Sitting rabbit in front of white background

Could the superstitious phrase “rabbit rabbit” have influenced the outcome of the 1932 U.S. presidential election? Some, including President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, seemed to believe it could. There’s a tradition of saying “rabbit rabbit” on the first day of the month to ensure good luck for the days ahead, and journalists documented FDR’s practice of reciting the phrase, as well as carrying a lucky rabbit’s foot (which is now on display at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum). That year, he made history as the first Democratic candidate in 80 years to secure both the Electoral College and the popular vote — though whether luck had anything to do with it is anyone’s guess.

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Regardless, the president wasn’t alone in his devotion to the lagomorphic phrase. During World War II, British fighter pilots reportedly recited “rabbit rabbit” before taking flight, hoping for a successful mission. The first print citation seems to be in a 1909 British periodical: A reader’s submission recounts a story of how their child would say “rabbit” on the first day of the month, believing it would bring good fortune as the first word spoken. 

But this superstitious belief in rabbits surpasses modern Western culture. In Chinese tradition, the rabbit is regarded as the luckiest of the 12 animals in the zodiac. Across many ancient cultures, the rabbit symbolized fertility and life, and in modern symbolism, rabbits serve as a beacon for the coming spring and a religious representation of renewal. All of these beliefs contribute to the enduring superstition that rabbits are harbingers of good fortune.

According to its adherents, saying “rabbit rabbit” is most effective when recited upon waking up on the first of the month. But if you forget to say it, don’t worry. According to NPR, saying “black rabbit” or “tibbar tibbar” (“rabbit” spelled backward) before bed will still do the trick in keeping any misfortune at bay for the month ahead.

Featured image credit: MediaProduction/ iStock
Rachel Gresh
Freelance Writer
Rachel is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer. When she's not writing, you can find her wandering through a museum, exploring a new city, or advocating the importance of the Oxford comma.
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