One for Sorrow,

Two for Joy.

Three for a Girl,

Four for a Boy.

Five for Silver,

Six for Gold.

Seven for a Secret,

Never to be told.

The Magpie (Pica Pica) is a creature of superstition, attached to stories, songs and salutes. Associated with the devil, theft and death, it is a bird which has a history of folktales and narratives.

I’ve spent the last week researching the lore of the Magpie. Many of the stories are mixed up and interweaved, without there being any clear narrative but some of the most interesting things I have found out have been:

• In Scotland, the Magpie was occasionally called ‘the Devil’s Bird’, as it was believed to have a drop of the devil’s blood either in or under its tongue.
• The Magpie did not wear all black and go into full mourning after Christ’s crucifixion, and it is thus a representative of the devil.
• In Germany and Northern Europe, witches can take on the form of the Magpie, or they can ride it.
• If a single Magpie is seen next to the window of a house, it foreshadows death or potentially an unwanted visitor

As many people know, when Magpies are seen (particularly if there is a single Magpie) it is customary to address the bird. Some people may ask:

“Good Morning, Mr Magpie – how is your lady-wife?”

Others may spit either over their shoulder or in the direction of the bird saying:

“Devil, devil, I defy thee” (or an equivalent phrase)

There are also numerous variations on the well-known Magpie song/rhyme:

“One is Sorrow, Two is Mirth,

Three a

 Wedding, Four a Birth,

Five Heaven, Six Hell,

Seven the deil’s ain sell”

Or:

“Five for Rich, Six for Poor,

Seven for a witch – I can tell you no more!”

Or even:

“Five for a Fiddle, Six for a Dance,

Seven for England, Eight for France”

Making and Breaking a Narrative (Initial Research) / Edward Cawood by blogadmin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0