Why are rabbits' feet lucky?
Lucky rabbits’ feet are popular around the world, but why are they lucky? Read the story below at your level. Study any new words, and then, use them in your next conversations!
Reading
When I was a kid, I had a lucky rabbit’s foot. It was soft, and bright purple. You might think rabbit’s feet are strange, but they are very popular. Why are they lucky? They weren’t lucky for the rabbits.
No one knows for sure why rabbits’ feet are lucky. Maybe they are lucky because rabbits have a lot of offspring. Or, maybe they aren’t lucky at all. In the US, rabbits’ feet are popular keychains. You can buy them in small vending machines.
Flesch-Kinkead – Grade: 3
When I was little, my friends and I all had a lucky rabbit’s foot. They were popular trinkets we got at local fairs. They were soft, and usually dyed bright colors.
Recently, I thought that rabbits’ feet might seem bizarre to some people. So, why do people think they are lucky? They weren’t lucky for the rabbits.
No one knows for sure why rabbits’ feet are lucky. Maybe it’s because rabbits live underground, close to the gods of the underworld. Or, maybe it’s because rabbits have so many offspring. In North America, rabbits feet are usually lucky keychains. You can even buy them in small vending machines.
Flesch-Kinkead – Grade: 5
When I was growing up, my friends and I always had a lucky rabbit’s foot or two laying around. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, just the sort of little bauble you’d pick up at a bazaar or fair. They were soft, and usually dyed some bright color.
It struck me recently, that having dead animal parts laying around might seem bizarre to some people. And why on earth are they considered lucky? I mean, the rabbits had four of them, and it didn’t do much for them.
No one is quite sure why rabbits’ feet are considered lucky. In some cultures it’s because rabbits live underground, close to the gods of the underworld. In other cultures, rabbits were associated with fertility. In North America today, they are mostly just lucky keychains. You can even buy them in small vending machines.
Flesch-Kinkead – Grade: 6.5
Key Terms
might
• I am very busy today. = 100%
• I will probably be busy tomorrow. = 75%
• I might be busy this weekend. = 50%
might vs maybe
• might + verb
Ex: I might be late.
Ex: I might make chicken for dinner.
• maybe + sentence
Ex: Ellen is late. Maybe she forgot about the meeting.
Ex: Maybe I will make chicken for dinner.
trinket – a small toy, ornament, or piece of cheap jewelry. They look nice, but are not valuable.
• My grandmother got some little trinkets from the state fair.
• Everyone at the event got little trinkets. I got a keychain.
underworld – in many cultures a dark magic place underground where people go when they die
• Christians believe people go to heaven or hell when they die. Hell is the underworld.
• The Greeks believed everyone went to the underworld when they died.
offspring – a child or children / an animal’s young
• Famous racehorses are used for making more offspring.
• My uncle is a dog breeder. He sells the offspring to farms.
bauble – a small decoration, toy, or other trinket. They look nice, but are basically worthless.
• At the baseball game last night, they were giving out key chains. They’re just fun little baubles, but I like them.
• We got some little baubles at the state fair. Just little things like a keychain, a whistle, a bottle opener. Things like that.
bazaar – a small festival, often to raise money for charity
• We went to the church bazaar. They were selling lots of cakes and baked goods.
• Maybe we can raise money for the school with a bazaar.
bizarre – very strange or unusual
• I felt really bizarre last night. I had a fever and then I passed out.
• This is a really bizarre shop. They sell a lot of very unusual little things.
Like these examples? Want to talk more? Let’s talk in class soon!
