Superstitions About Sailing Ships – Tales From Ancient Sails
Sailing ships is one of the oldest occupations of humans in the history. In the past sailors were always afraid of the waters because they had very little power to control the fury of the sea when it was unleashed against them. In fact, with all the modern technology of today human beings are still as powerless against the seas.
It is this feeling of helplessness that gave birth to so many seafaring superstitions, which are still followed with religious sanctity by sailors all over the world.
What Are The Most Common Superstitions On Sailing Ships?
There are many superstitions about sailing ships some making sense while some totally wild like the belief that a woman on board brought bad luck. In ancient times when sailing was something that only men practiced a woman on board would have resulted in jealousies and dereliction of duty, which ultimately would have endangered the ship.
Another common superstition is that the sea gull and the albatross carry the souls of sailors and therefore it is bad luck to kill any of these birds. There are other beliefs about animals such as a black cat is considered good luck because water is the opposite of earth. Dolphins are also seen as omens of good luck because they were always known to help humans.
Sharks are on the other hand considered bad luck because they usually look for flesh to consume which was interpreted as prediction of impending doom. Of course, we all know about the superstition about rats – if they left the ship it would mean it is likely to sink.
Flowers are so beautiful and loved in every home, but not on sailing ships. It seems flowers and all plants for that matter look for earth which endangers the ship and therefore is a taboo on ships.
No Christian ship would start their journey on a Friday neither would they choose to arrive in any port of this day. Jesus Christ was crucified on a Friday which makes this day terribly unlucky. Sunday on the other hand is considered very auspicious. Some sailors believe that the first Monday of April is also a bad day since this was the day when Cain killed Able.
Sounds that foretell death are also a no-no on sailing ships such as whistling aloud as it is believed that this would invite wild winds that would sink the ship; ship bells ringing by themselves would mean impeding death, and so on.
All these superstitions are observed to keep the sailing ships safe from the rage of the seas because even today, humans are totally helpless against the fury of the seas and are afraid of it.
By Sailing Editor