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This is the Conversation Forum for Superstitions << Old Wives Tales Some more good and bad superstitions >> Subject: Waving to Magpies Posted Jul 26, 2000 by Maolmuire   Posting 1 Waving to magpies is supposed to ward off any bad luck that you may have picked up by seeing them or whatever. A lot of people still do it today. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: Waving to Magpies Posted Oct 1, 2002 by Grimmelshausen This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 2 Actually, the authorised version, as handed down to me by my Gran, is that you SALUTE the Magpie (single magpies only) and say "Good Morning Mr Magpie, and How is Mrs Magpie?" Then you keep your fingers crossed until you see a four legged animal Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: Waving to Magpies Posted Feb 21, 2003 by arwen, doing nasty essays. being a student should *not* involve work! This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 3 i always heard that you had to say 'good morning sir!' didnt hear anything about saluting. does anyone remember the magpie rhyme? i knew one, but then heard a completely different one; one for sorrow two for joy three for a girl four for a boy five for silver six for gold seven for a secret never to be told is the original one i heard, but then came across this; one for sorrow two for mirth three for a death four for a birth five for heaven six for hell seven for the devil, his own sel' anyone know which one, if any, is the original? or anyone heard of any more? Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: Waving to Magpies Posted Aug 17, 2003 by Kezib This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 4 I have heard a number of ways to ward off the bad luck which comes from seeing a single Magpie. These include, saying "Good Morning/Afternoon Mr Magpie (one always has to assume it's male??), also saluting it, and lastly you have to chatter with your hand to it! Being wary of single Magpies, I once had a terrible day and all because I didn't say good morning to the Magpie by the side of the road, I can safely inform you that I look and sound a complete fool whenever I see a lonely little Magpie! Subject: Waving to Magpies Posted Nov 3, 2006 by thisisalloneword This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 5 Yes, you should salute not wave, though I've been brung up to say "morning Mr Magpie, and how's the lady wife?" which you have to say morning, noon or night. Never heard of the crossed fingers - sounds like pure superstition to me... Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: Waving to Magpies Posted Nov 13, 2006 by buttonsforeyes This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 6 According to Francesca Greenoak in her book 'British Birds: Their Folklore, Names and Literature', one of the earliest rhymes dates back to the 18th Century and goes 'One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a wedding, four for a death'. I've also heard 'One for sorrow, two for mirth, three for a wedding, four for a death', which is better because at least it rhymes. What happens if you see one magpie, salute it, then notice a second magpie? Have you cancelled out the good luck by saluting one and not the other? Subject: Waving to Magpies Posted Dec 18, 2006 by mc7198 This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 7 The first rhyme you mentioned is the only one i know or have heard of but the version i know goes up to ten: one for sorrow two for joy three for a girl four for a boy five for silver six for gold seven for a secret never to be told eight's a wish Nine's a kiss and ten is a bird that you should not miss. Also for a single magpie (from where i come from) you always saluted it and said goodmorning mr magpie hope your well today. Conversation list Most of the content on h2g2 is created by h2g2's Researchers, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click on the relevant button to alert our Moderation Team. Conversation list

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