Magpies

[nelliebee]

I have four magpies on my back lawn at the moment, does anyone know what "four for a boy" is supposed to mean.? Thank you

[Prudie]

As a child I always thought it meant you were going to get a boyfriend. I knew it as
One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a letter
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told.

[shoota]

Three for a girl,
Four for a boy.

ie The sex of your next child.......

[nelliebee]

Thank you both, A big shock about the baby, shoota, especially for a 71 yr old !!

[Prudie]

It's my view that it was always 3 for a letter until the children's TV programme Magpie used it as a theme song. As they issued badges to viewers they changed it to girl and boy so both sexes could benefit.

[cupid04]

I sometimes hear the dulcet tones of magpies in my garden even after dark.
Do they hunt prey at night too?

[shoota]

Better that than the old old version Nell:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_for_Sorrow_(nursery_rhyme)

[grasscarp]

I have magpies nesting under the eaves

[Caran]

I also knew this version
One for a wish
Two for a kiss
Three's a disappointment
Fours a letter
Fives something better
Six is a journey to go.

[Georgiesmum]

Caran. i always knew it as
Once a wish
twice a kiss
three times a letter
four times something better
(This was used whenever anyone sneezed)