White Rabbits, White Rabbits, White Rabbits. Now that's out of the way pinch, punch first of the month (no returns).

You've probably been saying these phrases on the first day of the month for as long as you can remember, and the chances are you have no idea way.

Tradition dictates that on the first day of every month the first thing you should say when you wake up is 'white rabbits', preferably three times.

If you do, you are absolutely guaranteed to have good luck for the next months. Definitely.

And then, the first thing you should say when you greet anyone is 'pinch, punch first of the month', accompanied by a (gentle) pinch and punch.

Again this will bring good luck - especially if you follow it up with 'no returns', when you have the good luck of being neither pinched nor punched.

The final part of the ritual allows someone to say 'a flick and a kick for being so quick' - again followed by the appropriate actions.

And it is widely reported that that reaction started in a Devon playground.

So where does all this nonsense come from?

In terms of pinch punch, the most common theory is that in medieval times people believed even a small amount of salt would harm a witch. In the same way that when you spill salt you should throw it over your shoulder 'into the Devil's eye'.

If you don't, the spilt salt will bring you bad luck. Keeping up?

So when the witch is in her weakened state from your pinch of salt, you can quickly finish her off with a punch. Thereby having the good luck of not being cursed by a witch.

If you don't believe that, there is also a theory which states that during negotiations with Native Americans, George Washington would serve them punch on the first day of the month with a pinch of salt.

It didn't work out very lucky for the Native Americans.

And what about white rabbits? Commonly rabbits are believed to be lucky animals and carrying a rabbit's foot is seen as good luck. Again, for the rabbit, not so much.

Saying white rabbits on the first of the month has a much more modern origin than pinch punch.

It is first recorded in writing in 1909 in a book called 'Notes and Queries'.

The quote reads: "My two daughters are in the habit of saying 'Rabbits!' on the first day of each month.


There are also claims saying white rabbits was common among RAF bomber aircrew during WWII, who would say it after waking up to protect themselves.

So now you know, or not. Just make sure you say it if you want good luck for the rest of the month.