Interesting post, thank you. I also think of the rhyme every time I see a magpie or several, though I’m not superstitious enough to mutter a counter-charm. (I’d like to think I’m not superstitious at all, but I might be kidding myself.)
I’m of an age to remember the kids’ TV show Magpie (1968—1980) which was ITV’s attempt to compete with Blue Peter by being a bit cooler, though it never really entered the national consciousness in the same way. The theme song was a rock setting of the rhyme, but I remember it went on beyond seven:
“Eight’s a wish and nine’s a kiss
“Ten is a bird you must not miss.”
I’ve never known whether these lines are traditional (in some versions) or added specifically when the rhyme was turned into the song. I suspect the latter but I don’t know. I’m sure seven is the largest number of magpies I’ve ever seen together—they’re certainly not social like some other corvids (rooks, jackdaws). Perhaps the original rhyme only needed to go to seven.
Thank you for reading Jon. You've just sent me on a little research trip, I can't find any references in books on archive.org to eight's a wish or nine's a kiss that predate the 70s, so I reckon it must have been ITV's own invention.
If there was a rhyme for counting rooks it would have to go into the hundreds!
This was fascinating. I’ve never come across that west riding one, despite my Nana having passed stuff down to me that she got from her nana who was born in the 1870s (in the west riding, obviously). But then I’ve only heard of saluting magpies pretty recently. I did know the rhyme though.
I wish I’d written stuff down! I guess I should have phrased it more like it doesn’t ring any bells, and I would have expected it to if my Nana had mentioned it. Sometimes my memory gets jogged, but I can’t bring anything much to mind, sadly.
This landed in my "recommended posts" newsletter this week, so I'm dropping by to offer Paul McCartney's exquisite "Two Magpies" to further the dialogue ---
A very enjoyable post. Thank you. I discover in my notes that Cornish artist Rosemary Ziar collected the reminiscences of her aunt Mabel Trembath. These formed the basis for a book of folk stories which Rosemary produced and illustrated in 1991 entitled ‘Good Morrow Brother’. The greeting ‘Good morrow brother’ refers to the response of the superstitious to a magpie crossing one’s path.
There was a period a few years ago when the population of magpies around Brighton mushroomed, if that’s the right word for magpie populations. I counted 31 sitting in the same tree one day.
Thank you John. I never knew about the greeting "good morrow brother", but I've just found the book on archive.org so will definitely read it. It looks like beautiful, I love the illustrations.
31 is mad! If I see more than 7 at a time I do maths to give myself multiple fortunes, so for 31 I might decide that was 4 lots of gold and one secret never to be told.
yes, I love that song, and the show! I've got a playlist of corvid songs that I'll share in a later piece about corvids in general but that one is definitely one of my favourites.
This is a fascinating essay and beautiful photo showing all the magnificent colours in the tail! My partner taught me to salute magpies, which I don't always do, but I do greet them. I met a very young magpie today, who was obviously not as clued up on life as the older ones are.
Thank you Juliet. The younger ones are so sweet looking, I had one eat from my hand once in Finsbury park a few years ago and it was such a special moment. I think the greeting is the far more important part than the saluting anyway!
There is so much in here that I love. I religiously salute Magpies. And I have mixed feelings about them, but now I know we share a name I will feel more favourably about them.
I would like to go to Blaklulla when I die but would prefer vegetarian bacon.
yes, Blakulla sounds like a paradise to me; dancing and harp music and good food and a big meadow. It made me think of the first verse of Suicidal thoughts by Notorious BIG actually, "It don't make sense, goin' to heaven with the goodie-goodies
Dressed in white, I like black Timbs and black hoodies"
Fabulous. I've got a lot of time for magpies. All corvids for that matter. I love their trickster ways!
Interesting post, thank you. I also think of the rhyme every time I see a magpie or several, though I’m not superstitious enough to mutter a counter-charm. (I’d like to think I’m not superstitious at all, but I might be kidding myself.)
I’m of an age to remember the kids’ TV show Magpie (1968—1980) which was ITV’s attempt to compete with Blue Peter by being a bit cooler, though it never really entered the national consciousness in the same way. The theme song was a rock setting of the rhyme, but I remember it went on beyond seven:
“Eight’s a wish and nine’s a kiss
“Ten is a bird you must not miss.”
I’ve never known whether these lines are traditional (in some versions) or added specifically when the rhyme was turned into the song. I suspect the latter but I don’t know. I’m sure seven is the largest number of magpies I’ve ever seen together—they’re certainly not social like some other corvids (rooks, jackdaws). Perhaps the original rhyme only needed to go to seven.
Thank you for reading Jon. You've just sent me on a little research trip, I can't find any references in books on archive.org to eight's a wish or nine's a kiss that predate the 70s, so I reckon it must have been ITV's own invention.
If there was a rhyme for counting rooks it would have to go into the hundreds!
This was fascinating. I’ve never come across that west riding one, despite my Nana having passed stuff down to me that she got from her nana who was born in the 1870s (in the west riding, obviously). But then I’ve only heard of saluting magpies pretty recently. I did know the rhyme though.
Wow, you're so lucky to have had that stuff passed down! I'd love to hear more about it.
I wish I’d written stuff down! I guess I should have phrased it more like it doesn’t ring any bells, and I would have expected it to if my Nana had mentioned it. Sometimes my memory gets jogged, but I can’t bring anything much to mind, sadly.
This landed in my "recommended posts" newsletter this week, so I'm dropping by to offer Paul McCartney's exquisite "Two Magpies" to further the dialogue ---
I saw two magpies
A girl and a boy
One for sorrow
Two for joy
With no salutes
I move away
And long to face, face ,face
Face down fear
https://open.spotify.com/track/0u81tCCAYxKd6wJ6hoYNr2?si=77caf3e71a0044db
‘Good morning Mr magpie, how’s your mother and brother’ around these parts
That seems more respectful than how's your wife, do you salute them too?
A very enjoyable post. Thank you. I discover in my notes that Cornish artist Rosemary Ziar collected the reminiscences of her aunt Mabel Trembath. These formed the basis for a book of folk stories which Rosemary produced and illustrated in 1991 entitled ‘Good Morrow Brother’. The greeting ‘Good morrow brother’ refers to the response of the superstitious to a magpie crossing one’s path.
There was a period a few years ago when the population of magpies around Brighton mushroomed, if that’s the right word for magpie populations. I counted 31 sitting in the same tree one day.
Thank you John. I never knew about the greeting "good morrow brother", but I've just found the book on archive.org so will definitely read it. It looks like beautiful, I love the illustrations.
31 is mad! If I see more than 7 at a time I do maths to give myself multiple fortunes, so for 31 I might decide that was 4 lots of gold and one secret never to be told.
“Devil, devil, I defy thee” reminded me of this song by The Unthanks that was used in Detectorists: https://youtu.be/w6EIFD80f90?si=1Jo7cxXu_Z2J0gY-
yes, I love that song, and the show! I've got a playlist of corvid songs that I'll share in a later piece about corvids in general but that one is definitely one of my favourites.
This is a fascinating essay and beautiful photo showing all the magnificent colours in the tail! My partner taught me to salute magpies, which I don't always do, but I do greet them. I met a very young magpie today, who was obviously not as clued up on life as the older ones are.
Thank you Juliet. The younger ones are so sweet looking, I had one eat from my hand once in Finsbury park a few years ago and it was such a special moment. I think the greeting is the far more important part than the saluting anyway!
There is so much in here that I love. I religiously salute Magpies. And I have mixed feelings about them, but now I know we share a name I will feel more favourably about them.
I would like to go to Blaklulla when I die but would prefer vegetarian bacon.
A great piece Sarah that I will refer to. Thanks.
yes, Blakulla sounds like a paradise to me; dancing and harp music and good food and a big meadow. It made me think of the first verse of Suicidal thoughts by Notorious BIG actually, "It don't make sense, goin' to heaven with the goodie-goodies
Dressed in white, I like black Timbs and black hoodies"
Blakulla
A fascinating piece. I always salute magpies, but hadn't heard of tapping on the head three times and, now I know it, will have to do that too!