Sailor Superstitions Trivia Quiz

Answer: Friday

Friday has always been an ill-omened day, since that was when Christ was crucified. According to one of the legends, the Royal Navy once tried to put an end to this superstition.

Answer: Clergymen are all descendants of Jonah, the original bad luck passenger.

Jonah was a biblical prophet who tried to flee from his holy mission by sailing to Iberia. A storm overtook the vessel, and the sailors were forced to throw Jonah overboard in order to save the ship. 'Jonah' now comes to mean any bad luck passenger or crewman. Anyone suspected of being a Jonah was put ashore at the first port of call (if they were lucky).

Answer: Penguins

Dolphins swimming near a ship is considered a favorable sign. Under no circumstance should they be harmed. Contrary to land-lubber superstitions, a cat on board, especially a black one, brings luck. All ships are plagued with rats, but they will desert a doomed vessel, so it's bad luck when the little vermin are gone.

Answer: Pigs

According to legend, pigs can see the wind. Speaking of this animal can cause the wind to blow unfavorably. Other animal superstitions include never killing an albatross or gull (they contain the souls of dead sailors). And of course, sharks following a vessel is an ill-omen.

Answer: It prevents them from drifting away if they should fall overboard.

In the days of sailing ships, falling overboard could mean death, even if your shipmates saw you.

Tattooing HOLD FAST on one's knuckles prevented a sailor from falling from aloft.

In the days when whipping was still practiced in the navy, sailors would have large tattoos of Jesus or the Virgin Mary inked across their backs. They hoped this would prevent the punisher from lashing too hard.

Answer: Whistling

Whistling on deck, it is believed, can raise unfavorable winds. If a sailor should whistle by mistake, he must spit into the prevailing wind.

Answer: Allow the crystal to ring

Unintentional bells on board is an omen of death. If the crystal rings and no one stops it, then a sailor will drown somewhere in the world. I'm assuming this originated in the officers' mess, since common swabbies don't usually drink out of crystal glasses.

Answer: Wine

Back in pagan days, it was wise to appease the water spirits with an offering of wine. It is through this practice that we get the tradition of breaking a bottle of champagne on the hull of newly christened ships.

Answer: Right

In nearly every superstitious tradition, left-handed actions are bad news. This may come from biblical verses that refer to Jesus sitting at the right hand of God.

Answer: Cross the equator on a ship

Hazing the sailors who are crossing the equator for the first time is a grand old naval tradition. It is certainly not an excuse for everyone to get drunk. Thanks for playing. Remember, 'Red sky at night, sailor's delight, red sky at morning, sailors take warning'.