Cottontail Rabbit, Sylvilagus audubonii
January 22nd was the official start of the Chinese New Year in 2023, marking the end of winter and beginning of the spring season. Each year, an animal from the Chinese zodiac is assigned in a repeating twelve-year cycle based on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, the luckiest of the zodiac animals, represented here by our fluffy cottontail rabbit friend.
Have you ever wondered why rabbits are considered good luck? Or why someone might carry a rabbit’s foot as a good luck charm? There are different theories about why this is, but we really don’t know for sure. Some consider the fertile nature of rabbits to be a sign of abundance and good fortune. Another theory is that a rabbit’s foot carries with it an element of power. This idea doesn’t just apply to rabbits either. The practice of carrying tokens from the dead as a manifestation of power, like with the veneration of relics for example, has been practiced for centuries in the form of bones of the saints or a lock of hair from a loved one. Many believe the body part absorbs the power of the deceased and transfers it to the owner. Additionally, African American folklore about figures like B’rer Rabbit, identify the rabbit as a clever creature who exhibits courage in difficult situations. The rabbit’s foot then is a token of that cleverness and courage. Whatever the reason, ultimately a person must believe in the power of the object for it to be considered a lucky charm.
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About the Science Center Collection
Though many science centers do not have collections, our beginnings as the Academy of Science of St. Louis in 1856 and the formation of the Museum of Science and Natural History in 1959 allowed for the acquisition of a wide variety of artifacts. In 1985, the Museum of Science and Natural History merged with the city’s Planetarium to become the Saint Louis Science Center. The Science Center preserves and cares for its collections for the enjoyment and enlightenment of our visitors, now and in the future.
For more than 160 years, individual collectors have shaped the Science Center’s Collections, building them to over 100,000 artifacts and specimens. Some of these individuals spent years amassing objects based on their personal interests or field of study. Even though each collector had their own unique passion, when taken together, these diverse groupings of objects provide a wealth of scientific knowledge.
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