Monday, February 1st
02/01/2016
On this soft gray morning, it feels a bit like Spring ... And in fact, February 1st, St. Brigid's Day, marks the start of the Celtic Spring. And while that might work over there, here in New England, the first of February generally feels NOTHING like Spring. We are usually in the hard and fast grip of Winter at this time of year, but ...
It's quiet and mild out there, and the sky is brightening slowly.
• I'll wake the boys in a bit with "Rabbit, rabbit!" A must on the first of each month!
• We'll look around the yard today for signs of Spring and some "straw" (dried ornamental grass) with which to make our Brigid's crosses. We might even peek along the front stone wall and see if we spy any snowdrops budging the earth ... Candlemas Bells, they are also called!
• Wonder what the groundhog will say tomorrow?
Dawn, I've known for years that you greet your boys with, "Rabbit rabbit" but I don't know that I've ever read the reason why. Could you share?
Posted by: Theresa | 02/01/2016 at 04:30 PM
Theresa, your question in perfectly timed! Someone at FB just asked the same question! Which leads me to believe it might be a regional custom ...
As I understand it, saying "Rabbit, rabbit" is an old English tradition and has been around since the middle ages! If these are the first words you say on the first of the month, supposedly you'll have good luck for the month (because the rabbit will run off with your troubles - or something like that, lol).
Anyhoo - we've done it for so long, but we don't always remember! I usually think of it after Bill or I have mumbled our first words to each other - something like, "R is up, go make coffee ..." ;) But I always wake the older boys with a loud, "Rabbit, rabbit!" called from their doorway and I don't leave the room till they've mumbled it back to me. (Sometimes J doesn't even remember doing this later in the day! And I text it to L at college, too!)
Here is a link to an article written in Yankee Magazine ... this is what leads me to believe it might be a New England/Olde England kind of thing. And thanks so much for being my first comment here! :)
http://www.yankeemagazine.com/article/marysfarm/rabbit#_
Posted by: Dawn | 02/01/2016 at 05:40 PM