Superstition in Maritime

Superstition in Maritime


The superstitions developed from past to present due to the difficult journeys in the sea should never be deceived. Superstition was an extremely common situation in shipping. When something started to go wrong at sea, there were misconceptions that seafarers could always go that way. The negative results arising from the uncontrollable state of nature started to be attributed to a cause and effect relationship by the sailors after a while. Various superstitions have emerged as a result of seafarers' search for a reason despite the negative situations at sea. Although many of these superstitions are irrational and push the boundaries of logic, they still have an important place for seafarers. When this is the case, these superstitions have been molded and survived to the present day. Although many are forgotten today, there is still superstition that is believed and practiced by a group of seafarers. Since morale is so important among seafarers, it was an extra encouragement before these superstitions took tough roads. For this reason, many irrational beliefs today became very important and must-follow rules for them. If we talk about some superstitions that sailors believe. Namely;

• On the first day of April, the trip was not allowed. The reason for this is that the son of Adam, Adam, was killed by his brother that day. 

• Seafarers carrying a black travel bag would bring bad bad luck. 

• If someone with red hair or flat-bottom appeared before the sailors before traveling, it was bad luck and it was necessary to speak before those people. 

• If a stopper made of stolen wood was used in the backbone of the ship, this would increase the ship's speed. 

• The silver money placed under the main pole was thought to bring good luck. 

• Riding the boat with the left foot would cause an accident. 

• When throwing stones in the sea was seen as disrespect, it would increase the waves and storms in the sea. 

• A stone was thrown into the sea over the ship and it was believed that the ship would not return if the stone did not fall into the sea. 

• It was believed that it brought irreversible bad luck to the sea from the pier. 

• In the UK, it is believed that a black cat brings good luck and in other regions, it was believed to bring bad luck. 

• Seeing dolphins and swallows in the sea meant good luck. 

• Seeing birds such as cormorants and sandpipers would have brought bad luck, on the contrary. 

• Women were not allowed on the boat. The reason for this was that the boats were believed to be female and would sink if they would envy it if women were taken into the boat. 

• It was believed that wearing sailors' gold earrings would save them from drowning. They were also believed to be born as sailors when they died and were resurrected. 

• The cat on the ship was sacred and never angered. 

• Tattooing would bring luck to seafarers and protect them against disasters at sea.

In maritime superstition is more than we can count. These are the most popular superstitions. Others have logical reasons. Also, the reason for each of them appeared, and so on.