The Captain's Superstition

This page is dedicated to sea myths and superstitions. This is just to help out your character; you can use this page or not, just here for the experience.

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Superstitions:

Sharks were deemed to be bad lucky. If they followed a ship's wake it was believed that someone on the ship would die soon and the sharks were waiting for their meal.

Figureheads on ships were a sign of good luck due to the belief that a ship couldn't sink while the figure head was still attached. Also if the figurehead was female, it was good luck for it to be topless due to the belief that when a woman bares her breasts to a storm, the storm would die down.

Saint Elmo's fire is the electrical discharge that happens on a ship when there is a fierce storm. To see the light on top of the masts or above the ship meant that the worst of the storm is over. If seen on the deck it was certainly a sign of bad luck. And if the light ringed around a sailor's head, it meant that sailor would die soon.

Mermaids are woman who are half fish, half man. Obviously. They were very beautiful, but they also have the power, if they wish, to lure a man to his death.

One of the most feared superstitions was the term Jonah. A Jonah was a person who is deformed, disliked or unlucky. The Jonah is often abused and mistreated until they leave the ship, doesn't matter whether the ship is in port or not. After the Jonah leaves, good luck is restored.

Since sailors believe that rats know death is coming before it happens, whenever rats scurry off of ships before they depart, that means the ship will sink during her voyage.

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These are just a few superstitions, if you have any more please share them with us. This information was gathered at the webpage: http://www.cindyvallar.com/superstitions.html.

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