The Lone Magpie Page

What do you do when you see a lone magpie?

Many people in Britain and Ireland believe that it is bad luck to look upon a lone magpie. Over the years I have heard up little snatches of folklore regarding the appropriate reaction in order to ward off bad luck and these things have spurred my curiosity.

For example, I have encountered people in Northern Ireland who will wave to the lone bird and say: "Good morning, Mister Magpie, I hope you find a mate." Apparently it is customary in Scotland to salute the lone magpie but the best custom I've ever heard of is from Yorkshire and involves making a cawing, magpie-like noise and flapping your arms like wings. The idea is that you're being the magpie's mate so that it is no longer along. Noisy but entertaining.

After hearing of the Yorkshire custom I felt I had to open the question up to the wider world - does anyone else know of any curious customs and superstitions associated with lone magpies? Do other parts of the world have similar superstitions?

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