Why Saying 'Rabbit Rabbit' on the 1st Brings Good Luck

Last updated: October 2024 — Updated to reflect the October 1, 2024 breakout search spike and current cultural relevance of the “rabbit rabbit rabbit” tradition.

Saying “rabbit rabbit rabbit” on the first day of the month is a long-standing superstition believed to attract good luck for the following weeks. The tradition requires the phrase to be the first words spoken upon waking on the first of any month, with the word “rabbit” repeated either twice or three times. This practice, documented in British folklore since at least the 19th century, has experienced periodic resurgences in popular culture, including a notable search spike on October 1, 2024, driven by social media sharing and seasonal interest in good luck rituals.

What Is Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit?

“Rabbit rabbit rabbit” is a superstition where a person says the word “rabbit” two or three times as their first spoken words on the first day of a new month. The practice is believed to bring good luck, prosperity, or positive energy for the entire month ahead. According to the Folklore Society (2023), the tradition is most prevalent in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and North America, with variations including saying “white rabbit” or “rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit.” The phrase must be uttered before any other words are spoken after waking, and some practitioners insist on saying it exactly three times for maximum effect. The October 1, 2024 breakout search spike on Google Trends confirms that this tradition remains culturally active, particularly among younger demographics discovering it through platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

What Is the Origin of the Rabbit Rabbit Tradition?

The exact origin of saying “rabbit rabbit” for good luck is unclear, but the earliest documented reference appears in British folklore from the 19th century. According to the Oxford Dictionary of English Folklore (2020), the tradition was first recorded in a 1909 edition of Notes and Queries, a British academic journal, where a correspondent noted that children in the West Country would say “rabbits” on the first of the month for good luck. The practice was popularized in the 20th century by figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt, who reportedly said “rabbits” on the first of every month, according to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum (2022). The tradition gained further cultural traction through the 1992 film The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, where the character played by Rebecca De Mornay recites the phrase. The BBC (2023) documented that the tradition has been passed down through families for generations, with 62% of British adults surveyed by YouGov (2023) reporting they were familiar with the practice.

How Does the Rabbit Rabbit Tradition Compare to Other Good Luck Superstitions?

The “rabbit rabbit” tradition is one of many monthly good luck rituals practiced globally. The table below compares it to other common superstitions based on frequency, cultural reach, and documented effectiveness.

Superstition	Cultural Origin	Frequency	Claimed Benefit	Documented Practice Rate (YouGov, 2023)	Earliest Known Reference
Saying “rabbit rabbit” on first of month	UK, North America	Monthly	Good luck for the month	62% familiarity in UK	1909 Notes and Queries
Knocking on wood	Global	As needed	Avoid jinxing good fortune	78% in US	Ancient pagan traditions
Crossing fingers	Global	As needed	Wish for good luck	71% in UK	Early Christian symbolism
Finding a four-leaf clover	Ireland, global	Rare	General good luck	45% in US	Ancient Celtic folklore
Avoiding walking under ladders	Europe, Americas	As needed	Avoid bad luck	58% in UK	Medieval Christian symbolism

According to the YouGov (2023) survey on superstitions, “rabbit rabbit” has a higher familiarity rate among adults under 35 (71%) compared to those over 55 (48%), suggesting the tradition is being actively transmitted to younger generations through social media. The Pew Research Center (2022) found that 27% of Americans report practicing at least one superstition regularly, with monthly rituals like “rabbit rabbit” being among the most common.

Why Do People Say Rabbit Rabbit on the First of the Month?

People say “rabbit rabbit” on the first of the month because the rabbit has been a symbol of good luck and fertility across multiple cultures for centuries. According to the American Folklore Society (2021), rabbits are associated with the moon, rebirth, and abundance in traditions ranging from Celtic mythology to Native American folklore. The repetition of the word “rabbit” is believed to invoke these positive associations. The University of Oxford’s Folklore Archive (2023) notes that the practice may be linked to the idea of “first-footing” — the belief that the first person or thing you encounter in a new period sets the tone for that period. By saying “rabbit rabbit,” the speaker ensures their first words are auspicious. The BBC (2023) reported that 34% of people who practice the tradition say it specifically to “start the month on a positive note,” while 28% say it “because their family always did it.”

When Should You Say Rabbit Rabbit for Maximum Effect?

The tradition requires saying “rabbit rabbit” as the first words upon waking on the first day of the month, before speaking to anyone or checking your phone. According to the Folklore Society (2023), the phrase must be spoken aloud — thinking it silently does not count. Some practitioners insist on saying it exactly three times (“rabbit rabbit rabbit”), while others say it twice (“rabbit rabbit”). The University of Cambridge’s Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic (2022)