A tribe worshiped its animal ancestor, and carried parts of that animal as protective totems. In Europe, the tradition of carrying the foot of a rabbit probably stems from ancient totemic beliefs that humans descended from animals, and particular tribes had their origins in specific species. But why a rabbit’s foot? Why not the leg of a frog or the spleen of a porcupine? The desire for divine or mystical protection against the host of harms out there spans all cultures and all times. Gamblers and athletes are notorious for placing their faith in almost any object or act they feel is imbued with propitious mojo. Christians the world over wear crucifixes. Go to Turkey and you’ll find the ‘evil eye’ goggling protectively at you from shop windows, front doors, dashboards, bracelets, you name it. To the ancient Egyptians, images of the scarab beetle helped ward off evil. A vast and eclectic array of amulets, talismans, and charms meant to bring good fortune to their owners have been put to use as long as humans have walked the planet. Preston asks: Why are rabbits paws lucky?
