hello mr magpie, say good morning to your wife

[mobtail]

does anyone know the rest of this rhyme

[SaxyJag]

I didn't realise there was a rhyme to it. Round here we say 'hello Mr Magpie, how's your wife today?'

[katie21179]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Phrases_and_Say ings/Question36314.html

[n00dles]

Magpies mate for life (one partner only), so if a magpie is seen on his own, it is hoped that his wife is nearby, and he is not 'widowed'.

So, One for sorrow/Two for Joy, is what the rhyme originally signified....before it was corrupted and lenghened.

But.........How do you know that when you say "Hello Mr Magpie....." your not talking to his wife?!? Lol ;-)

[n00dles]

Even *lengthened* !!

[lankeela]

I used to say 'good morning mr magpie hows your wife and kids' every time I saw one as it was supposed to be unlucky if you didn't acknowledge it. My friend always puts a finger to her forehead (like a sort of salute). I came to the conclusion that it was all a load of b*llocks and stopped doing it, and I'm still ...aaaaggghhhhhh

[Sphinx_Svens]

Lanleeka ... my sister always salutes them too ... christ knows where that came from ... no-one else I know does it ... hang on, I do now ...your friend