The Stories of Rabbits and Hares兔子的故事

笪景行

Year of the rabbit

In the Chinese Zodiac1 there is a twelve year cycle. Each year is representedby an animal. The rabbit has a year of its own. People born in the year of therabbit are said to have certain characteristics. Typically people born in the year ofthe rabbit are kind and smart.

兔年

中國的十二生肖以十二年為一個周期，每年用一只動物代表，其中有一年是兔年。據說兔年出生的人有某些特點。一般兔年出生的人善良而聰明。

Rabbit on the moon

In Chinese tradition there is a Moon Goddess named Change. She lives onthe moon with her rabbit. In Japanese folklore2 there are rabbits living on themoon which keep busy making a sticky rice snack named mochi. Similar storiesare being told in some other Asian countries.

月亮上的兔子

在中國傳統中，有一位月亮女神叫嫦娥。她和她的兔子住在月亮上。在日本民間傳說中，月亮上有兔子，它們忙著做一種名為“麻薯”的糯米小吃。在其他一些亞洲國家也有類似的故事。

Rabbits and hares

Often when tales are told， some speak of the rabbit and others the hare，mixing the two animals in the same story. In folklore and superstition3 there isvery little distinction4 between the hare and the rabbit. These two animalsoften blend5 together and appear in the same legends and have the same symbolism6.

兔子和野兔

在講故事時，經常有人說兔子，有人說野兔，在同一個故事中把這兩種動物混在一起。在民間傳說和迷信中，野兔和兔子幾乎沒有區別。這兩種動物經常融合在一起，出現在相同的傳說中，具有相同的象征意義。

Why are rabbits lucky？

Rabbits have been a symbol of fertility7 and prosperity8 for ages. Therabbit is also considered a lucky talisman9 to increase wealth.

In some parts of Northern Europe it was customary to give a child a whiterabbit as a gift. The gift of the white rabbit was to ensure the child had a rich life.

為什么兔子是幸運的鑰

多年來，兔子一直是生育和繁榮的象征。兔子也被認為是增加財富的幸運護身符。

在北歐的一些地區，過去人們習慣送給孩子一只白兔作為禮物。白兔這個禮物是為了確保孩子過上富足的生活。

Rabbit， rabit， rabit

An old English superstition states that if you say “rabbit”three times in a rowon the first day of the month，you will have good luck that month. You must also saythe words out loud. This is the most common belief.

Some believe that if the first words you say out loud on the first day of themonth are“rabbit， rabbit， rabbit”，you will receive an unexpected gift that month.

Yet another version says you need to say “hare”before you fall asleep on thelast day of the month and the first words on the first day of the month need to be“rabbit， rabbit， rabbit”. This will bring a month of good luck.

兔子袁兔子袁兔子

一個古老的英國迷信說，如果你在一個月的第一天連續說三次“兔子”，那么這個月就會有好運。你還必須大聲地說。這是最普遍的觀點。

有些人則認為，如果你在一個月的第一天大聲說出的第一句話是“兔子，兔子，兔子”，那么你會在這個月收到一份意想不到的禮物。

而另一種說法是，在一個月的最后一天入睡之前，你需要說“野兔”，而在一個月中的第一天最先說出的詞必須是“兔子，兔子，兔子”。這會帶來一個月的好運。

Rabbit爺s foot for luck

In North America a rabbits foot was for a long time considered a good luckcharm10. The strong believers of this superstition said it had to be the left foot of therabbit. For a left rabbits foot to bring luck it had to be carried in the left pocket.

In the world of theaters，the rabbits foot was （and still is by many） consideredvery auspicious11. Many actors and actresses would keep a rabbits foot in theirmake-up kit. Before entering the stage they would kiss the rabbits foot， or rub it ontheir hands or on their face. The rabbits foot would help them eliminate12 stagefright. It would also help them remember all their lines.

There is also an old superstition that the rabbits foot can cure rheumatism13if you keep it in your pocket at all times.

幸運兔腳