“Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” is a saying performed on the first of each month to ensure good luck for the entire month.”

Context

“I’m pretty sure my mom is the one who started saying it – it’s an English tradition and she’s from India, so I don’t 100% know where she got it from, though. We differ in what exactly the rules are – I say you just have to say it first thing [in the morning], but my mom says someone has to hear you say it.”

Analysis

Wishes and rituals for good fortune or luck are universal. If your luck turns around, theoretically it would affect every aspect of your life. Wealth, romance, career prospects, health… there’s no need for a fortune teller when the universe seems to favor you. Luck covers a lot of bases, so it makes sense that it would be something to wish for.

Rabbits are, historically, creatures that embody luck. Holding onto a rabbit’s foot is said to bring you good fortune. Thankfully, saying the animal’s name three times at the start of the month helps avoid possible animal cruelty. Still, it’s important to note the thematic, rabbit-y overlap between two luck-based superstitions, as it shows how rituals that cover the same areas can draw from the same inspiration, but be performed differently.

Speaking of performing differently, it’s interesting to see the divergence in this superstition between the informant and his mother. Even within family units, the exact specifics surrounding a superstition can differ and be performed differently. For the informant, it’s enough to invoke the saying to only the universe. For the informant’s mother, the act only works if another is there to witness it. Why does this difference exist? Did the informant’s mother re-interpret the ritual when she adopted it? Did the informant develop their own version of the superstition after interacting with other demonstrations of it?