Monday, February 14, 2011

Birdwatching Could Be Worth Your While

Since today is Valentine's Day, I figured I would try to find some kind of myth revolving around Valentine's Day and finding love and what not. I turned to the oh so trusty google and found an interesting myth involving the sighting of birds. According to this myth, the first bird an unwed woman sees on Valentine's Day will tell her something about her future marriage or the man she will marry. Interesting stuff. Personally the first bird I saw this morning was a duck since I had class in Howard Hall and had to walk by the duck pond to get up to Wilson so my marriage will be homely and stable... I guess that's good, lol. What kind of birds did YOU see this morning?


Blackbird: he'll be involved in charitable or spiritual work – an aid worker of vicar
Dove: your marriage to him will be happy and loving
Robin: he earns his living through water – a naval officer or fisherman
Sparrow: he works with the land – a farmer or tree surgeon
Blue bird: he likes to make others smile – a comedian
Woodpecker: no marriage will take place
Duck: your relationship with him will be homely and stable
Gull: he travels a great deal for work
Birds of prey: he is a businessman, politician or leader
Goldfinch: he is a person of means
Kingfisher: he has already done well or inherited money
Pigeon: he will eventually return to the place where he grew up


Some theories behind this myth include the belief that birds used to choose their mates on Valentine's Day. It seems to me that for some unknown reason, humans think they need to be like the birds so they decided to look to the birds to help them choose. Also, farms were very popular on Valentine's Day. Why you ask? Well according to this myth, seeing a hen with a cockeral (which I believe is a rooster) meant that you would get married soon! I wonder how well that went over....

3 comments:

  1. Why does the woodpecker mean no marriage?! Freud would have a field day with that one!

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  2. I'm not entirely sure but every myth I've found is adamant about avoiding the woods so they must have a good reason! I have yet to find any reasons behind this but if I come across some I'll post it.

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  3. That's really interesting! I wonder if it's at all accurate...

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