Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit

The first time I heard of “rabbit rabbit” on the first day of the month, I learned it from my friend Jo. A longtime conjure student, she asked me if I’d said it on the first of some month. I forgot about the practice - I certainly saw the occasional rabbit in San Francisco. Still, raccoons, coyotes, and the odd dolphin crossed my path a bit more in the City. In Michigan, the reminders hit differently, especially since a certain rabbit has, as far as I can tell, been playing with my dog, other gardeners, and several drivers in a Tom and Jerryesque relationship all summer. I refuse to chase it because if Michigan rabbits are like the northwestern Indiana rabbits, I knew growing up, that I would choose a different fool’s errand.

Not a lot of folklore I’ve learned within the cultures I’ve been exposed to over the years has originated from North America. So while I know some Conjure folks will practice it, I had a feeling the rabbit roots went somewhere else. While no way a deep-dive, I thought it interesting that according to the Dartmouth Folklore Archive, in England, you say “Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit,” ensuring good luck for the month. Perhaps that extra rabbit is necessary to get that luck. The same source also shares a tidbit about invoking the rabbit three times before taking a test - a tidbit I intend to share with my boys!

According to Dictionary.com, the phrase may be swapped for white rabbits or the words spoken backward if you forget to say them. Also, as you fall asleep, invoking the rabbit’s cousin on the last day of the month, the hare is also meant to ensure luck.

Whether Rabbit and Hare can give more of the good or remove the bad, whatever you believe about luck - bunnies have power. Based on my experience with the bunny photographed, some of that is the power of not giving a f*.