Dear Reader:

I decided to flip-flop the order sequence of the reminder that this is the first day of March and we post readers laugh and try to remember each time to say “Rabbit, Rabbit” first thing on this initial kick-off day to the new month…It is an old custom that is supposed to bring good luck and harmony to one throughout the month.

It first appeared in a piece of fiction in 1922…with a man in a brown hat explaining the ritual.

“Why,” the man in the brown hat laughed at him, “I thought everybody knew ‘Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit.’ If you say ‘Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit’—three times, just like that—first thing in the morning on the first of the month, even before you say your prayers, you’ll get a present before the end of the month.”

I discovered where I must have learned the tradition…it originated from one of my favorite reading series when I was a child…besides Nancy Drew. The Trixie Belden series.

Chapter 1 of the Trixie Belden story The Mystery of the Emeralds (1965) is titled “Rabbit! Rabbit!” and discusses the tradition:

Trixie Belden awoke slowly, with the sound of a summer rain beating against her window. She half-opened her eyes, stretched her arms above her head, and then, catching sight of a large sign tied to the foot of her bed, yelled out, “Rabbit! Rabbit!” She bounced out of bed and ran out of her room and down the hall. “I’ve finally done it!” she cried […] “Well, ever since I was Bobby’s age I’ve been trying to remember to say ‘Rabbit! Rabbit!’ and make a wish just before going to sleep on the last night of the month. If you say it again in the morning, before you’ve said another word, your wish comes true.” Trixie laughed.”

I will let everyone off the hook who is just reading about this superstition today for the first time …just get a “rabbit, rabbit” spoken sometime today before the sun sets. No pressure! 🙂

Rabbits or not…isn’t there a big difference in our psyche when it comes to saying February versus March. February conjures up cold, dismal, winter…with a “heart” thrown in for good measure. March, however, conjures up spring, flowers, warmth, and above all… hope…daylight savings time will kick in this month and the official start of spring begins.

I must admit I am rather proud of my ole’ self today for my garden endeavors yesterday…I got every new spring flower planted…I was down in the back last evening…but just looking at the results takes the pain away.

As the sun went down yesterday…the new garden flowers were standing proudly forming the first part of the garden path.

I also pulled up dead stems to make room for the flowers reappearing on their own initiative…or intuition. 🙂

On my way to the post office late yesterday afternoon…to drop the new month’s bills in the mail… I noticed a Japanese Magnolia with Spanish moss hanging over its branches…only in the lowlands do you see this….Now that I think about it…”Maybe the call out first thing on the first day of the month…should be “Bills Bills” …just a little reminder to pay’em! 🙂 (Though admittedly it doesn’t carry the same charm! )

At the end of my street (Rainbow Road) my neighbor has planted daffodils at the Stop sign…a reminder to stop and gaze at spring unfolding before us.

So until tomorrow….

“Rabbit, Rabbit” my friends…I wish for one and all… a prosperous and joyous month!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh