Most magpie rhymes only go to 10, but Iona Opie and
Moira Tatem, 'A Dictionary of Superstitions' (p.236)
quotes one from Harland & Wilkinson 'Lancashire
legends' (1873) which ends 'Nine for a burying, ten
for a dance, / Eleven for England, twelve for France'.
So your magpies were being very patriotic (if you like
in England, that is). I once saw 17 feeding in a field
-- no idea what that portended!
Jacqueline
--- D E <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> happy new year all
>
>
> a query here for our several awesome folklorists,
> plus any others that may be able to help
>
> I presume many of you are familiar with the common
> rhyme about Magpies: "one for sorrow, two for
> joy...." etc
>
> but does anyone know if it goes as far as eleven?
>
> reason is, i one had eleven magpies laughing at me
> from the same tree, on a very auspicious day
> (academically) and it has always bugged me, as i've
> been unable to find a reference anywhere that gives
> the rhyme up to eleven
>
> thanks in advance for any comments
>
>
> Dave e
>
> (the custom of saluting Magpies is something i'm
> also interested in)
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