The rabbit's foot has been considered lucky in Western Europe since before 600 BC. Several attributes of the rabbit may have contributed to this reputation, although you have to wonder how lucky an animal is if its feet are frequently used for key chains and other amulets.

Rabbits are born with their eyes open, which some interpret as natural intelligence or an ability to ward off evil. Others see the rabbit's underground dwelling as a connection to other worlds. Still others make the obvious leap of logic from the rabbit's powers of procreation to personal prosperity or fertility. Any part of the rabbit is considered lucky but the foot is the common symbol, perhaps because it's just too gruesome to carry around a rabbit's pancreas.

THE BOOK OF ANSWERS and other sources stated that the fact that rabbits are born with their eyes open is often perceived as a sign of wisdom. Although "hare" is listed in most thesauri as a synonym for "rabbit", they are actually two different members of the same family. While rabbits are blind and furless at birth, hares begin life sighted and, well, hairy.