With a new month upon us, a silver lining of working from home and social distancing might be that you weren’t rudely greeted with a pinch and a punch.
Of course, we refer to a friendly pinch and punch for the first of the month – which is usually followed by saying ‘white rabbits.’
But why exactly do people do this, and where did it originate?
Why do we say ‘pinch, punch, first of the month’?
Saying these quirky phrases is said to bring people luck if you say them on the first day of the month before midday, but where did they come from?
Well, there are different theories as to where and why it started.
One theory has it that it goes back to medieval times, when people believed in witches.
The pinch referred to a pinch of salt which you would use to throw at the witch, and the punch – well, it refers to punching the witch.
A very literal and visual theory.
One other widely cited idea is that President George Washington met local Indian tribes on the first day of each month and at the meeting he would supply fruit punch with an added pinch of salt.
This tradition became known as ‘pinch and punch on the first of the month’.
Why do we say ‘white rabbits’?
‘Pinch and a punch, first of the month’ is typically meant to be followed by ‘white rabbits, no returns,’ but why?
Saying ‘white rabbits, white rabbits’ on the first of the month was first written in the ‘Notes and Queries’ book from 1909 – a long-running quarterly scholarly journal.
One passage read: ‘My two daughters are in the habit of saying “Rabbits!” on the first day of each month. The word must be spoken aloud and be the first word said in the month. It brings luck for that month. Other children, I find, use the same formula.’
Another shared theory is that RAF bomber aircrews during World War 2 would say ‘white rabbits’ first thing after waking up to protect themselves.
Whichever theory you buy into, just remember that if you get caught out, you can always fall back on the old ‘a flick and a kick for being so quick’ – a retort that is thought to have started in the West Country.
MORE: 12 quirky British traditions you won’t believe are actually real
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