Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit
Three rabbits, one in a basket c. 1910, Library of Congress
Some believe that if your first words on the morning of the first day of the month are “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit,” you will have good luck for that month.
Rabbits are the subjects of many folk beliefs, and are traditionally associated with fertility, abundance, spring and renewal.
In many parts of Asia, rabbits are associated with the moon. In Japanese folklore, a rabbit lives in the moon where he pounds rice cakes (mochi) or prepares the elixir of immortality.
The origin of saying “rabbit, rabbit” to welcome a new month is not entirely clear, but it seems to date back to at least the early 20th century, when it was recorded in a British periodical a children’s folk practice. Some sources suggest that it may be related to the ancient belief that rabbits and hares were magical creatures, able to communicate with the spirit world, and that their feet were lucky charms. Others point out that the word “rabbit” was often used in expletives, and that saying it repeatedly may have been a way of warding off evil.
Whatever the case, the tradition has persisted and spread to different parts of the world, with some variations. Some say, ”white rabbits” or “rabbits” or “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” on the first day of the month or the first day of the new moon. (Three seems luckier to The House, so we will go with that.) The common thread is that saying these words is supposed to bring good fortune, or at least prevent bad luck, for the month ahead.
But does it really work? Well, that depends on how you look at it. Some people may swear by it, and claim that they have experienced positive outcomes after saying “rabbit rabbit”. Others may dismiss it as a silly superstition, and argue that luck is not influenced by words. And some may just do it for fun, or out of habit, without expecting anything in return.
The House believes that saying “rabbit rabbit” is a harmless and enjoyable way of starting a new month, and that it can have a psychological effect on how we perceive our circumstances. If we believe that we are lucky, we may be more optimistic, confident, and grateful, and thus attract more opportunities and happiness into our lives. If we believe that we are unlucky, we may be more pessimistic, fearful, and resentful, and thus repel the good things that come our way.
So, whether you say “rabbit rabbit” or not, I hope that the months ahead are filled with all good things, and that you make the most of them. Remember that luck is not something that happens to you, but something that you create with your attitude, actions, and choices.
Ivory Netsuke depicting the hare in the moon, using a mortar and pestle to make mochi. From the Wellcome Collection.
Japanese folk art rabbit from Tokyo, Japan; House of Good Fortune Collection.
Additional Reading:
The rabbit’s foot is a popular good luck charm for hunters and gamblers.