My wife’s family is from Australia, and on the first of each month it is a tradition for them to say “Happy Month White Rabbit!” Has anyone else ever heard this saying? Is it strictly an Australian saying? What on Earth does it mean? I can understand the “Happy Month” part, but the “white rabbit” bit has us stumped. She has no idea where it came from, just that her mother said it to her as a girl.
White rabbit(s) is also used in the UK, but you only say it when there is a R in the month.
Used mainly by kids though.
My mum (from Colorado) has always said “Happy Rabbit Rabbit Day!” on the first day of the new month. Don’t know where it came from, either, but maybe it’s related.
Snicks
Oh yeah, you’re meant to say it for good luck.
I still firmly believe that the reason I was never eaten by the monsters under the bed because of my observance of the white rabbits ritual. Billy from next door forgot once and I never saw him again.
Okay, so there was a mover’s van outside his house, but monsters under the bed are clever like that.
I always say it for luck, if I remember. You can’t have too much luck, now can you?
I grew up in rural Australia and spent much of my life there, I have never heard of this before.
“Rabbit, rabbit” before your feet hit the floor on the first day of the month. I learned about it from a college friend from the deep south (Georgia).
According to Paul Fussell’s Wartime: Understanding and Behavior in the Second World War, the practice of saying “rabbits” or “white rabbits” first thing on waking on the first day of every month was thought by British troops to bring luck.
Weird, I’ve never met anyone else who ever did this, but in my family, on the first of any month, we’d say “White rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits!” My mom had no idea why; we’re of Irish/English/Canadian descent, but it was just “what you do” on the first.
Everyone else always looked at me like I was nuts. Good to see it’s not just me!
Yes I read about it in the Trixie Belden series of books years ago…on the first of the month she was to climb over the foot of her bed and say “Rabbit rabbit” before saying anything else. And she was annoyed because she forgot to do it.
Well, I’m Australian born and bred, and I’ve never heard anyone talk about rabbits on the first of the month.
You didn’t mention where she came from. Bearing in mind that Australia is roughly the same size as North America, there’s a lot of regional variance.
I’ve got family and friends in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, and my family are South Australian… but maybe it’s an odd regional thing from one of the other states or territories? There’s not always a lot of crossover. For example, I personally know some folks from far north South Australia who, in casual and relaxed conversation, use phrases that people living only a few hours south of them would find archaic or forced. Still, it’s as natural as breathing to them to use those phrases. They also have a speech pattern which is recognisably different on occasion to those living closer to the city.
Basically, you can’t just say ‘is this Australian?’ and expect a definitive answer, any more than I can say ‘hey, do Americans really eat bacon with maple syrup on top?’. Some places you do, some places you don’t - and the places where you don’t, people are going to raise their eyebrows and go ‘what a stupid idea!’.
Which is exactly what I did upon seeing the white rabbit thing. 
I agree with Khiadra. I’ve lived all my life in Australia (except for three years in New Zealand), and I have friends and family all across the country in the various states and territories. I’ve never heard of the White Rabbit / first of the month practice.
My British grandma told me that “rabbits rabbits” had to be the first thing I said on the first of the month if I wanted good luck.
I thought she was silly, but apparently it’s a legitimate cultural phenomenon. I’ll have to call her tomorrow!
Definitely heard of Rabbit, Rabbit. When I was in elementary school, all of the classes had animals as their mascots. So in Third grade we were Ms. F’s Frogs. She taught us to say, “Ribbit, Ribbit” Of course, now I always forget to say either.
-Lil
My wife’s family is from Sydney, FWIW.
Thanks for the answers, and “Happy Month White Rabbit!” belatedly.
I remember saying White Rabbit White Rabbit around a campfire to get the smoke to stop coming into your face… anyone else use it for that?
For us, it was “I hate white rabbits” and was to prevent the BBQ smoke.
Wow. Flashback to lower school.
I was told you say 3 “rabbits” to begin the month.
Western Canadian here who heard this from my grade 3 teacher. The important bit, in her telling, was that you have to say it first thing in the morning before you open your eyes. Lo, these many years later, and I’ve still never managed to do this.
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Oh, come on. Now, before you accuse me of not respecting that there is regional variance in Australia let me say this: YES, OF COURSE there is regional variance in Australia.
BUT, COME ON!
To suggest that Australia’s diversity is analogous to that of North America based on the fact that its size is analogous to North America is just silly. Yes, Australia is very big, it is very big indeed. But, with the exception of a handful of people in Perth, almost everyone lives on the East Coast, the three states with actual names and the ACT (“South Australia” is not a name, it’s just a description of what part of the country we’re talking about. Ditto W.A., N.T.). Australians only seem different to other Australians, to the rest of the world you’re just Australians. Regarding your North America analogy, a Texan and a Quebecer would come across as quite different no matter who is viewing them.
If plnnr had never heard the phrase before, then hears it from a bunch of Australians, then it is perfectly reasonable for him to ask (he’s just asking he hasn’t made any assumptions) if it is an Australian thing.
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Regarding the OP: Count me as another who has heard the “Rabbit, Rabbit” thing but has not heard the “Happy Month White Rabbit” thing.