilots opted for even greater luck by using the phrase daily and it seemed to work. Their task was perilous and yet the Royal Air Force successfully repelled the German Luftwaffe in both the Battle of Britain and the Blitz.

  Other notable figures to practice the superstition include the Saturday Night Live actress Gilda Radner, who used to say “bunny bunny” for luck. The British-American journalist and writer Simon Winchester noted in 2006 that he had recited “white rabbits” for 696 consecutive months and counting, ever since 1948, when he was four years old. He certainly has had plenty of good luck in his career at least; to date he has written sixteen highly acclaimed and successful books.

The art on this page was created by the much loved artist, Beatrix Potter.