Rabbit's foot

The history of the rabbit's foot

Although the link between the rabbit and happiness is rooted in European culture, the myth of the rabbit's foot comes from African American beliefs called hoodoo.

Hoodoo is a collection of popular beliefs prevalent mainly in the southern United States. Hoodoo was initiated by the African population introduced during the time of slavery - a combination of Christian, Jewish, Indian and African beliefs.

According to these popular assumptions rabbit legs are lucky due to their reproductive habits (maybe speed too), so wearing a rabbit's foot was thought to help with infertility. Over time, this superstition spread throughout the world ...

Depending on the region and community, this superstition can be modified or limited... The most popular are listed below:

• The rabbit must be killed in a suitable location, such as a graveyard.
• The rabbit must be killed by a person with special characteristics - for example, cross-eyed or one-legged.
• The amulet will work only if it is the left hind paw of a rabbit.
• The rabbit should be taken during the full moon or new moon.
• The rabbit should have been shot with a silver bullet.
• The paw should be cut off while the rabbit is still alive.