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white rabbits


you have to say it on the first day of any month which contains the letter R: White rabbits!

Contributor's comments: re- "white rabbits" the expression I grew up with was "black cats, white rabbits" - to be said 13 times on a full moon (my grandmother taught this to my mother and mum passed it on to us.)

Contributor's comments: Definitely not just Melbourne regionalism. I have heard it from New Zealand friends who believe it has an English origin.

Contributor's comments: Ok white rabbit to me was similar to 'bar', but is more commonly said, when you don't want to be pinched and punched for the first day of the month, or when in a game of 'punch buggie' white rabbit had to be said otherwise you copped a smack in the arm. Like 'bar' in tiggy where you can't be touched if you are 'bar' white rabbit is said if you want to remain safe in the game. It allows you to get other people but they can't get you.

Contributor's comments: To my knowledge, white rabbits had to be the first thing spoken on the first day of any given month. If you didn't say this and perhaps said good morning instead then bad luck would ensue for the coming month. Also used when sitting around a campfire and smoke blew in one's face to make the smoke change direction.

Contributor's comments: White rabbits is also used in the phrase "I hate white rabbits" repeated over and over when the wind is blowing the smoke of a camp fire into the persons face until the person moves or the wind changes direction.