Why Do People Say ‘Rabbit Rabbit’ At The Start Of A New Month? Real Meaning Behind Saying

It’s the first of the month, meaning the time has come to say “Rabbit, Rabbit.” But why?

The term, which trended on social media platforms like Twitter on Thursday morning, is one that is rooted in superstition and claims to bring luck to those who utter it. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the phrase is believed to bring luck for the next 30 days to those who utter it aloud on the first day of a new month, and can be traced back to the 1909 British periodical “Notes and Queries,”

However, there are certain rules to follow for the luck to be given. Not only must the word be spoken out loud, but it also must be the first word spoken for the day.

The origin still isn’t entirely clear, though word historian Martha Barnette told NPR back in 2013 that the practice is more common than some might think, and even President Franklin Delano Roosevelt believed in the power of rabbits when it comes to good luck.

“In fact, another aficionado of this practice was Franklin Delano Roosevelt,” Barnette said at the time. “He was known to carry a rabbit’s foot during the 1932 election. We still have that rabbit’s foot in a museum. And supposedly, he also said rabbit, rabbit at the beginning of every month.”

Rabbits are also seen as good luck in the sense that they also are a symbol of rebirth, with the Easter Bunny as an example. While the character is used in the marketing of the holiday, it is also tied to the religious origins of the holiday, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.