Why Do People Say “Rabbit Rabbit” on the First of the Month?

 

Rabbit rabbit.

There.

If you're reading this on October 1, perhaps we've just improved your chances for the month ahead.

Or perhaps I've completely confused you.

Every first of the month, you'll see people post two seemingly random words:

Rabbit rabbit.

Sometimes it's:

Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit.

Other people insist on:

White rabbits.

And somewhere, inevitably, there's someone who has absolutely no idea why everyone suddenly appears obsessed with rabbits.

There's actually a tradition behind it.

According to an old superstition, saying "rabbit rabbit" as your first words on the morning of the first day of a new month is supposed to bring good luck for the rest of that month.

That's the simple explanation.

Where the tradition actually came from?

That's considerably more mysterious.

What Does “Rabbit Rabbit” Mean?

"Rabbit rabbit" is essentially a spoken good-luck charm.

The traditional rule goes something like this:

Wake up on the first day of a new month.

Before saying anything else, say:

"Rabbit rabbit."

Congratulations.

According to the superstition, you've just invited good luck into the month ahead.

Of course, there's no scientific evidence that saying the names of two small mammals before breakfast affects the universe.

That's not really the point.

It's folklore.

And like many pieces of folklore, the ritual has survived because people continue passing it from one person to another.

When Are You Supposed to Say “Rabbit Rabbit”?

This is where serious rabbit practitioners may become surprisingly strict.

You're traditionally supposed to say it:

on the first day of the month

and

before saying anything else.

Ideally, they're the first words out of your mouth after waking.

So if October 1 arrives and your first sentence is:

"Where did I put my phone?"

You may already have blown it.

At least according to the strict version of the superstition.

Other versions are considerably more forgiving.

That's another characteristic of folklore.

There usually isn't a central office issuing official Rabbit Rabbit regulations.

Where Did “Rabbit Rabbit” Come From?

Nobody knows for certain.

That's important because you'll find plenty of very confident origin stories online.

The historical record isn't nearly as certain.

One of the earliest widely cited written references appeared in the British publication Notes and Queries in 1909.

A parent described children saying "rabbits" on the first day of each month for good luck.

One version involved saying the words up a chimney in hopes of receiving a present.

That tells us something useful.

The custom was already circulating in Britain by the early 20th century.

But it doesn't necessarily tell us who invented it.

Or why they chose rabbits.

Folklore often exists for years, sometimes generations, before somebody bothers to write it down.

Why Rabbits?

That's the million-carrot question.

We don't really know.

Several theories have been suggested.

Rabbits Have Long Been Connected With Luck

Rabbits and hares appear throughout folklore and superstition.

One of the most familiar examples is the belief that carrying a rabbit's foot brings good luck.

That makes rabbits an understandable candidate for another good-luck ritual.

But there's no solid historical evidence proving that the first-of-the-month saying developed directly from the rabbit's-foot tradition.

Rabbits Represent Fertility and Renewal

Rabbits are famously prolific animals.

Because of that, they've become symbols of:

fertility,

abundance,

spring,

new life,

and renewal.

A new month represents a new beginning too.

So invoking an animal associated with abundance and renewal at the beginning of a fresh month sounds almost poetic.

It's a compelling interpretation.

It just isn't a proven origin.

Rabbits Have Appeared in Folklore for Centuries

Rabbits and hares have accumulated all sorts of meanings across different cultures.

Sometimes lucky.

Sometimes magical.

Sometimes connected with fertility.

Sometimes associated with the moon.

And occasionally they were considered unlucky.

That's why it's difficult to point to one ancient rabbit belief and declare:

That's where Rabbit Rabbit came from.

The historical trail simply isn't that neat.

Is It “Rabbit Rabbit” or “White Rabbit”?

Apparently, even superstition has regional variations.

You might hear:

Rabbit rabbit

Rabbit rabbit rabbit

Rabbits

White rabbit

White rabbits

or even

Rabbit rabbit white rabbit.

Folklore archives contain different versions passed through families and communities.

Some people say it twice.

Others insist on three times.

Some say "white rabbits."

The basic idea remains the same:

Start the month with rabbits and hope luck follows.

Why Do Some People Say It Three Times?

Three has long held symbolic importance in stories, religion, folklore and superstition.

Think:

three wishes,

three little pigs,

three bears,

three trials,

three chances.

So it's unsurprising that some versions of the tradition eventually became:

Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit.

But you don't necessarily need the third rabbit.

Two seems to be doing perfectly respectable work.

Was Franklin D. Roosevelt a “Rabbit Rabbit” Person?

Apparently so.

One of the most famous people associated with the tradition was U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

A 1935 British newspaper report claimed Roosevelt said "Rabbits" on the first of every month and wouldn't want to miss doing it.

Roosevelt was also known for carrying a rabbit's foot.

So even presidents aren't immune to a little superstition.

Is “Rabbit Rabbit” British or American?

The earliest widely cited written evidence points to Britain.

But the custom eventually became established in parts of the United States as well.

Family traditions helped keep it alive.

Someone learns it from a parent.

Then teaches their children.

A teacher tells a classroom.

A friend tells another friend.

Eventually nobody remembers where they originally heard it.

That's basically folklore doing its job.

In the United States, the saying has historically been particularly associated with parts of New England, although versions have been recorded elsewhere.

The USC Digital Folklore Archives, for example, contains accounts from Americans who learned the tradition through parents, teachers or friends.

Nickelodeon Helped Introduce It to Another Generation

If you grew up watching Nickelodeon during the 1990s, you may have encountered the superstition there.

The network reportedly featured the tradition during its "Nick Days" segments explaining unusual holidays and calendar traditions.

For some American children, that may have been their introduction to Rabbit Rabbit.

Which is a wonderful example of how folklore evolves.

Something once passed between families and communities can suddenly be transmitted by television.

Today?

Social media does the job.

Why Does “Rabbit Rabbit” Keep Appearing on Social Media?

Because the internet was practically designed for traditions like this.

It's short.

It's weird.

It's harmless.

It's easy to remember.

And it happens every month.

On the first, someone posts:

Rabbit rabbit 🐇🐇

Someone else replies:

"I forgot again."

Another person asks:

"Why are we saying rabbit?"

And another generation discovers the superstition.

Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook and group chats have essentially become modern versions of the communities that traditionally passed folklore from person to person.

The medium changed.

The rabbit survived.

What Happens If You Forget to Say “Rabbit Rabbit”?

This may be the most important question.

Imagine waking up.

It's October 1.

You stretch.

You look outside.

And then you say:

"Good morning."

Disaster.

Your rabbits have been compromised.

Fortunately, folklore being folklore, people have invented solutions.

One variation says you can say:

"Tibbar tibbar."

That's "rabbit rabbit" backwards.

Some versions say you should do this before going to sleep on the first.

Other traditions involve saying different-colored rabbits at night.

There isn't a universally accepted recovery procedure.

Which makes sense.

We're dealing with imaginary monthly rabbit luck, not renewing a passport.

Personally, I think you're allowed to continue with your month.

Does Saying “Rabbit Rabbit” Actually Bring Good Luck?

There's no scientific evidence that saying "rabbit rabbit" changes what happens during the following month.

But rituals don't always survive because people literally believe they're controlling reality.

Sometimes rituals give people:

something to anticipate,

a sense of continuity,

a connection with family,

a playful tradition,

or a symbolic fresh start.

The first of the month already feels like a miniature reset.

New calendar page.

New goals.

New bills, unfortunately.

Saying two silly words can become a tiny ritual marking that transition.

Why Do Humans Love Good-Luck Rituals?

Think about how many small rituals people carry through life.

Athletes wear lucky socks.

Students use a favorite pen for exams.

Someone knocks on wood.

Another person avoids walking beneath ladders.

Someone makes a wish before blowing out birthday candles.

Someone else crosses their fingers.

Most of us probably have at least one behavior that makes absolutely no logical difference but somehow feels reassuring.

Psychologists have studied rituals and found that structured repetitive behaviors can sometimes help people manage uncertainty or anxiety, particularly in situations where outcomes aren't completely under their control.

Rabbit Rabbit fits comfortably into that human tendency.

You're entering another month.

You have absolutely no idea what will happen.

Might as well bring the rabbits.

Rabbit Rabbit as a Monthly Reset

Maybe there's another reason the tradition continues to feel appealing.

Every first of the month offers a psychological checkpoint.

You can ask:

What went well last month?

What didn't?

What do I want to change?

What am I looking forward to?

What have I been postponing?

The superstition doesn't need to be literally true to become a useful ritual.

You could say:

Rabbit rabbit.

Then choose one intention for the month.

Read more.

Move more.

Call your parents.

Save some money.

Apply for the job.

Finish the project.

Start the project.

Rest.

Whatever you need.

Suddenly an old superstition becomes a modern reset.

Other Strange Good-Luck Traditions

Rabbit Rabbit isn't alone.

Humans have developed wonderfully strange ways of inviting good fortune.

Depending on where you are in the world, people might:

knock on wood,

carry lucky charms,

throw salt over a shoulder,

cross their fingers,

avoid certain numbers,

wear particular colors,

eat symbolic foods,

or perform rituals before important events.

Different cultures develop different traditions.

But the underlying desire is remarkably similar.

We'd all like the universe to cooperate occasionally.

Should You Start Saying “Rabbit Rabbit”?

You don't need to believe in luck.

That's part of the charm.

It takes approximately one second.

No subscription.

No equipment.

No complicated morning routine.

Just remember that when you wake up on November 1, your first words should be:

Rabbit rabbit.

Although now that you've read this article, there's a decent chance you'll spend the night of October 31 thinking:

"Don't forget the rabbits."

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do people say “rabbit rabbit” on the first of the month?

According to a longstanding superstition, saying "rabbit rabbit" as your first words on the first morning of a new month is supposed to bring good luck for the rest of that month.

When should you say “rabbit rabbit”?

Traditionally, you're supposed to say it immediately after waking on the first day of the month, before saying anything else.

Where did the Rabbit Rabbit tradition originate?

Its exact origin is unknown. One of the earliest widely cited written references appeared in the British journal Notes and Queries in 1909, describing children saying "rabbits" on the first day of the month for luck.

Do you say “rabbit rabbit” twice or three times?

Both versions exist. Some people say "rabbit rabbit," others say "rabbit rabbit rabbit," while other variations include "rabbits" and "white rabbits."

What if you forget to say “rabbit rabbit”?

Some versions of the folklore suggest saying "tibbar tibbar," or "rabbit rabbit" backwards, later on the first day. Like most folklore, however, the rules vary.

Did Franklin D. Roosevelt say “rabbit rabbit”?

Historical reports have associated President Franklin D. Roosevelt with the custom of saying "rabbits" on the first of the month. He was also known for carrying a rabbit's foot as a good-luck charm.

Is Rabbit Rabbit scientifically proven?

No. There's no scientific evidence that saying the phrase produces good luck. It's a folk superstition and cultural tradition rather than a scientifically established phenomenon.

The Pyteline Take

Maybe Rabbit Rabbit has survived because it's exactly the kind of superstition we need.

Nothing frightening.

Nothing complicated.

Nothing demanding.

Just two ridiculous words whispered into a brand-new month.

There's something strangely lovely about that.

People have been waking up, remembering their rabbits and hoping the next few weeks treat them kindly for more than a century of recorded history.

Parents taught children.

Friends taught friends.

Television introduced another generation.

Now social media keeps the ritual hopping along.

And perhaps that's more interesting than whether the superstition actually works.

Because every month, somewhere, someone wakes up and decides that this month might be lucky.

Maybe that's the real tradition.

A tiny moment of optimism.

A fresh beginning.

Another chance.

So, October?

Rabbit rabbit. 🐇🐇