May the Hare in Your Soup Never Be Roof Rabbit

Posted by Woodchuck on October 17, 2002

In Reply to: Yes, that was the point posted by Silver Surfer on October 15, 2002

: : : : : : Does anyone know the origins of the superstition that if "rabbit" is your first word uttered on the first day of the month, you will have good luck for that month?

: : : : : Searching the archives using the words "rabbit" and "month" produced a previous discussion at
: : : : : www.phrases.org.uk bulletin_board 14 messages 57.html
: : : : : (link below).

: : : : I'd quarrel with the following contribution to the discussion in the link:

: : : : : : "Before Christianity in the British Isles, the hare, like the cat, was thought to be a witch in disguise. This witch could only be killed with a silver bullet." Bloody inventive, we ancient Britons were... *grin*.

: : : : Witches, silver bullets and familiars such as hares and cats are a late medieval concept. There is no evidence of their use as such in pre-Christian Britain or Ireland.

: : : I rather think that the concept of a silver bullet was a tad later than both pre-Christian and late mediaeval times.

: : : : : Perhaps it was introduced by "Bugs" when he asked ole Elmer "What's up Doc?" I can see myself walking down the street saying the R word three times. Superstition's- you gotta love them.

:
: I always knew the Chinese didn't invent gunpowder; our ancestors - the ancient Britons - did it and guns as well. Silver bullets were a mere bagatelle just to show off their hallmarking skills and, of course, they secretly loved cats and hares.

Only the love of cat was kept secret. Bawd Bree, anyone?