"In Europe, the tradition of carrying the foot of a rabbit probably stems from ancient totemic beliefs that humans descended from animals, and particular tribes had their origins in specific species. A tribe worshiped its animal ancestor, and carried parts of that animal as protective totems.
The Celts, by around 600 B.C., are known to have associated rabbits with good fortune- the whole rabbit, not just the foot. According to Celtic folklore, the fact that rabbits lived in burrows deep underground meant that they were in direct communication with the gods and spirits of the underworld.
From here, it isn’t clear whether this contributed to the very modern practice of the lucky rabbit’s foot that popped up around the turn of the twentieth century in America. These Celtic beliefs did evolve somewhat, carrying over into certain other European cultures. For instance, in the 16th century, there is a work by Reginald Scot that mentions that a good way to ease the pain of arthritis was to carry around a rabbit’s foot.
It’s possible this was then blended with aspects of African American folk magic. Or, it may be that the specific lucky rabbit’s foot tradition simply came from traditions in the African folk magic that were unrelated to the European traditions associated with the rabbit. We just don’t have the hard documented evidence to be able to discern the exact lineage. But, in either case, it is generally thought that African folk magic played a role in the modern tradition, and possibly is the most direct ancestor to the superstition.
In hoodoo (note: not voodoo), which was an American mash-up of African folk spirituality and certain European traditions, a rabbit’s foot came to be a common item used for various things. Probably from this, around the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, rabbit’s feet started being associated among the wider populace more exclusively with luck Not just any foot would do, however." Oh, my!
Another reason to love technology and all of the fun stuff we can Google!
OOPS,"Lucky Peter" is SOLD! I would love to create a special rabbit painting just for you.Please contact me from this website, blog, or call the number listed below for more information!
Blessings,
Sandra Cutrer Fine Art
sandracutrer.com
979-236-2907
