How did a rabbits foot become a lucky charm?

Answer 1

Hunters believed that the rabbit's foot would bestow the surefootedness of the rabbit to themselves. The superstition kind of just spread from there. (It should be noted that the rabit gained no luck from having four rabbits feet)

In general magic (like a rabbits foot) which creates a like condition is called sympathetic magic.

Answer 2

The belief that a rabbit's foot brings good luck likely originated from ancient Celtic tribes who believed in the power of amulets to ward off evil spirits. Rabbits were considered lucky animals, and their feet were seen as particularly lucky because of their speed and agility. Over time, this belief evolved into a popular superstition in various cultures.

Answer 3

Superstitions grow out of man's attempt to explain the world around him. In Western Europe, before 600 BC, man considered rabbits to be sacred. They believed spirits inhabited the bodies of animals and that man directly descended from a select few of these animals. The ancient European Celts held the rabbit to be sacred because of their prowess in the field of reproduction. Animals with a high Birth Rate have always been revered by many cultures as a symbol of fertility. It became a good luck charm [except for the rabbit] to carry the left foot with you.

Answer 4

"Rabbit's foot" is used in herbalism and folk magic as a name for shamrock and clover.