Superstitions

[LBobble]

Has anyone else came across superstitions connected to the fishing industry and where they came from.
Examples I've come across:-
Inshore fishermen do not fish on Fridays.
West coast of Scotland fishermen do not sail on Sundays.
The mention of the word "pig" in parts of North Northumberland,
is regarded as bad luck, as is "rabbits".
To meet a clergyman before sailing, in parts of Northumberland,
can be sufficient to cancel the trip on that day.
Women on board a fishing boat is a big no, no. Think this only applies to older generation fishermen.
There are numerous others.

Bob
 

[meles]

My Norfolk seafaring family have told me about:
Not sailing on a Sunday
No women on a ship 

As for rabbits being bad luck - I was always told the the very first thing you should say on the first of the month is "White Rabbits", then you will have good luck all that month. When I was a kid, Dad would come into my room on the 1st of the month and wake me up with the words "White rabbits!"  (Another Norfolk tradition ?)

meles

[tony h]

My family would never dream of turning the mattress over when the menfolk were at sea

Cheers
Tony

[meles]

Oh - that takes me back!

Indeed - to do so would turn over the boat.

meles

[liverpool annie]

It's unlucky to cut your nails on a ship !

and unlucky to pass on a ladder ..... my Uncle would NEVER pass on the stairs !!

and ..... the caul of the head of a new-born child is protection against drowning and will bring the owner good luck 

Annie 

[tony h]

Hi Meles,
Heaven forbid no, the boat would turn over as you say. In my case it comes from a family of seafarers, lighthouse keepers, lightboat men and lifeboat men from Wexford, Ireland. Even today I can't do it unless I check none of my family are on a ferry somewhere.

And hi Annie, I will never pass on the stairs either. The Greeks (I think)  believed their Gods used staircases to visit earth and hence their fear of passing.

Both totally irrational, but compelling.

I have something in my Irish folklore books about caul, mermaids and seamen and drowning, must look it up when I get a chance.

Fingers crossed
Tony

Oops

[geniecolgan]

My sister was born with a caul and a sailor offered Mum 5 Pounds for it.
Mum wouldn't part with though 

[LBobble]

Many other superstitions abound and affect daily life aboard ship.   It is bad luck to leave any port on a Friday.
 
It has long been a mariner`s superstition that clergy are bad luck aboard a ship.
 
Not only is the word pig taboo, but swine, rabbits/hares, and red-haired people (especially women) are considered to be such bad luck that the sailors and fishermen would go home rather that sail after meeting one.

Strange that most superstitions revolve around sailors and
fishermen

[LBobble]

Eilleen

There are some superstitions that focus on good luck.  The albatross, a nomadic bird that covers great distances over the ocean, is considered a sign of good luck to the sailor.  When a sailor dies, it is said that the albatross carries the soul of the sailor.  An albatross following a sailing vessel gives it protection, as if sailors from the past are watching over the ship and crew.  For this reason, it is considered bad luck to kill or injure an albatross.

Bob