Are Lucky Rabbits' Feet Keychains Really Made From a Rabbit's Foot?
A rabbit's foot keychain is considered a symbol of luck to some; others may consider it cruel. The superstition that rabbits' feet are lucky has roots in European cultures as well as hoodoo — a mixture of different American magical traditions. The reason why rabbits' feet are considered lucky also varies from the belief that rabbits embody spirits to the value placed in the rabbit's highly reproductive nature. To carry around a piece of a rabbit therefore, was believed to keep that luck with the carrier.
The full superstition regarding the luck of the rabbit's foot is quite complex. Not only must it be a real rabbit’s foot, but it must be the left hind foot — the right hind foot isn't considered lucky! Also, rabbits' feet that you can buy cheaply may not be considered lucky. The most “lucky” feet are those taken from rabbits that are caught or killed in a cemetery. Even the times that the rabbit is killed may matter; some sources suggest that only a rabbit captured during a full moon, new moon or on Friday the 13th will have a lucky left hind foot. Some sources recommend cutting the foot off of the rabbit when it’s still alive — something animal rights proponents probably wouldn't support. Others suggest the rabbit must be cross-eyed and must be killed by shooting it with a silver bullet.
Since there’s very little evidence that most modern rabbit's foot keychains attend to all these fine details, it would seem that many people may have purchased faux rabbit feet. This is certainly luckier for cross-eyed, cemetery-dwelling rabbits that just happen to encounter someone armed with a gun and silver bullets. Faux rabbit feet normally are covered with fake rabbit fur, and may be dyed in a variety of colors. To give the fake foot that dried bony feel, the internal structure is often made of latex.
There are still many rabbit's foot keychains made from real rabbits' feet. They’re widely available on the Internet, in tourist shops, and sometimes casino vending machines. They’re often thought to be particularly lucky for gamblers, and usually cost less than 10 US dollars (USD). As with any amulet, icon, or other “lucky” piece, the efficacy of the rabbit’s foot is highly questionable. A rabbit killed for the purpose of obtaining rabbit's foot keychains might want to argue that his feet were certainly not his fortune.
Written by Tricia Ellis-Christensen
