Superstitions.

I wouldn't say I have superstitions but on the subject of magpies I have noticed some strange coincidences. A solitary magpie first appeared in the immediate area a couple of years back. On the day I noticed it first venture into next door's garden a very close relative of Mrs Next Door died. That lone magpie has been alone ever since - until last week when one became two. On that day we got some really good news. Like I say, I put it down to being more a coincidence than anything else but it does make you wonder. If there is anything in the old rhyme I certainly don't want to see any more!

I'm not at all superstitious, but out of habit more than anything I often salute a lone magpie and I also 'touch wood'!

Hi all,

Yes I confess too at saluting lone magpies - When I first met my OH, he never knew about this superstition and often looked at me funny when I did it.  One day I saw more than one lone magpie in a space of a couple of hours so was busy saluting each one without realising I was doing it, when in the end he had to ask if I had some sort of OCD!

Hi,

I refuse to walk under ladders, and have only recently cured myself of obsessive saluting of magpies.  I also touch wood, (ie patting my head, although the wife once half killed me for tapping one of the kids....)

Magpies - one for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl and four for a boy!    We had a single magpie in the garden one day and later that day had a knock in the car - my daughter blamed the magpie - I blamed the driver driving too fast down a single country lane!

Never cross knives - otherwise you will have an argument.   If you are given a knife as a present - pay a penny for it otherwise you cut the friendship.   Never give an empty purse - otherwise it will always be empty.  Pearls are for tears. 

Am not that superstitious altho I do tend to make sure knives are uncrossed in the washing up bowl!  Oh! just remembered blue and green should never been seen - unlucky to wear them together but the sky is blue and grass is green?????  Great fun!

I remember my Mum once was given a peacock feather as a present, after politely thanking the person who gave it to her, once they had left she promptly threw it in the bin! 

I was always told never to put shoes on the table and not to open umbrellas indoors! (which are both really quite sensible, if you think about it...)

I remember one of my aunts had a chant whenever she saw an ambulance, it would go along the lines of "Touch your collar and never swallow until you saw a brown dog".  I googled this and apparently it was more common in the east end of London which is where my dad's family orginally came from.

Unknown said:

I remember one of my aunts had a chant whenever she saw an ambulance, it would go along the lines of "Touch your collar and never swallow until you saw a brown dog".  I googled this and apparently it was more common in the east end of London which is where my dad's family orginally came from.

This reminds me of something my mother would say whenever she saw an ambulance: "Touch my collar to be a scholar and never to be a patient."

Paul.