Penn State professor Bill Ellis uncovered a peculiar 1908 account in England, marking the first recorded mention of a rabbit’s foot connected to luck. Paintings like Titian’s “Madonna of the Rabbit” depicted Mary with a white rabbit, suggesting a connection between the rabbit and fortuitous, holy sacrifice. Originally a magical token to keep homes safe from trespassers, this practice may have been influenced by ancient laws, such as the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi, making its way into Christian medieval Europe.ĭuring the European Renaissance, rabbits found their way into artwork, symbolizing purity, fertility, and death.

Historical accounts trace the lucky rabbit’s foot back to the medieval symbol of the “Hand of Glory” – the severed hand of a hanged criminal. Today, the belief in lucky rabbit’s feet likely stems from a mix of ancient superstitions and forgotten folk magick, possibly rooted in European traditions and African American customs. Unut, known as “the rabbit goddess,” symbolized the new year, fertility, and the start of new life. Egyptians revered rabbits as messengers of the goddess Isis, tied to birth and healing. Chinese astrology also associates rabbits with qualities like wit and quick-mindedness.

Germanic goddess Eostre, linked to the dawn and fertility celebrations, had rabbits as companions. In ancient times, rabbits held a special place in various cultures.