by will sprout

Created on: October 12, 2009

Prior to 1492 when Columbus set sail for his journey to the East Indies, it was believed that the earth was flat and any vessel which dared to venture too far into the unknown would sail off the edge of the world.

Yet as dedicated as Columbus was I doubt if he would have set sail with a woman on board, because it was regarded to be bad luck and would make the sea angry. (Probably the main reason for not having a woman on board would be because she would distract the crew and cause them to neglect their duties, which would endanger the ship.)

Yet the employment of a wooden Bow head figure was normally that of a half naked woman, leading the ship across the sea and shaming the stormy seas into calmness at the sight of her naked bosom.

It's doubtful too if Columbus set sail on a Friday; being Roman Catholic he would probably believe that the day should be respected because it is said that Christ was crucified on a Friday. It is more probable that he set sail on a Sunday; the day of resurrection. It is also doubtful if there was a priest on board; dressed in black they represent death and anything which makes you think of death is a bad omen.

The colour black, especially travelling bags, are also considered to represent death, yet unlike the landlocked superstition regarding black cats, at sea they are thought to promote luck, bringing the sailors safely home.

The sound of church bells appeal to most people but to a sailor it is another omen of death, and since sharks were supposed be able to sense death, their sightings near the ship were unwelcome.

And there are a host of unlucky or wary signs for the seaman, for example the sightings of various birds represent bad luck, these include the Curlew and the Cormorant and it is considered extremely unlucky to kill a Gull or an Albatross.

These scurvy ridden and unkempt seamen held great store in the superstitions of the sea, and their shabby appearance was no doubt due to the fact that it was considered to be bad luck to cut your hair or nails while aboard ship. The dcor too was void of any flora because flowers also were bad luck.

Nor would a sailor wear the clothes of a dead man for fear of bringing great misfortune to the entire ship.

It is also considered bad luck to pass a flag through the rungs of a ladder or to repair the flag on the quarterdeck; and while swabbing the decks with a mop and bucket could have disastrous consequences if you loose either item overboard.

Yet it is not all bad superstition that are associated to ships and the sea, it has its good luck rules too, Swallows are considered a good sign because in seeing them you know that you are near land and your prospects are clear. Dolphins also are a good sign, because the friendly Dolphins suggest their care and protection for the sailors and the ship.

But there are still other superstitions regarding the ship and on boarding it, for example, it is regarded that disaster will follow if you step aboard with your left foot first, and whatever you do stay away from people with red hair on the way to the ship or you will find bad luck, (unless you speak to them before they speak to you.) And whatever you do never say 'Good luck' its an ill omen, and once the ship has left port - don't look back; its shows uncertainty and that you are not ready for the sea journey, an act that will bring misfortune on the entire ship.

Yet sailors are sailors and once they leave Port they bring out the grog, possibly spilling more on the decks than they drink; no they are not drunken oafs they are making an offering to the spirits of the sea, pouring the wine for good luck and a safe journey home.

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