Why do people think a rabbit's foot is lucky? The rabbit who owned it clearly wasn't.?

Question

Why do people think a rabbit's foot is lucky? The rabbit who owned it clearly wasn't.?

Answer 1

At least it was only a foot and nothing else!

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

This is way too long to answer but a complete history of the rabbit foot beliefs can be found at

www.buzzle.com/editorials/5-16-2004

It is a good read when you have time.

Answer 4

you`ve got that right , buggie...!

Answer 5

lol

Answer 6

Haha lmao. But seriously I think the actual tradition was celtic, a hares foot. This was mixed up and made a rabbits foot after Boudicca was destroyed!