Sunday, January 30, 2011

White Rabbit! White Rabbit!

White Rabbit! White Rabbit! Have you heard that saying before? I never did until I was in Virginia for the show in November. A lady purchased one of my Lady Sophia Snowflake ornaments to give to her daughter in law for Christmas. She told me that they all have this crazy thing they do on the first of every month. They try to be the first one to call the other and say "White Rabbit! White Rabbit!"

Apparently saying white rabbit, white rabbit on the first of the month is for good luck. My friend Juliet Wilson sent me a lovely handmade book filled with her poems and HAIKU about rabbits. This is one of them.

First of the month-
saying "rabbit, white rabbit
white rabbit" for luck

Then another friend of mine, Melody Daly, told me this was very popular in Australia and England. Apparently people try to be the first to pinch or punch each other before mid day on the first. The other person can't pinch or punch you back if you say, "no returns, white rabbits." Melody and her husband have a competion going on to see who can win the most times. Fun!

As usual, anything dealing with rabbits always gets my attention. I thought it would be a fun way to introduce a piece of my new Rabbit Art to you each month. Each piece will be one of a kind and feature rabbits in one way or another. Some may be larger than others. I may make the design again, but it will be in a different color scheme. Maybe.. maybe not. Either way, there will only be ONE for sale and it will be a one of a kind.

A little clue for February's white rabbit??? Well, if you liked this piece, you may be interested in the next piece in the series.

February 1st, White Rabbit White Rabbit! Good luck!

A very special thank you to my friend Catherine Baynes for giving me the beautiful rabbit pin featured as my white rabbit. Hop over and visit with Catherine for her fun post on the year of the rabbit and to see her beautiful stitchery patterns. You'll love them!

Have a fun day everybun and see ya Tuesday!
xx, shell, sugie and harrington

23 comments:

BubzRugz said...

We always did the pinch and punch but I hadn't heard of the white rabbit part... you design is looking lovely....
Hugz

Barb said...

I enjoyed your post and so love your designs...

Jo in TAS said...

"A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month" Hee! Hee! I always get my sone first
Hugs
Jo

Miss Petula Pie said...

Great!!!

Hugs
Miss Petula Pie

Sparklyjools said...

Yes, we say 'white rabbit" must be the first thing you say when you wake up to bring good luck Shell. I would love to know the origin of this, will have to do some sleuthing....

Rebecka said...

I enjoyed your post. Always learning new things! I'm loving the white on the black. Thinking that would look good in my black, gray and white sewing room.

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

This is TOO CUTE and I love the idea "OTHER THAN THE PUNCH", that would not be acceptable... We don't want to see anyone other than Sugie Bun Bun with black eyes!
Big Bunny Hugs to you,
Donna

Melody said...

I've been looking forward to White Rabbit and it is exciting it has arrived. Everything you do is so wonderful. I've stitched my first 12 of Hearts and just love it.

gail said...

Hi Shell, I just recently heard about the "White Rabbit, White Rabbit" thing a couple months ago at work. LOL I adore that quilt wall hanging with Peter Peter the pumpkins eaters. :)
Thanks for stopping by for a visit. I hope you have a very pretty week.
Happy Creating, (()) Gail

Allie said...

I've heard "rabbit, rabbit" but never heard of the pinching or punching - so glad we never started that here, lol!!! LOVE your rabbit art, Shell!

SheilaC said...

I actually have heard of this! One of the teachers I worked with last year would always say this! Funny how these traditions start.

Have a fun week!

SheilaC

RG said...

So, back in 1436, in lower France, there lived an old crone, Gervois Blanc, who scared children on the first day of each month, for her living expenses. (The children's parents paid her well, because the children usually behaved for most of the rest of the month.) She had a white rabbit she carried with her always and when the children saw it they tried to be the first to ... oh, you get it!

Juliet is my long-distance, Internet Environmental Writing teacher and could I even come close to her poetry!

Peggi said...

How funny! I had forgotten about a goofy little custom we had at Girl Scout Camp - until this reminded me. When the campfire smoke blew in your face, you'd have to say "I'm not a white rabbit, I'm not a white rabbit, I'm not a white rabbit!" And it was supposed to make the smoke blow in a different direction. Of course, by the time you said that 3 times, the smoke was usually blowing in a different direction...

aprilmecheelesdulllife said...

great post and i love white rabbits !!!

Jade said...

I've heard of "rabbit, rabbit" both as what you're supposed to say for luck first thing on the first of the month ANS as what you're supposed to say to keep campfire smoke from getting in your face.

Mr. Mick says "rabbit, rabbit" should only be used when calling your bunny to give them treats. He also says giving treats to your rabbit is very lucky no matter what day of the month.

Crafty Green Poet said...

when I saw the title of your post I thought it was February already and I'd lost track of the date! Thankfully not! Thanks for the mention and for posting my haiku!

Marijke van Ooijen said...

Hay dear rabbitfriend,

I love this white rabbit...and I love this post..it's lovely!

With love,

Marijke

Brynwood Needleworks said...

Nothin' like seeing your beautiful bunns on a Monday morning, girlfriend! hee hee Your pin is really nice...perfectly "you".
Have a great week. Talk to you again soon.
xoxo
Donna

Lisa said...

I've been wondering what your white rabbit Icon on the side meant for so long! This sounds super fun. I'm excited! And I can't wait to see your first non-white piece in such a long time!

catherine baynes said...

Hi Shell!
Glad the rabbit pin arrived safe and sound. I couldn't resist! It reminded me of you straight away.
Love the work that you are doing with your white bunny silhouettes.
Your blog is always delightful and I treasure our friendship across the sea ;-)
Your pin is made by an artistic Australian company that I like called A Skulk of Foxes.
Lots of love and bunny hugs
xoxo Cath

Unknown said...

Hi Shell!

Just wanted to say hello. Love,love,love the white bunny. You have such a fun blog. Hope you are doing great. Can't wait to see more of your beautiful creations.
xoxo
Janet
Janet's Creative Pillows

Unknown said...

I've never heard that either - you learn new things all the time :)

Shell said...

I have never heard of that either, Shell. It seems like a fun tradition.

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