Sailor Superstitions

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. Which day of the week is considered the most unlucky to launch a voyage? Answer: (One Word, a day of the week)

2. Many passengers are considered unlucky. A captain should think twice before allowing any Finns, women, or redheads on board. Clergymen are also bad news. Why? The presence of a Christan minister is an afront to Neptune, the true god of the sea. Priests attract the souls of the drowned. Men of the cloth tend to put the kibosh on the gambling, swearing and drinking that makes ocean travel tolerable. Clergymen are all descendants of Jonah, the original bad luck passenger.

3. Some types of animals were considered good luck to seafarers. Which of these animals is NOT traditionally lucky to have on or near a ship? Penguins Rats Dolphins Cats

4. On the same topic, what animal is so unlucky that sailors will not even speak its name on board? Pigs Elephants Cats Snakes

5. A sailor with no tattoos is a new sailor, indeed. But tattoos are not mere decorations, they have meaning. For instance, what is the significance of the anchor many seamen wear on their arms? It prevents them from ever getting married. It will give them the strength of steel in any fist fight. It prevents them from drifting away if they should fall overboard. It insures they will always have a berth on a ship somewhere.

6. Like sailors, actors have many superstitions. Both sailors and actors would never perform this action. What? Spitting Wearing green Smoking Whistling

7. What must a sailor never do when eating? Allow the crystal to ring Eat every scrap of food he's served Cross his knife and fork on his plate Throw leftovers into the sea

8. What should be poured across the deck before each voyage? Fresh (not salt) water Wine The crew should urinate on the deck A drop of the captain's blood

9. With which foot should you always step on and off a boat, the left or right? Answer: (One Word, left or right)

10. Most of the above superstitions have fallen into disuse. However, there's still one tradition practiced worldwide. What must a sailor do in order to earn the title 'shellback'? Sail around Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope Pass through both the Suez and Panama Canals Sail in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea Cross the equator on a ship