Hello Mrs Magpie, and Ants in Your Pants

[countrykid]

Does anyone know if the following are local sayings, or widespead. When seeing a single Magpie, a friend of mine in the Cotswolds always has to say "Hello Mrs Magpie, how's your familiy". As one on its own is bad luck, the suggestion of a family is like saying there is more than one, and thus no bad luck will follow. Just a guess. The second one is something we said as kids (living in the Midlands) -"Ants in your pants, makes your belly button dance" When someone fidgets alot, it is sometimes said they must have ants in their pants. I suspect as kids, we addded the last bit just because it rhymed. Again just a guess. Any one no for sure? Thanks

[Quizmonster]

I believe the more common greeting is, "Good morning Mr Magpie." Magpies are the subject of superstition wherever they are found for some reason, so I imagine a similar greeting to fend off ill luck is widespread.
"Ants in your pants" started as an Americanism, first appearing over there in the 1930s. It is pretty universally used in the English-speaking world nowadays.

[sweetsleeps]

okay magpies usauly go around in pairs and usualy see them together if you dont and yo wait a few minutes the other one always turns up unless they have baby magpies to feed etc 1 for sorrow
2 for joy
3 for a girl
4 for a boy
5 for silver
6 for gold
7 for a secret never to be told
i know there is more buy thats all i know

[sweetsleeps]

by greeting it you are trying to turn the bad luck away!!!

[redcrx]

here in Norfolk we say "Hello Mr Magpie, how's your wife and kids?"

[sophie_1003]

I always thought it was a bit harsh to ask a single magpie 'How's your wife today?', unless of course we are assuming she is back at the nest with the kids! I've also seen people saluting single magpies.

[ELVIS68]

In Norfolk Mr Magpies wife is his sister ;o)

[20SilkCut]

I always salute a single magpie and say 'Good morning Mr Magpie'.....
i do feel a bit silly doing it tho....

[saxy_jag]

I usually say, 'hello Mr Magpie, how's your wife today?', for the same reason you say your version, countrykid. I salute them too - don't know why. The luck has some truth in that magpies generally mate for life, so seeing one on its own is indeed bad luck, for the magpie at least, because it could well mean that its mate has died.

I once met a girl who maintained that as long as two or more people witnessed the same single magpie simultaneously, then that would cancel out any bad luck, but I'm not sure how valid that one is.

American or British, if you had ants in your pants (either your trousers or your underpants, depending on where you're from), then you certainly would be fidgeting some, especially if the ants were the biting sort.

[SurreyGuy]

I always say "Hello Mr.Magpie, how's your wifae and family?" - it never fails to get me looked at strangely! :o)

[tearinghair]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who talks to magpies. I have a friend who always says 'Good morning (afternoon, evening etc), Sir Charles, I hope your family is well'. Think that's a bit upmarket!

[sherrardk]

I salute single magpies but don't say anything to them anymore - had to wean myself off that habit when I was teaching as the kids were starting to think I was bonkers.

[askyourgran]

Just to add to sweetsleeps numbered magpies:-
8 for a wish
9 for a kiss
10 for a letter full of bliss.
Good Morning Mr Magpie, and ants in your pants in Yorkshire too.