Today we have the Easter Bunny, who leaves brightly colored eggs and candies, clearly a combination of ancient symbols: the egg and the rabbit, representing new and abundant life. Her symbols were the rabbit and the egg, as well as various flowers. Her feast was celebrated at the Vernal Equinox, the first light of spring. The Germanic/Celtic goddess Ostara or Eostre (pictured) represented spring and dawn. A female rabbit can have forty babies a year. In antiquity, the rabbit was widely seen as a symbol of fertility and abundance because rabbits breed, well, like rabbits. For purposes of myth, they’re very similar.) (I’m using rabbit and hare as equivalents in this post although I understand they are different species in the same family. It’s true that rabbits were very important in these cultures’ stories. Some claim it’s related to the rabbit/hare myths from Europe, China, and Latin America. Historians debate the origin of the rabbit’s foot charm. But the rabbit’s foot has a fascinating history. Today, carrying around part of a dead animal is considered more creepy than lucky, so the charm is less popular. Later versions were often dyed bright colors. The rabbit’s foot, usually the left hind foot, was attached to a metal collar and fitted with a chain. Even those who claim they are not superstitious may cling to certain rituals before a big event, like playing a favorite song, repeating a certain phrase, carrying a photo of a loved one, wearing a “lucky” piece of clothing, getting dressed all left side first, or carrying an object infused with personal or religious meaning.Ĭertain objects became easily recognizable good luck charms, including a four-leaf clover, a horseshoe, and a rabbit’s foot. We think of ourselves as rational people, yet tradition and custom whisper that specific practices can and do influence the course of events.

I was taught that made the good luck run out. In France, people tack horseshoes on the barn door with the opening facing down. (My mother told me it made the Blessed Mother cry!) In Hawaii, you shouldn’t whistle at night because it angers Pele, the god of fire. In Russia, you shouldn’t whistle indoors because it will bring down financial ruin on the house.

Around the world, people believe certain activities bring good luck and others bring bad luck.

Are lucky rabbits foot real