It's Valentine's Day on Sunday. And if a woman wishes to have an insight into the type of man she will marry, then tradition has it that the first bird seen by an unmarried woman on Valentine's Day will give her such an insight.
This may seem a flight of fancy only believed by bird-brains, but the the practice of reading omens from birds - or ornithomancy, as it is called - dates back to ancient times and was practised by the Greeks and Romans.
In fact, Valentine's Day is known as the Birds' Wedding Day in many parts of Britain.
And now, after consulting with experts on folklore, tourist chiefs in Worcestershire have compiled a list of 26 birds and what they signify based - they claim - on various sources, including Celtic, European medieval and native American Indian traditions.
They hope it will encourage singletons to pursue the hobby of bird watching.
And if you are looking for love, what birds should you be looking out for? If the first bird that a woman sees on Valentine's Day is a sparrow, she will supposedly marry a man who works with the land, such as a farmer or a gardener.
A goose means she will marry someone in communications such as a journalism, marketing or teaching.
And seeing a peacock means she will marry a man who takes pride in his appearance.
Get your binoculars out girls! How the first bird you see on Valentine's Day gives an insight into future husbands...
By David Wilkes
10th February 2010
Daily Mail
Many a single girl is doubtless hoping cards, chocolates and flowers will be winging her way from a secret admirer this Sunday.
But you need not get in too much of a flap if none of the above are forthcoming.
For a far better indication of who is destined to set your heart aflutter is apparently to be had from turning your attention to our feathered friends on February 14.
Tradition has it that the first bird seen by an unmarried woman on Valentine's Day gives an insight into the type of man she will marry and experts have now drawn up what is thought to be the most definitive guide yet to what it all means.
Wise: An owl means you'll wed a researcher
Flush: Spot a kingfisher and you'll marry money
Bad news: A crow has to cry three times for luck
Glimpse a goldfinch, for instance, and you're destined to tie the knot with a wealthy chap, while clapping eyes on a canary means you will wed a doctor.
Those who like a man in uniform should hope to spot a robin as this may indicate a life of future happiness with a naval officer.
In the unlikely event a turkey should strut by, you can look forward to spending your life with a man who cares about the environment.
But if you see a peacock, you could end up with a husband who spends longer getting ready to go out than you do. And woe betide the woman who sees a woodpecker - for it is an omen that no marriage will take place.
Roots: Seeing a pigeon means he'll return home
Navy? A robin indicates a career on the ocean
Spiritual: A blackbird means charity work
Spot any birds of prey, and you might marry a politician - but don't be too disheartened as it could also mean a businessman or a leader.
ORNITHOMANCY
Looking for omens in birds dates back to ancient Greece and Rome.
In both societies, the birds' actions were studied and interpreted to see if the gods approved of actions that were being planned, such as a wedding or building a public monument.
It was not used to foretell the future but to ascertain the gods' will.
It was mainly the flights and songs of birds that were studied. In Greece, the practice was called ornithomancy, and in Rome augury.
The earliest references to it are thought to be in Homer's epic poems. In the Odyssey, an eagle appears three times, each time flying to the right, gripping a dead dove in its talons.
This was interpreted as meaning Odysseus was returning home and would deal with his wife's suitors.
Roman bird diviners would stand on a hill then, with a stick, indicate an area of sky in which omens were to appear.
They studied the flight only of certain birds, mainly eagles and vultures, and the calls of certain others, such as ravens, crows, and chickens.
There were differences between interpretations in the two cultures. For example, Greeks regarded signs on the right to be favourable, whereas in Roman practice the left was considered favourable; and the Romans regarded an owl as an ill omen, unlike the Greeks.
The Romans believed an owl signified death - and believed the deaths of Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar and Agrippa were all predicted by the hoot of an owl.
It might all sound like a flight of fancy, but the practice of reading omens from birds - or ornithomancy, as it is called - dates back to ancient times and was practised by the Greeks and Romans.
After consulting with experts on folklore, tourist chiefs in Worcestershire compiled the list of 26 birds and what they signify based - they claim - on various sources, including Celtic, European medieval and native American Indian traditions.
They hope it will encourage singletons to take up the less than romantic sounding hobby of birdwatching as an antidote to loneliness.
A Destination Worcestershire spokesman said there has been a long-held belief that Valentines Day celebrations stem from the notion that the date is the start of the nesting season for birds and the day when they pair up for the Spring.
For instance, in his work the Parliament of Fowls, the celebrated 14th century English poet Chaucer wrote: ‘For this was sent on Valentine's Day, when every foul cometh there to choose his mate’.
Hence, in many parts of the UK Valentine's Day is known as the Birds' Wedding Day, the spokesman said.
The organisation is holding a bird watching meeting on 14 February in Worcester at 11am with the aim of getting their new initiative off to a flying start.
Ornithologist Steve Whitehouse, who will help the novice twitchers identify their first bird of the day, said: 'It's a great way to meet people. I met my own wife whilst bird watching, and there are a lot of these birds across Worcestershire.'
'Who knows these like-minded people might find romance amongst themselves.'
So what is the best bird to hope to spot? Probably a dove, as it apparently means the marriage will be happy and loving.
Other 'Love Birds' include:
Sparrow: Someone who works with the land – a farmer, landscape gardener or tree surgeon, for example.
Duck: You’ll find a stable and homely relationship without many highs but without the lows that often go hand-in-hand with emotion.
Goose: Someone in communications such as a journalism, marketing or teaching.
Magpie: You will meet someone who is entrepreneurial and quick to spot a great opportunity.
Quick thinker: A magpie means a businessman
Earthy: See a sparrow and you'll marry a farmer
For life: Spot a swan and he'll be a long-termer
Wren: Your husband will be someone whose home is where the heart is, who counts their blessings and is not driven by material possessions
Canary: A man who is involved in healing – a doctor or a therapist, for example.
Finch: Someone who is very sociable through their work such as a sales person or hair dresser.
Kingfisher: You'll meet a man who has already done well or inherited money – life is for living and enjoying the good time.
Owl: Recognised as wise, this person is likely to be involved in research or an academia.
Peacock: He is someone who takes a pride in their appearance or who needs to look good for the job they do.
Starling: He will be a man who works within a big organisation or with a large group of people but who makes themselves heard.
Swan: Someone involved in the arts such as a writer, an artist or dance who will be at your side for the long-term.
Turkey: A man who loves nature and is passionate to protect the world we live in.
Pheasant: He will be hardworking and tenacious, this person can turn their hand to anything they want to.
dailymail.co.uk
This may seem a flight of fancy only believed by bird-brains, but the the practice of reading omens from birds - or ornithomancy, as it is called - dates back to ancient times and was practised by the Greeks and Romans.
In fact, Valentine's Day is known as the Birds' Wedding Day in many parts of Britain.
And now, after consulting with experts on folklore, tourist chiefs in Worcestershire have compiled a list of 26 birds and what they signify based - they claim - on various sources, including Celtic, European medieval and native American Indian traditions.
They hope it will encourage singletons to pursue the hobby of bird watching.
And if you are looking for love, what birds should you be looking out for? If the first bird that a woman sees on Valentine's Day is a sparrow, she will supposedly marry a man who works with the land, such as a farmer or a gardener.
A goose means she will marry someone in communications such as a journalism, marketing or teaching.
And seeing a peacock means she will marry a man who takes pride in his appearance.
Get your binoculars out girls! How the first bird you see on Valentine's Day gives an insight into future husbands...
By David Wilkes
10th February 2010
Daily Mail
Many a single girl is doubtless hoping cards, chocolates and flowers will be winging her way from a secret admirer this Sunday.
But you need not get in too much of a flap if none of the above are forthcoming.
For a far better indication of who is destined to set your heart aflutter is apparently to be had from turning your attention to our feathered friends on February 14.
Tradition has it that the first bird seen by an unmarried woman on Valentine's Day gives an insight into the type of man she will marry and experts have now drawn up what is thought to be the most definitive guide yet to what it all means.
Wise: An owl means you'll wed a researcher
Flush: Spot a kingfisher and you'll marry money
Bad news: A crow has to cry three times for luck
Glimpse a goldfinch, for instance, and you're destined to tie the knot with a wealthy chap, while clapping eyes on a canary means you will wed a doctor.
Those who like a man in uniform should hope to spot a robin as this may indicate a life of future happiness with a naval officer.
In the unlikely event a turkey should strut by, you can look forward to spending your life with a man who cares about the environment.
But if you see a peacock, you could end up with a husband who spends longer getting ready to go out than you do. And woe betide the woman who sees a woodpecker - for it is an omen that no marriage will take place.
Roots: Seeing a pigeon means he'll return home
Navy? A robin indicates a career on the ocean
Spiritual: A blackbird means charity work
Spot any birds of prey, and you might marry a politician - but don't be too disheartened as it could also mean a businessman or a leader.
ORNITHOMANCY
Looking for omens in birds dates back to ancient Greece and Rome.
In both societies, the birds' actions were studied and interpreted to see if the gods approved of actions that were being planned, such as a wedding or building a public monument.
It was not used to foretell the future but to ascertain the gods' will.
It was mainly the flights and songs of birds that were studied. In Greece, the practice was called ornithomancy, and in Rome augury.
The earliest references to it are thought to be in Homer's epic poems. In the Odyssey, an eagle appears three times, each time flying to the right, gripping a dead dove in its talons.
This was interpreted as meaning Odysseus was returning home and would deal with his wife's suitors.
Roman bird diviners would stand on a hill then, with a stick, indicate an area of sky in which omens were to appear.
They studied the flight only of certain birds, mainly eagles and vultures, and the calls of certain others, such as ravens, crows, and chickens.
There were differences between interpretations in the two cultures. For example, Greeks regarded signs on the right to be favourable, whereas in Roman practice the left was considered favourable; and the Romans regarded an owl as an ill omen, unlike the Greeks.
The Romans believed an owl signified death - and believed the deaths of Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar and Agrippa were all predicted by the hoot of an owl.
It might all sound like a flight of fancy, but the practice of reading omens from birds - or ornithomancy, as it is called - dates back to ancient times and was practised by the Greeks and Romans.
After consulting with experts on folklore, tourist chiefs in Worcestershire compiled the list of 26 birds and what they signify based - they claim - on various sources, including Celtic, European medieval and native American Indian traditions.
They hope it will encourage singletons to take up the less than romantic sounding hobby of birdwatching as an antidote to loneliness.
A Destination Worcestershire spokesman said there has been a long-held belief that Valentines Day celebrations stem from the notion that the date is the start of the nesting season for birds and the day when they pair up for the Spring.
For instance, in his work the Parliament of Fowls, the celebrated 14th century English poet Chaucer wrote: ‘For this was sent on Valentine's Day, when every foul cometh there to choose his mate’.
Hence, in many parts of the UK Valentine's Day is known as the Birds' Wedding Day, the spokesman said.
The organisation is holding a bird watching meeting on 14 February in Worcester at 11am with the aim of getting their new initiative off to a flying start.
Ornithologist Steve Whitehouse, who will help the novice twitchers identify their first bird of the day, said: 'It's a great way to meet people. I met my own wife whilst bird watching, and there are a lot of these birds across Worcestershire.'
'Who knows these like-minded people might find romance amongst themselves.'
So what is the best bird to hope to spot? Probably a dove, as it apparently means the marriage will be happy and loving.
Other 'Love Birds' include:
Sparrow: Someone who works with the land – a farmer, landscape gardener or tree surgeon, for example.
Duck: You’ll find a stable and homely relationship without many highs but without the lows that often go hand-in-hand with emotion.
Goose: Someone in communications such as a journalism, marketing or teaching.
Magpie: You will meet someone who is entrepreneurial and quick to spot a great opportunity.
Quick thinker: A magpie means a businessman
Earthy: See a sparrow and you'll marry a farmer
For life: Spot a swan and he'll be a long-termer
Wren: Your husband will be someone whose home is where the heart is, who counts their blessings and is not driven by material possessions
Canary: A man who is involved in healing – a doctor or a therapist, for example.
Finch: Someone who is very sociable through their work such as a sales person or hair dresser.
Kingfisher: You'll meet a man who has already done well or inherited money – life is for living and enjoying the good time.
Owl: Recognised as wise, this person is likely to be involved in research or an academia.
Peacock: He is someone who takes a pride in their appearance or who needs to look good for the job they do.
Starling: He will be a man who works within a big organisation or with a large group of people but who makes themselves heard.
Swan: Someone involved in the arts such as a writer, an artist or dance who will be at your side for the long-term.
Turkey: A man who loves nature and is passionate to protect the world we live in.
Pheasant: He will be hardworking and tenacious, this person can turn their hand to anything they want to.
dailymail.co.uk