by Terri Klein

Created on: October 06, 2009

Today when we think about sea voyages, we are most apt to envision a cruise ship sailing for exotic ports, furnished with rock-climbing walls, swimming pool, bars, and karaoke lounges. But the luxury and comfort that we experience on the sea today is a far cry from what the original ocean-goers faced. Without today's science, satellite and sonar technology, the earliest seafarers set sail into a frightening unknown. The ocean was dark and unpredictable, storms would arise without warning, strange sounds would emanate from the sea, and without even the knowledge that the world is round, the fear of sailing off of the earth's edge or being eaten by a sea serpent was both common and terrifying. No wonder then that sailors devised unusual beliefs and superstitions to guard against danger.

Most superstitions derive from what is observed and believed to be causative. If a black cat is remembered to have crossed your path immediately before something bad happens to you, then it is the cat's fault. This type of cause and effect conclusion is the root of most superstitions, and seagoing taboos were formed in the same way. The most common superstition held by sailors throughout the years was that having a woman on board was bad luck. It is easy to guess the evolution of this belief; a woman could not help through a dangerous or stressful situation as well as a man, and therefore would have been a liability. She probably would also have been a distraction, keeping the men from concentrating and doing their jobs well. Ironically, a bare-breasted woman was believed to bring good fortune; this is why so many mastheads depict mermaids or half nude female figures. It would seem that the things that make men feel lucky have not changed much through the ages.

Many sailing superstitions stemmed from religious beliefs, notably relying on Old and New Testament stories, or dating even farther back to the beliefs of the Norse sailors. Sailors avoided setting sail on a Friday, either because it wass the day that witches gathered, or because it was the day that Christ was crucified. Similar date-oriented superstitions were linked to biblical slayings and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Some beliefs were tied to specific animals seen as good or bad luck for being on board, in front of or behind the ship, or killed by somebody onboard. Sharks, porpoises, turtles, dog are just a few of those painted as villains or talismen, probably based on good or bad fortune that befell a ship shortly after their sighting.

Because superstitions are so frequently based on a remembered circumstance, almost anything can become a good or bad omen. Thus such disparate examples as flowers , redheads, or priests onboard were blamed for misfortune; conversely, spilling wine on the deck was seen as protective.

Though there are undoubtedly still sailors who repeat the old superstitions, this is more a form of nostalgia for the romance and adventure of the old seafaring days then a true belief. After all, imagine what would happen on one of today's cruise ships if the crew still believed it bad luck for a black travel bag to be carried on board .... half the passengers' bags would be tossed overboard! Fortunately, today's sailors believe that rather than pouring wine onto the deck, it is more appropriate to pour champagne into glasses to toast a Bon Voyage. Happy Sailing!

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