2011 Year of the Rabbit

Frankly, their financial advisor told them never to put all their chocolate-covered nest eggs in one basket!

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Image Credit: Illustration by Tenniel from Alice-in-Wonderland

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Image of gold proof one dollar "Year of the Rabbit" Australian coin

RABBIT PERSONALITY:

Positive Characteristics:
The Rabbit can be sensitive, tactful, home-loving, refined, prudent, discreet, long-living, ambitious, cultured, well-mannered, artistic, considerate, scholarly, suave, graciously hospitable, modest and unimpeachably virtuous.

Negative Characteristics:
While Rabbits are caring and compassionate creatures, they may have a few minor shortcomings; they may be a bit secretive, self-centered, self-indulgent, self-righteous and snobbish, prone to being pedantic and punctilious, when they're not being complicated and condescending or behaving in a haughtily indifferent, judgmental or hypochondrial manner.

Rabbit Likes:
Beautiful art work, comfortable surroundings, conversation and even gossip, long hairstyles, mysteries and secrets, paying attention to detail, prefers company of good friends and family to going out on the town, privacy and solitude, romantic films, to have a routine, to solve problems,

Rabbit Dislikes:
Arguments, being forced to make a decision, complicated plans, drastic change, having to change their mind, open criticism, saying anything unpleasant, surprises, taking risks, to witness suffering or violence.

Female Rabbit Behavior:
Is not overly maternal, she is good at giving practical advice as well as able to strike a good bargain, naturally elegant and always stylishly dressed, well mannered and conscious of etiquette which means she is good at entertaining and is at home in most social circles though she prefers a comfortable to an adventurous life and prefers company than being by herself, sophisticated, tender and wistful she can also be emotional and strong-willed with a sharp sense of humor, wary of commitment and ambitious she may be a little manipulative to get her own way.

Male Rabbit Behavior:
Is not a victim of fashion, careful when spending money on necessities, careful listener as well as being happy and content, extravagant with money when buying luxurious gifts, neat and well-dressed, tendency to be flamboyant and sometimes superficial, interested in arts and culture, faithful and loving, has a traditional outlook and is protective of his need for peace and solitude, and is in touch with his feminine side but is not effeminate.

IDEAL OCCUPATIONS FOR RABBITS:
Accountant, Actor, Administrator, Adviser, Antique Dealer, Art Collector, Chemist, Cosmetologist, Counselor, Diplomat, Doctor, Fashion Desiger, Historian, Interior Designer, Judge, Lawyer, Librarian, Masseur/Masseuse, Musician, Ophthamologist, Pharmacist, Politician, Property Manager, Psychiatrist, Public Relations Consultant, Publisher, Secretary, Teacher, Therapist, Writer

OTHER IMPORTANT FEATURES AND ASSOCIATIONS:

Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 19, 35

Equivalent Western Astrological/Sun Sign: Pisces

Fixed Element: Wood

Fixed Season: Spring

Flower/Plant: Queen Ann's Lace/Fig Tree

Food: Wheat & poultry

Climate: Windy

Colors: Green or White

Taste: Acid

Yin/Yang: Yin and Yang

Fixed Direction: East

Those born under the fourth sign can anticipate a long life, as the Hare symbolizes longevity in Chinese mythology.

The Rabbit reflects all that is gracious, refined, and traditional. A kinder heart could not be found, except perhaps in his good zodiac friend, the Sheep.

While unassuming and soft-spoken, the Rabbit is also known for his talent as a shrewd businessperson and a nimble negotiator who usually gets the better end of the deal. His or her success in this area could be attributed to his exceptional organizational skills and ability to avoid conflicts. Rabbits are rather clever and let everyone know it, but they can also be a tad moody or self-indulgent at times.

People born under the sign of the Rabbit are most compatible with Pigs and Dogs followed by Sheep. However, they should avoid relationships with Tigers, Horses and Monkeys but particularly keep well away from Rats and Roosters.

The fixed element of the Rabbit is Wood, which is why it is also important to pay attention to the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) that influence all zodiac family members (including rabbits) - a special sequence that is repeated every 60 years.

Metal Rabbits - These are individuals born in the years 1951 and 2011. Metal gives Rabbits more strength, resilience and determination. On the plus side, they tend to be forthright, self-confident and perhaps visionary as well as being more ambitious or intense in their actions, be it in the field of work or personal relationships. On the negative side they are often conservative creatures rather inflexible and often loners; they can be polite and charmining on the outside but may exhibit a cold or indifferent to the feelings of others.

Water Rabbits - These are individuals born in the years 1903 and 1963. Like the water itself, these Rabbits prefer to go with the flow, avoiding conflict at all costs, even in situations that are stretch their patience. While they have a strong tendency to support others, that strength can become a weakness sometimes when others may take advantage of their good graces and goodwill. Their natural passivity combined with a contemplative nature can make them victims of remorse and "If Only" thoughts.

Wood Rabbits - These are individuals born in the years 1915 and 1975. Wood Rabbits spend a good deal of time doing things for others, always trying to please their family members, friends and colleagues. They also have a strong aesthetic taste and hence have a natural desire to pursue artistic and creative enheavors. Unknowingly however, their generosity and easy-going nature somestimes makes them an "easy touch" for those with another agenda in mind.

Fire Rabbits - These are individuals born in the years 1927 and 1987. Fire Rabbits are know to exhibit a special spark in their personality which is why they have so many friends and admirers. It's no wonder that they're natural born leaders who enjoy getting all fired up and ready to go ...be it climbing moutains, forging great bodies of water, or finding new adventures to occupy their interest. While Fire Rabbits are prone to temper tantrums, if truth be told, they prefer to avoid tempests in teapots at all costs, which is also why they need to learn to let reason control passion every now and then.

Earth Rabbits - These are individuals born in the years 1939 and 1999. Earth Rabbits are very practical and grounded in reality, and are more able to deal effectively with the ups and downs of life than other rabbits. They tend to be humble and aware of their limitations, are fond of being independent and enjoying solitude, and make decisions only after great deliberation which is also why their advice can be counted on in a pinch. Besides working diligently to make make money, Earth Rabbits also put a great deal of stock into their material comforts such as their homes as a place of security for their loved ones.

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Image Credit: http://popsop.com - French Rabbit wine labels and packaging

Rabbits, according to Chinese astrology are always suave and style conscious with exquisite taste in the arts and dress. They tend to be people with gentle hearts, who prefer peace and creature comforts. Which is perhaps why we have a number of interesting people born in the Year of the Rabbit.

Harry Belafonte, Ingrid Bergman, Lewis Carroll, John Cleese, Peter Falk, Peter Fonda, James Fox, David Frost, Cary Grant, Oliver Hardy, Bob Hope, Whitney Houston, John Hurt, Michael Keaton, John Keats, Julian Lennon, Arthur Miller, Roger Moore, Tatum O'Neal, George Orwell, Brad Pitt, Neil Simon, Jane Seymour, Dusty Springfield, Sting, Orson Welles, Norman Wisdom.

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Image Credit: theRussian at flickr.com

1. Rabbits are not rodents, they are lagomorphs.
2. A male rabbit is a buck, a female rabbit is a doe and a baby rabbit is a kit.
3. Rabbits have 28 teeth that never stop growing.
4. Rabbits can be litter trained.
5. A pet rabbit can live as long as 10 years.
6. Adult bunnies can weigh between 2 lbs - 20 lbs depending on breed.
7. Rabbits can purr similar to a cat.
8. Domesticated rabbits are born without fur.
9. Rabbits groom themselves.
10. Rabbits cannot vomit but need hay to assist the digestive system and prevent fur balls in their stomach.
11. A group of rabbits is called a herd, and the herd lives in a warren.
12. Rabbit meat is all white meat and is lower in fat, cholesterol and calories than chicken, pork and beef.
13. Rabbit droppings make an excellent garden fertilizer.
14. Rabbits can suffer heat stroke, and a 4-pound rabbit will drink as much water as a 20 pound dog.
15. Rabbits do not hibernate.
16. Rabbits can see behind them, but have blind spot in front of their face.
17. When rabbits are happy, they can jump 36" or higher and twist, this is called a "binky".
18. Predators can literally scare a rabbit to death.
19. The only place a rabbit sweats is through the pads on its feet.
20. Rabbits eat their own night droppings called cecotropes.

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Image Credit: Illustration by BobCanada92 - "Coney McLagomorph" (Coney is a British word for rabbit, while Lagomorph is any member of the order Lagomorpha, comprising hares and rabbits. So it pretty much means Rabbit Rabbit. ) Source: http://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html

The origin of the "Easter Bunny" is said to have been in Alsace (southwestern Germany), where it was first mentioned in German writings in 1620, can be traced to the German fertility goddess.

According to the wonderfully helpful "Wikipedia", the first edible Easter Bunnies were made of pastry and sugar in Germany during the early 1800s.

Legend has it that the Easter Bunny (or Easter Hare) is a curious character (well not as strange as that ho-ho-ho fellow who romps about the world on a sleigh filled with gifts pulled by some pretty rambunctious reindeers on December 25). The entertaining Easter Bunny brings baskets filled with colored eggs, candy and toys to the homes of children on the night before Easter. The Easter Bunny will either put the baskets in a designated place or hide them somewhere in the house for the children to find when they wake up in the morning.

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"Do not rely on the rabbit's foot for good luck, after all, it didn't work out too well for the rabbit." Anonymous

"For luck you carried a horse chestnut and a rabbit's foot in your right pocket. The fur had been worn off the rabbit's foot long ago and the bones and the sinews were polished by the wear. The claws scratched in the lining of your pocket and you knew your luck was still there." -- Ernest Hemingway

"When the rabbit has escaped, comes advice" -- Proverb

"Why does Bugs Bunny walk around naked in cartoons but always puts on a bathing suit to go swimming?" -- Anonymous

"RAREBIT, n. A Welsh rabbit, in the speech of the humorless, who point out that it is not a rabbit. To whom it may be solemnly explained that the comestible known as toad-in-a-hole is really not a toad, and that _riz-de-veau a la financiere_ is not the smile of a calf prepared after the recipe of a she banker." -- Ambrose Bierce

"You never know how a cow catches a rabbit." -- Proverb

Roger Rabbit is the titular anthropomorphic rabbit of the film, a frantic over-anxious type who often stutters while screaming.

The character first appeared in the book, Who Censored Roger Rabbit? by Gary K. Wolf, which was adapted into the 1988 Academy-Award winning film, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

The Mad Hatter and The March Hare putting The Dormouse in the teapot.

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Illustration: From Alice's Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, 1865

It is said that rabbits, especially white ones bring good luck.

And if tradition has anything to do with it, perhaps it might be advisable to consider the merit of making the acquaintance of a rabbit on the last day of the month.

Why? Well apparently in the early 20th century in Britain, it was quite common on the last day of the month to say the word "rabbit" three times before retiring for the night. However, the superstition regarding luck also required one to say "hare" three times upon rising the next morning (the first day of the new month).

Of course, if one had enjoyed a good night on the town, and happened to get mixed up with the order of saying "rabbits" and "hares", or forgot which day it was altogether -- heaven forbid what might happen!

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Source: www.wilsonsalmanac.com/book/oct31.html

Image Credit: Berkely illustration - Jack Rabbit

"In this world you have to be oh-so-smart or oh-so-pleasant. For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant." -- Harvey the Rabbit, from the classic movie, Harvey, starring James Stewart.

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Image Credit: http://curiousoddities.files.wordpress.com - 2008/11