Sailing Superstitions
Sailors have always been a superstitious lot. Maybe it is the inherent risk that comes from being at sea that makes sailors skittish or perhaps because sailors were traditionally uneducated, illiterate men trying to find a reason for the phenomena happening around them. They wanted to put an explanation on things any way they could. Whether for peace of mind or just a little extra luck there is no denying the superstitions, folklore, and traditions associated with the ancient art of sailing.
For the average person, sailing is a world that they are totally unfamiliar with. For those of us that are lucky enough to call the sea our home, we have learned to respect the ocean, the tradition, and the power that comes with our calling. There is new vocabulary, way of life, and attitude that comes along with being a salty seaman. Sailing has been around for nearly as long as humans have and that leaves room for a lot of good stories. My goal with this podcast is to share those stories with you.
[02:06] Sailing Superstitions
If you've been around the water or sailors at all during your life, you've probably heard a few quirky superstitions come out from time to time. I feel like everyone's fisherman grandpa or uncle scolded them for bringing a banana on board at some point or another. Another common superstition you may have heard is to never leave port on a Friday. That's also supposed to bring bad luck. Don't whistle as you may bring on a storm. However, if there's absolutely no breeze present, whistling is highly encouraged as you may whistle up the wind.
[02:35] Bananas are bad luck
So why is bringing a banana on board bad luck? This one is kind of founded in science and actually makes sense when you think about it. Bananas cause the fruits around them to ripen and go off quicker. Oftentimes, if you're in a boat carrying bananas, your cargo has the potential for ruin, which means a loss of revenue. This led to the fastest ships being the ones to carry the sweet fruit. Sailing at faster speeds meant not as good trolling for fish and without fish, sailors weren’t eating fresh food. No fish is no good. Another thing about bananas is that they also attracted small disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes and spiders. A common disease found in mosquitoes was yellow fever. There are plenty of stories where an entire crew is found drifting and dead, seemingly from nothing, but more than likely it was yellow fever.
[03:25] The Mattapan banana story from 1912
One of my favorite bad luck banana stories happened in 1912. The Mattapan was heading for New Orleans and ran into a reef while carrying 70,000 bananas onboard. Off the coast of Cartagena, there was nothing to be done except pitch all of them off the ship. The news spread amongst the locals like wildfire. So, in dugout canoes, the natives went out, fighting off sharks to collect one of the easiest crops of their lifetime. Not too bad of luck for the locals.
[04:00] Women were banned on most ships
Women were said to bring trouble and I can't say that I necessarily blame the sailors on this one. Supposedly women on board ships were distracting. Not only would this anger the sea, but I'm sure it angered a captain or two as well. I mean, it would be completely indecent to expect men to control themselves in the presence of a lady. However, there were a few exceptions to this rule. The wife and daughter of the captain were completely acceptable on board. And luckily for the sailors, naked women were also very welcome on ships. Apparently, a naked breast calms the seat.
[05:04] Redheads were seen as an anomaly
The only thing worse than being a woman on board a ship was being a ginger. Redheads were seen as an anomaly. If there was a redhead on board, or you met one prior to boarding, the only way to mitigate this bad luck was to speak to the redhead before they spoke to you. This superstition probably stems from the ancient belief that gingers were of the devil, or worse yet, a witch.
[05:24] Changing the name of the boat is also bad luck
Changing the name of a boat is also seen as bad luck. If you do want to change the name, there is a whole song, dance, and ceremony to go with it. The ship has a mind of its own and changing the name would disturb its soul.
[05:43] Other bad luck superstitions
The list of superstitions that bring bad luck is never-ending. The history behind each one could each have its own podcast episode. From clergy being unwelcome because of their connection to Jonah, to losing a hat signifying a long voyage, the list of things that cause bad luck on board a ship could keep us going here for hours.
[06:12] Bad luck to kill a seabird
I, however, do want to leave you with one that always strikes a chord with me though. It's a bit remorseful and brought up often in pop culture like the 1996 Ridley Scott film, White Squall, and even the more recent film Lighthouse. “Bad luck to kill a seabird”. I remember hearing it in the theater and a chill running down my spine. The albatross has been a character in tragedies of the sea for centuries. A bird that is inhabited by the souls of sailors whose lives were lost at sea. They often glide alongside a ship on the ocean for days - large, silent, and mysterious, but they're a symbol of good luck and hope. To kill an albatross is to commit the ultimate sin as a sailor.
