Pinch and a Punch for the First of the Month.
In the playgrounds of my youth. On the first of the month. As we first came through the gates in the morning. Walking across the field. Swinging our bags. Even while lining up to file into class, in the early morning air, on the first of the month, we would turn monstrous and pinch and punch each other’s arms – quite hard, I might add – but really, really quickly, shouting, ‘Pinch and a punch for the first of the month!’ Then we scream, ‘And no returns!’ As fast as possible. We flinch and duck and dodge as fast as we can while screaming – ‘no returns!’ Then yelling ‘White rabbit! white rabbit! white rabbit!’ Like a full stop.
This little ritual was enacted in the schoolyards of my childhood right through my school years, resulting in a bedlam of screaming and shouting girls and boys.
‘Pinch and a Punch for the first of the month!.’
‘No returns!’
‘White rabbit. White rabbit!’
Nobody knew what these words meant, or even thought to wonder what they meant, what the pinch and the pinch symbolized. It was all about the violence that the other could not return. If you were fast enough.
Some kids pinched and punched hard. Leaving bruises. Clenched jaws. Shining eyes of tears. But no retribution – ever. This was an unspoken law. Unless the other shouted no returns too slow then the pinch and pinch was returned with force.
I was a dreamy kid. Never knowing the date. So I was an easy mark. The pinch was always on the upper arm. Each punch on top of the pinch.
The nuns were horrified, clapping their hands to get our attention away from such violent pagan practices.
The phrase “pinch and a punch for the first of the month” is believed to originate from old England, to protect us from witches. The pinch refers to pinching salt, which was believed to weaken witches, and the punch was to banish them.
No returns as we screamed both metaphorically and physically away.
White rabbits after we got away.
White rabbit is thought to mean luck. In many cultures white rabbits symbolize luck. Maybe to soften the blow?
Our mother, who was the first in her familial line to drive a car, taught us to say “White rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit, GREEN” when we drove up to a red light. But only if we were first in the cue at the red light. We would chant this in unison again and again. Eventually it always turned green and we were convinced we brought this about with our chant. Or we might have been sat there forever.
I still find myself chanting this under my breath when I am waiting for a thing.
“White rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit – green.”
Good morning.
It is the first of November here. Happy first of the month!
White Rabbit!!
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
35 responses to “White Rabbit, White Rabbit, Green”
I’ve never heard the white rabbit bit before, but there is a second part – “a slap and a kick for being so quick”.
I never heard that part!! Ha!! Nothing to do with witches!! All about playground violence. Brilliant.
Ha ha – indeed!
I’ve never heard of either of these! I must be too young 😆
Even the second part must go back a few years. My mother was the first person that did the, “a slap and a kick for being so quick”, to me, back in the late 60s 😱
Did you read the ‘punch in the eye for being so sly!’ Lordy! We were a nasty bunch.
Ha ha, yes and I have heard that before 🤣
In comparison to kids these days, shooting and stabbing each other, perhaps fisticuffs was a better outlet. I distinctly remember a 1960s playground game called British Bulldog, which got banned at school, but was incredible fun with an element of danger!
Was that like bull rush!
I don’t know, what’s that?
Definitely too young!!
Well you young New Zealand tots were rather a violent bunch! I say that sardonically because I’m sure every culture and society across the world has some form of this childhood “game”.
I am having a morning where crawling back under the covers seems appropriate. I have the local news on. They are playing Christmas music so apparently November has ceased to exist at all.
Christmas music!! How horrible!
A tad bit too soon for me 🙂
glad there was no pinch and punch for you this year, and interesting to know the origins
no. Nothing like that here! 😂
I love the addition of GREEN to white rabbit white rabbit! I think I shall adopt this one too! Thanks for sharing….but the pinch and punch…I’ll leave that one to the schoolyards…Great post Celi
The white rabbit chant our mum taught us was always a bit of a mystery really. Funny how we do stuff and don’t really think about why!
I love that! We have many of them here too that our mom would say….one day I’ll share them in a post…nice to see y ou Ceci!
You too! And I look forward to your post! Make sure I don’t miss it!
Happy first of November to you Cecilia. It definitely feels November-ish here today after a very mild Halloween night.
I am so glad Halloween went well. We have had snow on Halloween in the past but it is quiet and warm again today
I’m glad I missed out on the pinch and a punch! I’d never heard the White Rabbit until someone posted it on social media. Wonder what else I’ve missed. That is a lovely cat portrait. Those red leaves are hanging on! Hope your day is going according to plan. Patti
I like that shot of a cat on a pumpkin too! Cats are such posers. Always beautiful.
thanks more memories of school days. But in my mind, we didn’t do it at school we just did it between the three of us at home. And we said No returns of any kind. My late sister even in later life reminded us to say White Rabbit. We never questioned why.
it was a fun game but brought out the worst in us!!
Where did October… the year… go? Bloody hell.
we used to say that, followed by a punch and a kick for being so quick and then a punch in the eye for being so sly. What horrid children we were? I had completely forgotten about white rabbit!
I punch on the eye for being so sly!’ Made me laugh out loud! Still laughing!!
I remember a version of ‘Pinch and Punch’ Lots of good school memories. beautiful photos too.
School was a mixture of true joy and running a gauntlet. Thank you for the comment and welcome!!
We had the same rhyme, but the response was “Punch and kick, you’re much too quick!” We were a violent young bunch, and the nuns didn’t seem to see anything wrong with our games… I still play a game with the traffic lights, but it doesn’t involve rabbits.
Oh yes I remember pinch and punch! Wonderful photos Celi … such a beautiful cat! And that shot of the sky … loaded with clouds
Yes. After so long with clear blue skies I do not mind a few clouds! How is your spring, Julie?
Spring is often unsettled, windy too. It’s been up and down, but we have had some beautiful days! My veg garden is planted .. I’m happy