Donate SIGN UP

Magpies

Avatar Image
ciaralocke | 16:17 Fri 15th Oct 2004 | Phrases & Sayings
3 Answers
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?
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 3 of 3rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by ciaralocke. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
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!!

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!

 

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.

1 to 3 of 3rss feed

Do you know the answer?

Magpies

Answer Question >>