Top 15 Superstitions of Sailing

Following tradition and belief, sailors throughout history have held various superstitions to ward off bad luck and ensure safe voyages. Here, we explore fifteen intriguing maritime superstitions that have been passed down through generations, influencing the actions and beliefs of seafarers of old, prepared by the Maritime Museum.

15. The Hat Overboard

Ancient sailors perceived losing a hat overboard as a foreboding omen, indicating a lengthy and challenging journey ahead.

14. The Power of Egg Shells

To ward off malevolent forces, sailors shattered egg shells into tiny fragments following each use, preventing witches from boarding the ship through the shards.

13. Personal Grooming Consequences

In the eyes of mariners, grooming activities such as nail trimming, hair cutting, and beard shaving had the potential to attract misfortune and undesired circumstances.

12. The Curse of Flat Feet

Believing in ill fate, sailors regarded individuals with flat feet as unfortunate, even avoiding their presence before embarking on a voyage.

11. The Waves Turn Against Women

Superstition held that women onboard were undesirable, as their presence was thought to divert the crew's attention and invoke the anger of the sea, leading to perilous conditions. However, the sight of a naked woman eased the tempestuous waves, a concept reflected in numerous ship figureheads depicting women with bare breasts.

10. Days of Rest

Certain days were deemed inauspicious for sailing, including Thursdays (associated with the storm god, Thor), Fridays (recalling Jesus' execution), the first Monday in April (symbolizing Cain's fratricide), the second Monday in August (marking the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah), and December 31 (notorious as Judas Iscariot's fateful end).

9. Caution with Words

Certain words and phrases were considered ill-fated when uttered aboard a ship, such as "drowned," "goodbye," and "good luck." Additionally, the mention of land-related entities like churches, pigs, foxes, cats, and rabbits was thought to attract bad luck.

8. The Prohibited Whistle

Whistling or singing against the wind was forbidden, as it was believed to incite a storm, threatening the ship and its crew.

7. Farewell's Absence

Seafarers' wives refrained from calling out to their husbands or waving goodbye as they departed for a voyage, as it was deemed a harbinger of adversity.

6. The Uncanny Teaspoon

Stirring tea using a knife or fork carried an ominous undertone, inviting bad luck into the vessel's path.

5. The Upside-Down Loaf

Flipping a loaf of bread once it was sliced was considered a perilous act, believed to invoke ill fortune upon the ship. These superstitious practices were not exclusive to maritime settings but also permeated life on land.

4. The Red-Haired Omen

Similarly to those with flat feet, sailors regarded redheads as bearers of misfortune. Interacting with a red-haired individual before boarding required preemptive conversation to avert ill fate.

3. The Unlucky Salt Pot

One sailor passing the salt pot directly to another was perceived as bad luck. Instead, the pot needed to be placed down before the other seafarer could pick it up.

2. Casting the Daring Fisherman

Scottish fishermen would ceremoniously cast one of their crew members overboard and subsequently haul them back in, symbolizing an invocation to successfully attract fish and promote a fruitful catch.

1. The Dreaded Bananas

Bananas were considered exceptionally jinxed and capable of causing catastrophic loss at sea. Sailors steered clear of these fruits, eliminating any trace of them on board. The mere presence of banana cargo induced a sense of trepidation among seafarers.

As we navigate the seas of history, these sailing superstitions shed light on the mysterious customs and beliefs that filled the lives of seafaring individuals. Though many may seem peculiar or purely mythical today, their influence on maritime culture cannot be understated.

Earlier, SSP named 8 unusual superstitions in Britain.