Phrases & Sayings

white rabbits

Where does this saying come from?

johnandy75 Thurs 01/07/04 11:03

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Quizmonster
Thurs 01/07/04
12:32

The 'white rabbits' good luck chorus certainly sounds ancient, but the fact remains that it appears nowhere in English print before 1959! Yes, the reference was in the Opies' book about schoolchildrens' "lore", but, if it was truly old, one would certainly expect there to have been some reference to it or use of it in earlier literature. The single word 'rabbits' did appear in the same context earlier but not before 1920 either. This is one of these things with an air of the historic about it which it does not truly deserve. The "tradition" of saying these particular words on the first of a month for luck is, at most perhaps, about a century old, despite the fact that ideas about sacred rabbits may have existed earlier.

paulz
Thurs 01/07/04
12:32

Johnandy - I'm sure QM will know more, but try copy & pasting this link http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/20/messages/73.html

http://littleurl.com/?019u for starters

paulz
Thurs 01/07/04
12:35

QM - simultaneous postings!!

Quizmonster
Thurs 01/07/04
12:38

Ah! A bit of "synchrography" there, Paulz! I see, also, that your attempt to provide a link was no more successful than mine was in the 'Food & Drink' category earlier this morning. We seem to have lost that facility in the Brave New AnswerBank World. I'll note the URL you provided and type it in soon. Cheers

inferno
Thurs 01/07/04
13:20

You can cut and paste the links

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