Boating Superstitions For The Halloween Season
Many boaters fear Halloween and are reluctant to put their boat in a dry slip or garage until winter. Halloween is a season full of scary movies, spooky stories and hot apple cider. It also means colder winds and rougher waters. This long-lasting autumn festival, also known as All Hollow's Eve, offers trick-or treating and a trio of feasts to remember the days of those who have passed and to remind them of the existence of the afterlife. There are many fall stories about saints and the eternally condemned, including demons and evil spirits as well as angels who fight them. It's also the time to enjoy good times and drink, as well as to remember all the wonderful times (i.e. Boating days) were shared with family and friends over the past year.
Halloween legends are full of superstitions and beliefs about the power of the unknowable or the unexplainable. Stevie Wonder noted in his song "Superstition" that society is full of these beliefs. These beliefs range from the belief of "13-month-old babies" to the belief of "seven years' bad luck for breaking a mirror. He said, "When you believe in things that you don't understand then you suffer ..."
Although Mr. Wonder clearly believes that "superstition isn't the way", many sailors from history disagree. Although superstitions can be beliefs or practices that are considered irrational, supernatural or illogical in nature, many of the old sailor legends and boating legends have their roots in practicality or some historical event. Here's a list of some of the most notorious boating superstitions.
1. A boat without a name
Many boat owners believe it is bad luck to not name their boats. I am no exception to this age-old custom. Before I took my boat out on the water, every boat I owned had a name. Even my little Starcraft aluminum boat. A vessel that is this large may be called "just a boat" by some boaters. But to me, she's "Beachbug" because it's so easy for her to pull up on the sand. If you purchase a boat, you can christen it with the original name. This is the most fortunate scenario. This is a little more difficult if you are buying a boat used. It is also considered bad luck not to properly christen a vessel. However, a formal renaming or christening ceremony is a way to show respect and care for your boat and her in turn.
2. Red Sky in the Morning
The sea is a place of spirituality that invokes the supernatural. The ocean is a symbol for the unknown, from the unseen forces that create its tides to the murky depths, where deep-sea creatures lurk, the ocean is a symbol for the unknown. Many nautical signs have been believed by boaters for generations. The old sailing saying goes, "Red skies at night, sailors enjoy; red skies in the morning, sailors take notice." This may not be a superstition. Science has at least partially supported it. A rising sun will create a red sky in the morning if you live in an area with weather patterns that move from West to East. A setting sun would also illuminate storm clouds passing by, creating a red sky at evening.
3. Never set sail on Friday
This superstition is believed rooted in biblical history. Friday is considered unlucky because it marks the date Jesus Christ was crucified. Many legends exist, including the fictional story of HMS Friday. Traditional sailing ballads tell the stories of ships that set sail on Fridays and met their end. The following excerpt is from "The Mermaid".
"One Friday morning when we set sail
Our ship was close to the land
We did see a fair mermaid
A comb and a glass in hand
Our gallant ship was then re-routed three times.
She went three times around.
Our gallant ship was then re-routed three times.
Before she fell to the bottom of he sea"
4. Whistling on Board
Whistling aboard a ship, even though it is often depicted as a bad act, is not acceptable. This superstition is rooted in the old belief that whistling on a ship is a taunt to Mother Nature. It challenges the wind and can create a storm out of thin air. Whistling from a boat, regardless of whether a storm is visible in the sky or not, can be a way to tempt your fate. One relevant scene in Steven Spielberg's 1975 film JAWS shows Captain Quint infamously whistling to himself just before their boat, The Orca is attacked by The Killer Shark.
5. The Unlucky Color for Boats: Green
Green is not a lucky color for a boat, which is odd considering the odds. It could be because of a variety of factors. One reason is that green attracts insects. Green could also be more difficult to see underwater and cause more collisions with other vessels.
6. A cat onboard is good luck
Cats have been aboard ships since antiquity to catch and kill rats and vermin that chew on the lines or eat food. Cats would be able to control pest problems and keep crew members safe from rats, which can carry diseases. They were also considered to be companions and could help shield ships from storms. Cats are more sensitive to barometric pressure than other animals and can make you nervous before a storm.
7. Always board right foot first
It's considered bad luck for your left foot to step on a ship's deck. Another one that I have had since childhood, inexplicably, instilled in me. Even though I am still a boy, I always take my right foot with me on every boat. I have had some luck, I must admit. Maybe there's some truth to that.
8. No Bananas On Board
Boaters often believe that bananas onboard is bad luck. This superstition is probably the most well-known and strangest in boating. This belief stems from the fact that tarantulas spiders were known to hide in bananas and then appear on fruit-carrying boats. Evidently, sailors who are bitten by tarantulas at sea will be out of luck.
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