Sailors' superstitions aresuperstitions particular to sailors or mariners, and which traditionally have been common around the world. Some of these beliefs are popular superstitions, while others are better described as traditions, stories,folklore,tropes, myths, orlegends. The origins of many of these superstitions are based in the inherent risks of sailing, andluck, either good or bad, as well as portents andomens that would be given associative meaning in relation to the life of a mariner, sailor, fisherman, or a crew in general. Even in the 21st century, "fishers and related fishing workers" in the U.S. have the second-most dangerous occupation, trailing onlyloggers.[1]
By far the best known sailors' superstitions involve bad luck.
Sailors are taught if thesunrise is red to take warning. The day ahead will be dangerous. "Red Sky at night, Sailors delight; Red Sky in the morning, Sailors take warning." It may also be said as; "Red at morning, Sailor's warning; Red at night, Sailor's delight," or "Red sky at night, Sailor's delight; Red sky at morn, Sailor be warned."
This saying actually has some scientific validity, although it assumesstorm systems will approach from the west, and is therefore generally correct only atmid-latitudes where, due tothe rotation of theEarth,prevailing winds travel west to east. If the morning skies are red, it is because clear skies over the horizon to the east permit the sun to light the undersides of moisture-bearing clouds.
Conversely, to see red clouds in the evening, sunlight must have a clear path from the west, so therefore the prevailing westerly wind must be bringing clear skies. Basically, this means if there is a red sky, Sun, or clouds at morning, it might mean there will be a storm, or severe winds will come. Although, if there is a red sky, Sun, or clouds at night, there will be clear skies, soft or no winds, and you have a good day ahead of you.[2]
A "Jonah" is a long-established expression among sailors, meaning a person (either a sailor or a passenger) who is bad luck, which is based on the Biblical prophetJonah.Clergymen are considered bad luck, as they are all of Jonah's ilk.Redheads and women are also to be avoided as passengers.[3]
Friday is considered to be an unlucky day in some cultures, and perhaps the most enduring sailing superstition is that it is unlucky to begin a voyage or "set sail" on a Friday.[4][5] However, this superstition is not universal.[6] In the 19th century AdmiralWilliam Henry Smyth, writing in his nautical lexiconThe Sailor's Word-Book, described Friday as
TheDies Infaustus, on which old seamen were desirous of not getting under weigh, as ill-omened.[7]
(Dies Infaustus means "unlucky day".[8]) This superstition is the root of the well-knownurban legend ofHMS Friday.
Sailors are often reluctant to set sail onCandlemas Day, believing that any voyage begun then will end in disaster.[citation needed] This may be related to the superstition to remove all Christmas decorations by Candlemas, a practice done well into Victorian times.[9]
In 18th century New England, rolling clouds and roaring waves were thought as bad omens, so sailing on days under such conditions was considered inadvisable.[10]
InThe Old Man and the Sea, the protagonist and "unlucky" sailor Santiago sails on a Friday.
Sirens were mythological, often dangerous and beautiful, creatures, portrayed asfemmes fatales who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island.[11] They were portrayed in both Greek and Roman mythology as sea deities who lured mariners, and in Roman lore were daughters ofPhorcys.[12][13] In theOdyssey, the heroOdysseus, wishing to hear the sirens' seductive and destructive song, must protect himself and his crew by having his fellow sailors tie him to themast and then stop their own ears with wax (see image).
In another myth,Hera, queen of the gods, persuaded the Sirens to enter a singing contest with theMuses, which the Sirens lost;[14] out of their anguish, writesStephanus of Byzantium, the Sirens turned white and fell into the sea atAptera ("featherless"), where they formed the islands in the bay that were calledSouda (modern Lefkai).[15]
Another mythological creature, theScylla, is a similar female sea demon that is both dangerous yet beautiful.[11] Sirens supposedly "lured mariners to their deaths with their melodious, enchanting song", while "Scylla sent countless sailors to the depths of the sea."[11]
On a related note, it was considered bad luck to have women on board, due to the potential for distractions which in turn would anger the sea gods and cause bad weather.[16][17][18]
Thealbatross as a superstitious relic is referenced inSamuel Taylor Coleridge's well-known 1798 poemThe Rime of the Ancient Mariner. It is considered very unlucky to kill an albatross; in Coleridge's poem, the narrator killed the bird and his fellow sailors eventually force him to wear the dead bird around his neck. However, if a sailor sees an albatross, and allows it to live, then it'sgood luck.[19]
Having bananas on a ship, especially on a private boat or fishing yacht, is considered bad luck. The origin of the superstition is unknown. Some believe it originates from the bananas causing other fruits and vegetables to ripen too quickly.[20]
During thechristening ceremony for a ship, it is considered bad luck if the bottle swung against the side of the ship fails to break.[21]
In North America and Western Europe,13 is considered unlucky, so cruise ships are sometimes built without a deck 13.[22]
In Italy, where17 is considered unlucky, cruise ships built and operated byMSC Cruises lack a Deck 17.[23]
A new boat or ship needs to be named with a proper christening ceremony and breaking a bottle of champagne or other sparkling wine.[24]
The re-naming of a ship is not to be taken lightly: it is 7 years' bad luck to re-name a ship, without going through the proper procedures.[25] The steps involved include:
- Remove all traces of the current name.
- Begin the purging ceremony.
- Begin the renaming ceremony.
- Appease the four wind gods.
Finally, re-christen the ship with a bottle of champagne, drinking any remaining.[26]
Sailors also had a culture of items or practices that were believed to bringgood luck, or trinkets to ward off bad luck or the "evil eye".
Whilein many cultures, a black cat is considered unlucky, British and Irish sailors considered adopting a black "ship's cat" because it would bring good luck.[27][28] A high level of care was directed toward them to keep them happy. There is some logic to this belief: cats hunt rodents, which can damage ropes and stores of grain on board, as well as spread disease among passengers and crew. Research has backed up this superstition. Evidence published in 2017 by ageneticist theUniversity of Leuven shows that Egyptian cats spread theirmitochondrial DNA through shipping lanes to medieval northern Europe.[29][30] Preliminary results of that genetic study concluded that cats were also carried on trading ships to control rodents, and that practice was adopted by traders from other nations, includingVikings in northern Germany around the 8th to 11th centuries.[31]
Some sailors believed thatpolydactyl cats were better at catching pests, possibly connected with the suggestion that extra digits give a polydactyl cat better balance, important when at sea. Cats were believed to havemiraculous powers that could protect ships from dangerous weather. Another popular belief was that cats could start storms through magic stored in their tails. If a ship's cat fell or was thrown overboard, it was thought that it would summon a terrible storm to sink the ship and that if the ship was able to survive, it would be cursed with nine years of bad luck. Other beliefs included: if a cat licked its fur against the grain, it meant ahailstorm was coming; if it sneezed it meant rain; and if it was frisky it meant wind.[32]
Cormorants, in some Scandinavian areas, are considered a good omen; in particular, in Norwegian tradition spirits of those lost at sea come to visit their loved ones disguised as cormorants.[33]
Whistling on board a sailing ship is thought to encourage the wind strength to increase.[34] This is regularly alluded to in theAubrey–Maturin books byPatrick O'Brian.
On boats and ships whistling was taboo as it was associated with coded communications between mutineers. The cook was usually excused, because as long as he was whistling, he was not stealing the food.[35]
Traditionally, a type ofkobold or mythical sprite, called aKlabautermann, lives aboard ships and helps sailors andfishermen on theBaltic andNorth Sea in their duties. He is a merry and diligent creature, with an expert understanding of most watercraft, and an irrepressible musical talent. He also rescues sailors washed overboard. The name comes from theLow German verbklabastern meaning "rumble" or "make a noise". Anetymology deriving the name from the verbkalfatern ("to caulk") has also been suggested.[36] A carved klabautermann image, of a small sailor dressed in yellow with atobacco pipe and woollen sailor's cap, often carrying a caulking hammer, is attached to the mast as a symbol of good luck. However, despite the positive attributes, there is oneomen associated with his presence: no member of a ship blessed by his presence shall ever set eyes on him; he only ever becomes visible to the crew of a doomed ship.[37] The belief in Klabautermänner dates to at least the 1770s.[38][39]
Sailors have had severalpatron saints. According to hishagiography,Saint Nicholas calmed a storm by prayer.[40]Brendan the Navigator is also considered a patron saint of sailors and navigators, due to his mythical voyage toSt. Brendan's Island.Erasmus of Formiae, also known as Saint Elmo, may have become the patron of sailors because he is said to have continued preaching even after a thunderbolt struck the ground beside him. This prompted sailors, who were in danger from sudden storms and lightning, to claim his prayers. The electrical discharges at the mastheads of ships were read as a sign of his protection and came to be called "Saint Elmo's Fire".[41][42] Thus, Saint Elmo's Fire was usually good luck in traditional sailor's lore, but because it is a sign of electricity in the air and interferes withcompass readings, sailors sometimes regarded it as an omen of bad luck and stormy weather.[43] Themariner's cross, also referred to asSt. Clement's Cross, is worn by many sailors to bring blessings.[44]
There are many deities associated with protection of sailors and good luck for them.
For example, a sculpture of "Tian Hou (orMazu), queen of heaven and protector of seafarers", is held at the Yueh Hai Ching temple on Philip Street, off of theSingapore River inSingapore.[45]
English folklore includes manysuperstitions surrounding hot cross buns. If taken on a sea voyage,hot cross buns are said to protect againstshipwreck. If hung in thegalley, they are said to protect against fire and ensure that all breads turn out perfectly. The hanging bun is replaced each year.[46]
It is often considered lucky to touch the collar of asailor's suit.[47]
Folklore developed suggesting that possession of a baby'scaul would bring its bearer good luck and protect that person from death by drowning. Cauls were therefore highly prized bysailors. Medieval women often sold them to sailors for large sums of money; a caul was regarded as a valuabletalisman.[48]
According toPliny the Elder, if a woman was on a ship, and she stripped herself naked, she could lull a storm at sea.[49]
Mermaids usually are considered lucky, but not universally. InTrinidad and Tobago, sea-dwelling mer-men "were known to grant a wish, transform mediocrity into genius and confer wealth and power."[50]
Mermaids appear inBritish folklore as unlucky omens, both foretelling disaster and provoking it.[51] Several variants of theballadSir Patrick Spens depict a mermaid speaking to the doomed ships. In some versions, she tells them they will never see land again; in others, she claims they are near shore, which they are wise enough to know means the same thing. Mermaids can also be a sign of approaching rough weather,[52] and some have been described as monstrous in size, up to 2,000 feet (610 m).[51]
Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" was published in 1837. The story was adapted into a Disney film. In the original version, The Little Mermaid is the youngest daughter of a sea king who lives at the bottom of the sea. To pursue a prince with whom she has fallen in love, the mermaid gets a sea witch to give her legs and agrees to give up her tongue in return. Though she is found on the beach by the prince, he marries another. Told she must stab the prince in the heart to return to her sisters, she can't do it out of love for him. She then rises from the ocean and sees ethereal beings around her who explain that mermaids who do good deeds become daughters of the air, and after 300 years of good service they can earn a human soul.[53] Aworld-famous statue of the Little Mermaid, based on Andersen's fairy tale, has been inCopenhagen,Denmark since August 1913, with copies in 13 other locations around the world.[54][55][56]
Sailors would look formermaid's purses on beaches for signs of mermaids in the area.
Davy Jones is a popular character in sailor's lore, especially of the gothic fictional variety.Davy Jones' Locker is anidiom for the bottom of the sea: the state of death among drowned sailors. It is used as aeuphemism for death or burial at sea (to besent to Davy Jones' Locker).[57] The origins of the name are unclear, and many theories have been put forth, including an actual David Jones, who was apirate on the Indian Ocean in the 1630s;[58] a pub owner who kidnapped sailors and then dumped them onto any passing ship;[59] the incompetentDuffer Jones, a notoriouslymyopic sailor who often found himself over-board;[60] or that Davy Jones is another name forSatan;[59] or "Devil Jonah", the biblicalJonah who became the "evil angel" of all sailors, who would identify more with the beset-upon ship-mates of Jonah than with the unfortunate man himself. Upon death, a wicked sailor's body supposedly went to Davy Jones' locker (a chest, as lockers were back then), but a pious sailor's soul went toFiddler's Green.[59] This nautical superstition was popularized in the 19th century.[61]
Kraken were legendary sea monsters that may have been based on sightings ofgiant squids.[62]
In the early 1800s, some sailors believed thatFinns could control the wind.[63] Finnish wizards were known to make wind, and they sold ropes with knots: open one knot, it would cause mild wind; open the second, strong winds would blow; open the third, and "a full gale wind" could crash upon the ship.[64]
In relation to language and cultural practices, such sailors' superstitions are the consequence of folkloric practices or traditions whose meanings were once important signifiers, but now are lost to most modern sailors and laypersons alike.[65]
Sailor tattoos are a visual way to preserve the culture of the maritime superstitions. Sailors believed that certain symbols andtalismans would help them in facing certain events in life; they thought that those symbols would attract good luck or bad luck in the worst of the cases:
Sailors, at the constant mercy of the elements, often feel the need for religious images on their bodies to appease the angry powers that caused storms and drowning far from home.
— Tattoo Archives[66]
For example, the images of a pig and a hen were good luck; most of the smaller livestock aboard ships would float in their wooden crates and would be among the only survivors of wrecks, so these images were believed to help them survive a wreck.[67] Another example of superstitions is the North Star (nautical star orcompass rose); sailors had the belief that by wearing this symbol it would help them to find their way home.[68]
Theanchor is commonly used in sailor tattoos, which were supposed to prevent a sailor from floating away from the ship, should he fall overboard. The words 'HOLD FAST' tattooed on theknuckles would prevent a sailor from falling from aloft.[69][70]
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TheLine-crossing ceremony commemorates a sailor's first crossing of theEquator. Its practices invoke good luck on the new sailor. The ceremony of Crossing the Line is aninitiationrite in theRoyal Navy,Royal Canadian Navy,U.S. Navy,U.S. Coast Guard,U.S. Marine Corps, and other navies that commemorates a sailor's first crossing of the Equator.[41] The tradition may have originated with ceremonies when passingheadlands, and become a "folly" sanctioned as a boost tomorale,[71] or have been created as a test for seasoned sailors to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long rough times at sea. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed (Trusty)Shellbacks, often referred to asSons ofNeptune; those who have not are nicknamed (Slimy)Pollywogs (in 1832 the nicknamegriffins was noted[72]).
After crossing the line, Pollywogs receivesubpoenas[73] to appear beforeKing Neptune and his court (usually including his first assistantDavy Jones and her HighnessAmphitrite and often various dignitaries, who are all represented by the highest ranking seamen), who officiate at the ceremony, which is often preceded by a beauty contest ofmen dressing up as women. Afterwards, somewogs may be "interrogated" by King Neptune and his entourage. During the ceremony, the Pollywogs undergo a number of increasingly embarrassing ordeals (such as wearing clothing inside out and backward; crawling on hands and knees; being swatted with short lengths of firehose; kissing the Royal Baby's belly coated with axle grease, etc.), largely for the entertainment of the Shellbacks. Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate[74] declaring his new status.
U.S. PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt described his Crossing the Line ceremony aboard the "Happy Ship"USS Indianapolis with his "Jolly Companions" in a letter to his wifeEleanor Roosevelt on 26 November 1936:
Marvelous costumes in which King Neptune and Queen Aphrodite [sic.] and their court appeared. The Pollywogs were given an intensive initiation lasting two days, but we have all survived and are now full-fledged Shellbacks"
— FDR[75]
Some cruise ships also have a line-crossing ceremony for their passengers.[76]
The phraseover a barrel, meaning to be in adilemma or "a weak or difficult position", may refer to thefirst aid practice among sailors of placing adrowning victim's head over a barrel, and rolling his body over it, in an attempt to remove aspirated water from the person's lungs.[77] However, this etymology is challenged, and may come instead from the custom of punishing a prisoner byflogging orpaddling him while he is strapped to a barrel; there is no documentary evidence it was actually used specifically as a nautical phrase.[78] Either way, the image created in the mind is that of total helplessness and loss of control,[78] which is a common anxiety of sailors in fear of corporal punishment.[79]
Many theories have formed as to explain these phenomena and why they exist.Jakob Jakobsen theorised that such practices existed with the intent to confuse and ward offfairies and protect the sailors.[80]Lockwood concurred as well with the general line of thought and concluded it was also done so as to not summon dangerous animals such as whales or ravens.[81]Solheim follows this same line of thought and considers it also be done to protect loved ones back on land from such animals and spirits.[82]
Bairbre Ní Fhloinn critiques this line of thought concluding it to be reductionist and insulting to the intelligence of fishermen; however, she does admit it may be a factor.[83] Sailors are well aware of the inherent risks of sailing, and even in the 21st century, "fishers and related fishing workers" in the U.S. have the second most dangerous occupation.[1]
A sailor's life is inherently difficult, wrote one sailor in 1840:
Yet a sailor's life is at best, but a mixture of a little good with much evil, and a little pleasure with much pain. The beautiful is linked with the revolting, the sublime with the commonplace, and the solemn with the ludicrous.
From ancient times to the 20th Century, sailing has been seen as a risky activity; inPsalm 107 (106 in theLatin Vulgate version):
the singing of Psalm 107, is still used today, and holds a special meaning to mariners:
‘They that go down to the sea in ships;
That do business in great waters;These see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.’
— Psalm 107:23-24, cited byQueen Alexandra[84]
The next few verses explain further:
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
— Psalm 107:25-30[85]
Thehymn,Eternal Father, Strong to Save was inspired by Psalm 107.
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