Magpie (xi que)

The "bird of joy" and of good omen, brings joy, often married bliss. Its call heralds good news or the arrival of a guest. "Two magpies" was pronounced the same as "two happinesses," so a painting of two magpies was a pictorial metaphor for double happiness and thus an appropriate subject for a painting to be given to someone to express congratulations, especially for a wedding.

The myth also has it that if a man and a wife had to separate for a while they would brake a mirror and take a half each. If the woman succumbed to other men in the meantime, her half would turn into a magpie and fly back to her husband. See also: Bird

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© Jan-Erik Nilsson, Gothenburg, Sweden 1998-2007