Hello August: Why we say 'white rabbits' on the first day of the month (2024)

The sun may not agree, but August is officially here.

No matter how old you are, it's pretty hard to resist getting through the first day of the month without squealing 'pinch, punch first day of the month!' in someone's face.

And the worst part? You can't even do anything back when they say 'white rabbits, no returns' in a bizarre British tradition which makes adults act like they've eaten way too much Haribo.

But where does this odd saying come from and why do we shout white rabbits aloud? Here's all you need to know about a British tale as old as time:

No, it's not because it gives us an excuse to be violent in the name of good fun once a month, but there are numerous theories as to the pinching and punching.

The first theory involves George Washington, who whilst US President apparently met local Native American tribes on the first day of each month and supplied them with fruit punch with an added pinch of salt. Tasty.

The second theory, obviously, involves witchcraft. Salt was thought to make witches weak, and the punch was administered to banish the witch forever.

So saying 'pinch, punch' became a way of welcoming the new month and warding off evil spirits.

White rabbits are meant to represent good luck, so this became another way of welcoming the new month.

The mention of white rabbits stretches as far back as 1909, where it's found in a British periodical book called 'Notes and Queries.'

The entry reads: ‘My two daughters are in the habit of saying ‘Rabbits!’ on the first day of each month. The word must be spoken aloud, and be the first word said in the month. It brings luck for that month. Other children, I find, use the same formula.”

It's also reported that the term was used by RAF bomber aircrews in WWII, who would say 'white rabbits' when they woke up to protect them from harm.

Eventually, 'white rabbits' became your only means of defence from being pinched and punched back.