Lucky Charms for a Sailor

Luck was something that every Sailor on board needed and held on to in order to bring him home safely. That's why there were so many items that could help. Here is a small list.

Personal items:

What brings you the most luck - when it comes from your loved ones. And then you gladly took a locket with strands of hair and you just didn't have any available then just fingernails leftovers or even teeth. But it was great if you tattooed a rooster and a pig on your feet to prevent you from drowning.

A found coin, not only to bring you luck but also to bring money into your pockets. A loadstone was also good, not only because it was magnetic and was used to charge the compass needles (which later became superfluous due to the further development of the compasses themselves), they were also regarded as magical and thus served as a lucky charm.

The caul, which remained on the child's head at birth, was the ultimate protection against drowning and was therefore highly prized.

Religious objects:

Even though religion was such a thing on board and priests were very much avoided, as they were simply associated with death, many carried a rosary or images of saints.

These were seen as protectors and some people believed they would bring them luck, even without religious belief. Hope with her anchor or an anchor alone was also a symbol of hope and was often carried around.

Parts of animals:

There were animals that you simply didn't want to have near you, but parts of them promised good luck. Like the infamous rabbit's foot, but never the whole rabbit. This was the long-eared beast and was not allowed on board because, according to legend, rabbits once sank a ship because they had nibbled on the rigging and everything else. But a paw was considered a lucky charm.

It was similar with sharks, nobody wanted them near them and so many hung a shark fin on the stern to keep them away. To make sure nothing happened to you if you accidentally went overboard, many wore a shark's tooth around their neck to protect them from attack. A custom that originated in the Caribbean and Polynesia, as the people there wore shark teeth as a symbol of masculinity, strength and protection from the gods. Europeans wore them to bring good luck and protection.

In one case, they preferred to have the whole animal with them and that was a black cat. These sweet velvet paws were reviled on land as servants of the devil, but on board a ship they were an absolute lucky charm. Not only did they catch rats and mice, but they were also said to be able to tell the weather, they were also a popular mascot that had to be looked after and if one behaved well with them one was also rewarded with cuddles if one was lucky.

People:

Children born on board were considered lucky charms for the whole crew and the ship, and if you didn't have one, the comrade with the gold earring was a popular hammock neighbor and messmate. Because his proximity alone was enough to protect you from disaster.

A naked woman at the bow was also a good idea to ward off disaster. But please don't run off now and undress the captain's or lieutenant's wife and put her up front. That would only cause unnecessary annoyance - from her and her husband. Leave that to the Figurehead, because she was enough to calm the sea.

Protection for the ship itself:

Well, not only the crew needed a bit of luck, but also the wooden lady, so they liked to nail an upturned, worn horseshoe to the mast to catch the luck and keep it inside. Otherwise, the coins that were worked in under the mast were also regarded as lucky charms and, according to my theory, also as payment for the ferryman.

What was also good was if you painted a few eyes in a small area, usually near the bow. They were supposed to foresee dangers and conjure up good fortune, just as they had once done in ancient times, where they were painted on the bow as forerunners of the Figurehead.

Hexmarks (engraved or painted circles) were also considered lucky charms and protection against dark forces, who knew where the next witch was up to mischief and therefore had to protect themselves.