White Rabbit


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abo4ster

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How many here say or know of the "white rabbit" or "I hate white rabbit" saying to chase campfire smoke away?

I don't say it per se, but the wife does and so do the kids...

Apparently the origins are English; and here in the states are more prevalent in New England and the South.

If anyone knows of the origins with documentation would be curious to see.
 
When I was growing up, we'd just say "I hate rabbits". Afraid I don't know the origins of that at all, though.
 
I've never heard that but have always been told that smoke follows the beautiful...LOL
I did find this:
"It seems the whole thing originated from the idea that white rabbits were considered an omen of death and that in England good luck would come upon you if you called out "white rabbit" three times on the first of every month. The poor white bunnies have been cursed every since."

Cited from : http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?329
 
Never heard of it, but here it is near the bottom - Wikipedia

"When smoke from a camp fire is blowing around instead of directly upwards, Gypsies used to throw a White Rabbit by the fire and get a dog to chase it round and round the fire so quickly that a vortex is created, sending the smoke directly upwards. This only works of course if there are people completely enclosing the rabbit huddled around the fire in a circle. This is the origin of the folk tale, a common misconception to think chanting "white rabbit" at a smokey fire somehow magically makes it move away"
 
I first heard this when my kids were gathered around a campfire. They kept saying "i hate bunny rabbits". At first I didn't understand what they were saying, then I figured they were just being goofs. After the 32nd time I finally told them to can it . They then patiently explained what they were doing and were convinced it worked. Apparently it was something they picked up from their dad, but it was completely new to me. That was probably about 12 years ago. Since then I have heard it used several times, including on trip reports on youtube. No idea of the origin though.
 
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We always say "I hate ducks"

"If you go chasing rabbits and you know you're going to fall......Just tell them a hooka smoking caterpillar has given you the call."

And if you are reading this and have no idea what it's from......


You're waaaayyy too young and you need to get some culture!
 
I sometimes goofily say "I hate bunnies" in this circumstance...my Scoutmaster's wife (asst. scoutmaster) used to say that as a thing to teach the cub Scouts. All of the cubs who joined our Troop used to say it...lol.

PMZ
 
Learned a lot from Alice. Not the one with the restaurant...






Showing our age a bit, NO?
 
dog.breath said:
When I was growing up, we'd just say "I hate rabbits". Afraid I don't know the origins of that at all, though.
Click to expand...
+1
& not only that...It doesn't work for me & never has. That smoke ain't movin, so I have to. LOL
 
We have always said 'Rabbits Eat Worms!' It seems this was said about the same time as the smoke making your eyes burn! I have no idea where that came from.
 
when i was in scouts, one particular senior patrol member carried what he called a "left handed smoke shifter", basically a long piece of wood with a bunch of things attached to it (a carrying strap, some round disks, and a few odd knobs), which he said was for making the smoke go away.

i've never heard the "rabbit rabbit" thing... interesting folklore.
 
Ah, the left handed smoke shifter!

A ruse second only to the snipe hunting and blinker fluid tricks:D

PMZ
 
Trekon86 said:
Ah, the left handed smoke shifter!

A ruse second only to the snipe hunting and blinker fluid tricks:D

PMZ
Click to expand...

Ahhhh....Blinker fluid, snipe hunting and the grand ole' left handed smoke shifter...need we not forget about the infamous muffler bearing and electric motor smoke refill kit for all the motor's who's smoke has been let out!
 
alex30808 said:
Ahhhh....Blinker fluid, snipe hunting and the grand ole' left handed smoke shifter...need we not forget about the infamous muffler bearing and electric motor smoke refill kit for all the motor's who's smoke has been let out!
Click to expand...

Ahhhh, yes the muffler bearings sound like they are going bad.... ;)
 
When I was a lad attending summer camp in the north woods of Wisconsin (Camp Highlands - it's been there since 1904) I was taught the "I hate white rabbits" chant. No idea where it came from though, since kids at that camp came from all over the world and every state in the country.
 
Go ask Alice...I think she'll know :)
Maybe she also has some shovels & rakes & other implements of destruction
 
I remember saying it as a kid but had forgotten all about it. Use to say I hate rabbits all the time around the fire at my Grandparents cottage.
 
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