Magpies

[ciaralocke]

Why is one magpie for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl and four for a boy? where and why did this expression come from?

[ali_alic]

Originally its because Magpies are supposed to mate for life, so if you see a single magpie it means he/she has lost their mate ie one for sorrow, two for joy.  3 and 4 - have no idea unless the TV program Magpie developed the song!!

[linseli]

Thames TV took Magpie from an old nursery rhyme rather than the other way around. Depending on who you listen to it's either a Scottish counting rhyme, a way to predict the future or both!

 

There are a few versions of it too - instead of 3 for a girl, 4 for a boy, many years ago my gran (a very superstitious Scottish lady) taught me the rhyme

 

One for sorrow, two for mirth,
Three for a wedding, four for a birth,
Five for silver, six for gold,
Seven for a secret not to be told
Eight for heaven, nine for hell
And ten for the devil's ane sel'

 

Because as ali_alic says magpies are supposed to mate for life someone also told me they salute a single magpie when they see one to ward off bad luck! Don't know where that superstition comes from but I hope he does it discreetly!

 

[SimonMorton]

It was originally an Italian rhyme, brought over here during the 15th century. Magpie's denote accursed luck, the counting sequence identifies steps towards a unifying vision of hell. I think.