2007-04-30 16:24:41 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
This is what Wikipedia says:
"The exact origin of the superstition is certainly unknown, though it has appeared in print at least as early as 1420 in England, where it is most commonly said to have originated, though some reports place its origins even earlier, into the 1200s. Today it has spread to most of the English-speaking countries of the world, although like all folklore, determining its exact area of distribution is difficult. The superstition is related to the broader belief in the rabbit or hare being a “lucky” animal, as exhibited in the practice of carrying a rabbit's foot for luck."
Two other sites I checked out had the origin much more recent, by centuries, and attributed it to African origins.
2007-04-30 20:32:57 · answer #1 · answered by Lili 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know, the rabbit's foot is lucky, because the hare is the totem animal of a Goddess name Eostre, who is the Goddess that Easter was named after, and also the Easter Bunny originated with her as well. To carry a rabbit's foot would be an amulet to invoke her aid and protection....
2007-05-01 00:51:36 · answer #2 · answered by beatlefan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I give merit to the first two reply that you received. I have caught rabbit by their feet and it was pretty lucky. Also the reply concerning self amputation is a very true happening among many animals. Maybe the origin is a combination of the two.
Luck for the one who caught Rabbit and luck for the Rabbit that got away.
GLoW
2007-04-30 17:08:55 · answer #3 · answered by GLoW 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Supposedly a trapped Rabbit will chew off it's foot that was caught to get away thus making the Rabbit lucky it had gotten away.
2007-04-30 16:34:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
77 CE is the first, in print, mention of the Rabbits Foot. Pliny states, as translared in 1857 "Gout, may be allayed by the patient always carrying about a Hare's Foot.
2007-04-30 17:20:07 · answer #5 · answered by Terry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever caught a rabbit and been able to get its foot? If you can you must be pretty lucky.
2007-04-30 16:32:27 · answer #6 · answered by bernel1403 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I by no skill understood how the homicide of a animal could convey success to the bearer of its physique factors so this one attracts a clean from me by using fact it particular became into no longer fortunate for the unfavorable bunny.
2016-10-14 05:46:58 · answer #7 · answered by andresen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋