Have you ever heard someone say “rabbit, rabbit” on the first day of the month? Behind those two words lies an enduring superstition that has hopped its way through generations!
According to this tradition, if the first words out of your mouth on the first day of a new month are “rabbit, rabbit,” you’ll have good luck all month long. Some even suspect that saying it before doing anything else, even before brushing your teeth, petting your dog, or making your morning coffee, is key to making the magic work.
Where Did This Come From?
The exact origins of the superstition are unclear, but many historians agree it likely began in British folklore. Rabbits have long been symbols of luck, fertility, and renewal in many cultures. In England, especially in rural communities, rabbits were seen as mysterious creatures with ties to the supernatural, and saying their name might have been a way of invoking protective or lucky magic.
In 1909, a reader submitted a note to the British journal Notes and Queries describing a custom among children in Bedfordshire, England. The note mentioned that children would say “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” upon waking on the first day of the month in order to bring good luck. While this was the first mention of the tradition in the written record, it’s very likely that the folklore practice was alive and circulating long before 1909.
It eventually made its way to the United States, where it became a children’s tradition, whispered on the playground or passed down from parents and grandparents.
A Presidential Habit and Pop Culture Nod
Even U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt reportedly took part in the tradition, making sure to say “rabbit, rabbit” at the start of each month. In the 1990s, the children’s TV network Nickelodeon reminded viewers to say it too, helping the superstition stick with a whole new generation.
Variations on the Theme
Like all good superstitions, “rabbit, rabbit” comes in many forms. Some people say “white rabbit” instead, or even repeat it three times for extra good luck: “Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit,” (as reported in the Notes and Queries 1909 post). In some households, there’s a reverse version: saying “Tibbar, tibbar” (rabbit spelled backward) right before bed on the last day of the month to prepare for luck the next morning.
Others tie the tradition to seasonal change, renewal, and the rhythms of the moon—especially since in many cultures (like China and Japan), there’s a mythical rabbit that lives on the moon, making elixirs or rice cakes.
Just for Fun—or Something More?
Whether you see it as a cute tradition, a mystical charm, or just a fun monthly reminder, “rabbit, rabbit” is a fun and quirky way to mark a fresh start. It’s a little moment of intention-setting, a way of acknowledging a new beginning with a smile—and maybe a bit of luck on your side.
So next month, before you scroll, speak, or sip your coffee, why not give it a try?
Say those magic words: “Rabbit, rabbit.”
Who knows? It might just work!