By Nella Nelson –
Legends and superstitions of the sea are still echoed in recent times, though hardly adhered to. Let’s take a look back in time, mostly to ancient ship travel, to discover where the myths originated.
No Redheads Allowed Onboard. Several cultures over the centuries believed redheads were unlucky. This might be why sailors shunned them. Redheads were also thought to be of fiery personalities.
No Women Onboard. Women were considered too tempting to ancient mariners. Females were also believed to make the seas angry, resulting in dangerous voyages. Odd, considering the fact that boats were named after women, and that female figureheads adorned the bow of many a vessel.
Bananas are Banned. How can fruit be a threat? A few explanations exist, but one in particular is factual. Bananas are hiding grounds for spiders, some of which have nasty (and occasionally deadly) bites. Centuries ago, ships transported bananas from tropical islands, with these stowaways unbeknownst to sailors and traders.
Always Step onto a Boat with Your Right Foot. Why the right? The sinister left foot brings “bad luck” for the journey ahead. This myth remains popular among plenty of old salts today.
No Whistling. Putting your lips together and blowing while you’re standing on a boat was believed to stir up the wind, and therefore the seas.
Never Start a Voyage on a Friday. Some people point to the death of Jesus Christ as the origin for this superstition. Others claim it originated with the adherence to no work on the Sabbath.
Never Change a Boat’s Name. The warning was never, ever to do this unless you want bad luck to follow you. The said remedy was to carefully follow each step of revered renaming rituals. Since the Greek god Poseidon keeps record of every vessel name, the rituals purge it from his book and his memory. Start by removing all physical traces of the name. The rest of the steps are found online at “Ceremony for Renaming Your Boat.”
Don’t Say “Goodbye” When Departing. Ancient mariners believed goodbyes automatically doomed the voyage, keeping the ship from returning to shore. It’s still a popular belief among captains and fishermen today.
Cats are Good Omens. And then, a superstition that emphasizes the positive. Cats reign supreme because they hunt rats. Rats invaded trading ships of old, attracted to the food cargo. They often carried diseases and gnawed on ropes.
“Red Sky at Night, Sailor’s Delight; Red Sky in Morning, Sailors Take Warning.” The saying comes down to meteorological predictions dating back to Biblical times. When the sky is red at sunset, high pressure and stable air are approaching from the west. At dawn, red indicates approaching rain, and possibly stormy seas.
