Learn the superstitions about stepping on cracks and a rabbit's foot
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Becky: Hello and welcome to Culture Class: American Superstitions and Beliefs, Lesson 2. Stepping on Cracks and a Rabbit's Foot. Becky here. |
| Eric: And I'm Eric. |
| THE TWO SUPERSTITIONS |
| Becky: In this lesson you’ll learn about two common superstitions in the U.S.. The first superstition is about bad luck. What are we going to talk about? |
| Eric: First we’re going to talk about stepping on cracks in the pavement. |
| Becky: In the U.S., there is a children's rhyme that goes "step on a crack, break your momma's back." |
| Eric: There have been many variations of this rhyme, though breaking your mother's back is by far the most common. |
| Becky: Right, there was even a version in a 1925 poem that warned children not to step on cracks...because bears would chase them. |
| Eric: Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever heard that one before. |
| Becky: Me neither. I think only children avoid stepping on cracks in the pavement. |
| Eric: Right, so if you’re visiting the U.S., you can walk normally. Only a kid might tell you it’s bad luck. |
| Becky: Let’s now talk about something that brings good luck... |
| Eric: Something we think is very lucky is a rabbit's foot. |
| Becky: In the U.S., it's believed that the left hind foot of a rabbit brings good luck. |
| Eric: In many stores, you can buy a rabbit's foot keychain. They’re usually dyed bright colors, like neon pink or green. |
| Becky: In many cultures, rabbits are often associated with wealth and abundance, because they can have a lot of babies in a short amount of time. |
| Eric: Right, but no one is quite sure how this superstition started in the U.S. |
| Becky: It may have come from Celtic traditions, African American folklore, or somewhere else altogether. |
| Eric: At this point, it’s just an American superstition. |
Outro |
|---|
| Becky: There you have it - two American superstitions! Are they similar to any of your country’s superstitions? Let us know in the comments! |
| Eric: Bye! |
12 Comments
HideHave you ever heard about these beliefs?
Hi there Rein,
Thanks for taking the time to post and share. 👍
Please feel free to ask us any questions you have throughout your studies.
Sincerely,
Éva
Team EnglishClass101.com
3/3/2021
Hello Sugrianti,
Thankyou for your comment.
You are right, some people are very superstitious and do believe rabbits feet are good luck.
Enjoy your studies.
Cheers,
Eva
Team EnglishClass101.com
Hi everyone,
Thank you for leaving the comment.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Cristiane
Team EnglishClass101.com
It's the first time I hear it.
A greeting
This American's superstitions are very popular thanks to the movies...
Hi Ines,
Glad to hear that you enjoyed our lesson! 👍
In case of any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Cristiane
Team EnglishClass101.com
very. good story!
It's the reason many rabbit's foot keychain sell in U.S, isn't it? 😄
Hi Emmanuel,
Thank you for leaving the comment.
Feel free to let us know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Cristiane
Team EnglishClass101.com