Learn the superstitions about stepping on cracks and a rabbit's foot
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Becky: 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 |
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| 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! |
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