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White rabbit

Posted by Lewis on October 03, 2003

In Reply to: Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits posted by ESC on October 01, 2003

: : Last September 30 there was a posting about the tradition of saying "Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits" on the 1st of every month (or variations thereof). Growing up in Yorkshire (Middlebrough) in the 1940s, this was a tradition in my family which has been maintained with my children (now living in Canada). The challenge was always to be the first to say "Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits". I am currently living in Trinidad where my wife discovered from her high school class that the same tradition has been well known here for many years & is still widespread. Another teacher (now in his thirties) remembers it well when he was a child. I now wonder whether this exists in other parts of the former Commonwealth (having been "exported" at a time when the "colonies" were still a reality).

: I've never heard this expression in my part of the U.S. -- West Virginia and Kentucky.

in Bedfordshire it was white rabbit.

also - kids would give a moderately forceful punch and pinch along with saying 'a pinch and a punch for the 1st of the month and no return'
the rule was that one had to allow it - but if you had said white rabbit, they were not allowed to do it and if they forgot to say 'no return' you could do it back!

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