floreat pica??

[Caz]

Alf, what exactly does this mean???


------------------
Go Pies!!!
**Caz**

[AlfAndrews]

Oh no, not this again!!!!

We had a big debate on this a couple of months back on the bulletin board.

My understanding was that "floreat pica" was Latin for "may the Magpies prosper". But there were others who pointed out that the Latin was not gramatically correct. And there were others still who disputed the translation of "pica". We got all sorts of theories from bird experts and Latin scholars as to the exact meaning.

So, bearing all this in mind, I think the founding fathers of the Club were trying to impress the rest of the football public by coming up with a Latin motto. (Knowledge of Latin was a sign of an educated person in those dark distant days). So they came up with "floreat pica", thinking that it meant "may the magpies prosper". But they didn't quite get it right. Oh, well!

But "floreat pica", whether its correct or not, is still the official motto of the Collingwood Football Club.

I hope that answers your question.

So, just let me sign off:

------------------
**floreat pica**