How come rabbits are the only lucky animal's feet?

Question

Have you ever seen anyone with another severed animal's foot dangling on their keychain? What types of animals would be acceptable?

Answer 1

Lucky for who, not the rabbit certainly.

Answer 2

it aint too luckey 4 da rabbit, it is so sad tho... did ya ever c a one legged rabbit?

Answer 3

The belief originates in the system of African-American folk magic known as hoodoo. A number of strictures attached to the charm that are now observed mostly in the breach:

    * First, not any foot from a rabbit will do: it is the left hind foot of a rabbit that is useful as a charm.

    * Second, not any left hind foot of a rabbit will do; the rabbit must have been shot or otherwise captured in a cemetery.

    * Third, at least according to some sources, not any left hind foot of a rabbit shot in a cemetery will do: the phase of the moon is also important. Some authorities say that the rabbit must be taken in the full moon, while others hold instead that the rabbit must be taken in the new moon. Some sources say instead that the rabbit must be taken on a Friday, or a rainy Friday, or Friday the 13th. Some sources say that the rabbit should be shot with a silver bullet, while others say that the foot must be cut off while the rabbit is still alive.[1]

The various rituals suggested by the sources, though they differ widely one from another, share a common element of the uncanny, and the reverse of what is considered good-omened and auspicious. A rabbit is an animal into which shapeshifting witches such as Isobel Gowdie claimed to be able to transform themselves. Witches were said to be active at the times of the full and new moon. Silver bullets, of course, are reputed to be sovereign against uncanny creatures such as werewolves.

Answer 4

I think its just convenient that its a nice small animal who foot is lucky, I mean can you imagine if you someone said kangaroos feet were lucky and people put them on key chains!

Similarly I heard that elephants feet are unlucky some even think theyre cursed, yeah you say, what kind of mad person would have an elephant foot, but apparantly when the ivory trade was at its height they would also turn the elephants feet into large containers that people used for umbrella stands and such. http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/Popu...

Answer 5

The belief originates in the system of African-American folk magic known as hoodoo. A number of strictures attached to the charm that are now observed mostly in the breach:

First, not any old foot from a rabbit will do: it is the left hind foot of a rabbit that is useful as a charm.

Second, not any left hind foot of a rabbit will do; the rabbit must have been shot or otherwise captured in a cemetery.

Third, at least according to some sources, not any left hind foot of a rabbit shot in a cemetery will do: the phase of the moon is also important. Some authorities say that the rabbit must be taken in the full moon, while others hold instead that the rabbit must be taken in the new moon. Some sources say instead that the rabbit must be taken on a Friday, or a rainy Friday, or Friday the 13th. Some sources say that the rabbit should be shot with a silver bullet, while others say that the foot must be cut off while the rabbit is still alive.

And how about horseshoes??  Horseshoes are considered a good luck charm in many cultures and its shape, fabrication, placement and manner of sourcing are all important. A common tradition is that if a horseshoe is hung on a door with the two ends pointing up (as shown here) then good luck will occur. However, if the two ends point downwards then bad luck will occur. Traditions do differ on this point, though. In some cultures, the horseshoe is hung points down (so the luck pours onto you); in others, it is hung points up (so the luck doesn't fall out); still in others it doesn't matter so long as the horseshoe has been used (not new), was found (not purchased), and can be touched. In all traditions, luck is contained in the shoe and can pour out through the ends.

Answer 6

if their feet were suppose to be 'lucky', then they wouldn't have it choped off.

Answer 7

They're not.  Turkey legs are lucky too.

Answer 8

Who knows? It's a pagan superstition, there's no actual logic behind it. No doubt there's a story behind why rabbits came to be regarded as lucky.

It's not just any old rabbit's foot by the way, has to be the left foot of a rabbit taken at a full moon and/or a friday or something like that. Superstition.

Chalice

Answer 9

rabbits are just cool like that