Donald Talbott
Well Known Member.
I was told many years ago if a Robin enters your house it will bring you bad luck. Also when you see a Magpie you have to say good morning Mr Magpie hows your wife today. Does any BF Members have anymore to add.
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Superstitions and Myths. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Donald Talbott
- Start date
Mary Evelyn
New member
Hi Donald,
It wasn't just the Robin here .It was all birds.My mum rescued them and brought them indoors for a while before putting them into our aviary,but if a bird flew into our house, of it's own accord, she would panic.My late gran wouldn't have a christmas card or picture of a bird in the house.I recall many people here thinking all birds were bad luck.
I have never spoken to a Magpie
but I know the saying 1 for sorrow,2 for joy etc.always comes to mind when I see one.
I have heard that if you first see a Robin land, it is good luck but if you first see it fly off ,it is bad luck.
Strange isn't it I have never thought about superstitions like this, for years.
It wasn't just the Robin here .It was all birds.My mum rescued them and brought them indoors for a while before putting them into our aviary,but if a bird flew into our house, of it's own accord, she would panic.My late gran wouldn't have a christmas card or picture of a bird in the house.I recall many people here thinking all birds were bad luck.
I have never spoken to a Magpie
but I know the saying 1 for sorrow,2 for joy etc.always comes to mind when I see one.I have heard that if you first see a Robin land, it is good luck but if you first see it fly off ,it is bad luck.
Strange isn't it I have never thought about superstitions like this, for years.
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matt green
Norfolkman gone walkabout
the ellizabethans thought that swallowing a large house spider whole wrapped in a piece of bread would cure gout and ague...nice!
there's no sheds on the surface of the moon but if there
were it would lean slightly and have at least one spider in the corner!
[shed facts]
there's no sheds on the surface of the moon but if there
were it would lean slightly and have at least one spider in the corner!
[shed facts]
If when you hear your first Cuckoo, you have money in your pocket, then you're in for a year of wealth, if penniless, then penniless you'll remain.
Very common saying out here.
Very common saying out here.
|=)|
Very similar to my Cornish Grandmother who used to say Good morning Mr Magpie how do you do you do (sic)
Another superstition concerns saluting Magpies when you see them.I am not sure where this comes from,but can remember my Mother (Cornish again) insisting we do this so we did not incur bad luck. |=)|
Donald Talbott said:
Very similar to my Cornish Grandmother who used to say Good morning Mr Magpie how do you do you do (sic)
Another superstition concerns saluting Magpies when you see them.I am not sure where this comes from,but can remember my Mother (Cornish again) insisting we do this so we did not incur bad luck. |=)|
cuckooroller
Registered User
Donald Talbott said:
Donald,
It is strange how superstitions vary with geography. In Italy, a Robin entering your house will bring you good luck!
Gus Horsley
Well-known member
In Cornwall, if tin miners saw a jackdaw on their way to work, it meant somebody was going to die underground.
In Malta, if you see a bird, it's unlucky not to shoot it.
Gus
In Malta, if you see a bird, it's unlucky not to shoot it.
Gus
KnockerNorton
Well-known member
In 19th Century Yorkshire, and probably more widespread than that, it was bad luck to harm nesting swallows, no matter where they were. One family allowed a pair to nest on the curtain rail inside the house, rather than disturb them and risk bad luck. Another East Riding banker, who owned farms, sent his sons out to clear one site. They demolished a barn, breeding swallows and all, and the banker reputedly went bust shortly after. This was attributed to harming the swallows.
Bringing birds into the house was unlucky in many working class areas (e.g. south London and docklands, Yorkshire), part of a whole raft of superstitions. I'm 30, and my grandparents were both strict adherents, but my parents only mildly so, and I couldn't care less, which is pretty typical - i.e. these susperstitions have few living adherents now.
Bringing birds into the house was unlucky in many working class areas (e.g. south London and docklands, Yorkshire), part of a whole raft of superstitions. I'm 30, and my grandparents were both strict adherents, but my parents only mildly so, and I couldn't care less, which is pretty typical - i.e. these susperstitions have few living adherents now.
Keithec
'Green Scum'
Stranger said:
Magpie saluting is a London superstition as well. I have taught in London for many years and children often do it when I go out on a trip with them. They will tell you that it is bad luck not to.
I have heard that any bird flying into a house or even trying to is a portent of death.
Another is pigeons crowded on a roof means a death in that house, although I have not often heard that one.
In Europe a stork nesting on your roof is very good luck which presumably is one reason why there is a long history of them being encouraged to do so.
There is also one about burning hair when you have cut your hair. I think it is supposed to be bad luck for a bird to take it and use it for nest material. Might be something to do with starlings that one.
Keith
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Keithec
'Green Scum'
I have just found this which was written in 1898 about Irish superstitions about birds. Unfortunately I am not sure of the source;
"Here are a few bird superstitions: If an Osprey be shot along any coast, all the herring and mackerel will immediately disappear. If the Hen-harrier, which only hunts by twilight, is missed from its accustomed raptorial haunt, some evil spirit is said to be hovering about the locality. When Water-ousels appear in the spring time in unusual numbers in any unfrequented locality, it is a sign of abundance of fresh-water fish, but also a token of the approach of malignant disease. On the west coast in the early spring the poor fisherman watches early and late for the Gannet. He calls it the Solan, or Swift-flying Goose. If it does not come his heart sinks, for there will be no luck at fishing; but if great numbers wheel about the headlands of the coast, plenty will smile in his cabin home that year. Great numbers of Jay or Missel Thrushes feeding upon the berries of the hawthorn betoken the approach of a very cold winter, and their Grackle-like calls bring fear to the heart if the meal be low and the peat be scant in the little tenants cabin. When the nest of the Thrush or Mavis is built unusually high in the thorn-bush, this betokens a great calamity to a neighborhood, for some distressing disturbance is under way among the fairies, who in happy or friendly mood always see to it that these nests are built near their haunts in the grasses, that they may more readily enjoy the music of the thrush’s songs. The crops of sweet singing Blackbirds are supposed to hold the souls of those in purgatory until the judgment day; and whenever the Blackbird’s notes are particularly shrill, these parched and burning souls are imploring for rain, which never fails of coming in response to the bird cries for their relief. The Wicklow mountains are notably the haunts of the Ring-Ousel or Mountain Stars. Whenever, after singing his fine deep song, he hesitates for a time, and then is heard totter a loud, shrill and prolonged whistle, that night every human that has heard it will remain behind barred doors; for that is a true fairy call, and the “wea folk of Wicklow” are sure to congregate in the moonlit mountain hollows and “dance rings round their swate selves” until dawn. Of course none of these dire calamities ever occur, but the simple-minded folk continue to have faith in them, and the innocent birds remain the supposed precursors of the, to them, mysterious misinterpreted operations of nature."
Keith
"Here are a few bird superstitions: If an Osprey be shot along any coast, all the herring and mackerel will immediately disappear. If the Hen-harrier, which only hunts by twilight, is missed from its accustomed raptorial haunt, some evil spirit is said to be hovering about the locality. When Water-ousels appear in the spring time in unusual numbers in any unfrequented locality, it is a sign of abundance of fresh-water fish, but also a token of the approach of malignant disease. On the west coast in the early spring the poor fisherman watches early and late for the Gannet. He calls it the Solan, or Swift-flying Goose. If it does not come his heart sinks, for there will be no luck at fishing; but if great numbers wheel about the headlands of the coast, plenty will smile in his cabin home that year. Great numbers of Jay or Missel Thrushes feeding upon the berries of the hawthorn betoken the approach of a very cold winter, and their Grackle-like calls bring fear to the heart if the meal be low and the peat be scant in the little tenants cabin. When the nest of the Thrush or Mavis is built unusually high in the thorn-bush, this betokens a great calamity to a neighborhood, for some distressing disturbance is under way among the fairies, who in happy or friendly mood always see to it that these nests are built near their haunts in the grasses, that they may more readily enjoy the music of the thrush’s songs. The crops of sweet singing Blackbirds are supposed to hold the souls of those in purgatory until the judgment day; and whenever the Blackbird’s notes are particularly shrill, these parched and burning souls are imploring for rain, which never fails of coming in response to the bird cries for their relief. The Wicklow mountains are notably the haunts of the Ring-Ousel or Mountain Stars. Whenever, after singing his fine deep song, he hesitates for a time, and then is heard totter a loud, shrill and prolonged whistle, that night every human that has heard it will remain behind barred doors; for that is a true fairy call, and the “wea folk of Wicklow” are sure to congregate in the moonlit mountain hollows and “dance rings round their swate selves” until dawn. Of course none of these dire calamities ever occur, but the simple-minded folk continue to have faith in them, and the innocent birds remain the supposed precursors of the, to them, mysterious misinterpreted operations of nature."
Keith
samuel walker
It's OK to be a little blue........
I am a mariner who will not kill an albatross.
Sam
Sam
alancairns
Well-known member
samuel walker said:
Very wise. Look at the precedent.
Alan
Terry O'Nolley
Cow-headed Jaybird
Getting hit with a bird-dropping is supposed to be good luck.
I'll bet that one started when some gentleman got shat upon in the presence of the lady he was wooing and to try and rescue the situation he made up that story
I'll bet that one started when some gentleman got shat upon in the presence of the lady he was wooing and to try and rescue the situation he made up that story
Talon 1
Well-known member
Truth
In victorian days on Boxing day many would go Wren hunting and when killed would Perade it for all to see in the village.
I am sure somebody will know more but it was something to do with the Wren giving away a secret about God or something and was seen as a traitor of Man.
I believe that although fewer it still went on in the 1950's in some parts.
In victorian days on Boxing day many would go Wren hunting and when killed would Perade it for all to see in the village.
I am sure somebody will know more but it was something to do with the Wren giving away a secret about God or something and was seen as a traitor of Man.
I believe that although fewer it still went on in the 1950's in some parts.
Keithec
'Green Scum'
Free said:
Yes I have heard versions of that one but can't remember them too clearly. I think it may have an ancient pre-Christian connection - wrens being very small and able to go where others couldn't. There are also stories of treachery by wrens. One is about a wren allerting sleeping Vikings to a surprise attack by Irish defenders - which I think is connected to the existence of wren hunting in Ireland.
Keith
Joern Lehmhus
Well-known member
A superstition from Germany:
If you hear the first cuckoo of the year, you at once have to count the money in your purse and you will never run out of money for that year
.... tried it....doesn´t work too well...
If you hear the first cuckoo of the year, you at once have to count the money in your purse and you will never run out of money for that year
.... tried it....doesn´t work too well...
Joern Lehmhus
Well-known member
cuckooroller said:
That being the reason some Italians have them on toast?! :storm:
Joern Lehmhus
Well-known member
Sorry for the above-bad taste , but couldn´t resist...
Another thing: in the highlands in Scotland I was told that Golden Plovers flying over the house and calling during night-time bring bad luck or even death to family members. Does anybody have an idea why?
Another thing: in the highlands in Scotland I was told that Golden Plovers flying over the house and calling during night-time bring bad luck or even death to family members. Does anybody have an idea why?
