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Episode 12: Superstition at Sea - The Legends Sailors Swear By
This week on King’s Talk, we dive into ten of the strangest, saltiest, and most enduring maritime superstitions, from cursed bananas and topless figureheads to tattoos as protection and the ghostly lights that sailors feared most. So whether you're a sailor, a land lover, or just afraid of foggy lights and folklore, this one’s for you.
Sources:
Tall Ship Providence Foundation – Women on Ships: https://tallshipprovidence.org/women-bad-luck/
Lloyd’s Register Heritage & Education Centre – Women, Ships, and the Sea: https://hec.lrfoundation.org.uk/whats-on/stories/women-ships-and-the-sea-the-dangers-of-custom-and-superstition
NZ Maritime Museum – 20 Sailing Superstitions: https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/collections/top-20-sailing-superstitions
Hubbard’s Marina – Why Are Bananas Bad Luck on Boats?: https://www.hubbardsmarina.com/bananas-bad-luck-on-a-boat/
NOAA – What causes red sky at night?: https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/weather-atmosphere/red-sky-at-night
Carl Linnaeus – Systema Naturae (18th century taxonomy reference)
Wikipedia – Line-crossing ceremony: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-crossing_ceremony
Military.com – Unofficial U.S. Navy Certificates: https://www.military.com/history/2021/10/07/5-of-rarest-unofficial-us-navy-certificates.html
USN for Life – Golden Shellback History: https://usnforlife.com/blogs/usnforlife-blog/what-it-means-to-be-a-golden-shellback
Emerging Civil War – Shellbacks and Polliwogs: https://emergingcivilwar.com/2022/07/25/shellbacks-polliwogs-and-crossing-the-equator-amid-civil-war/
National Ocean Service – Bioluminescence in the ocean: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/biolum.html
Maritime tattoo traditions compiled from various naval folklore archives
Next episode: Public Enemies: The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde
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By Lo and PresleyThis week on King’s Talk, we dive into ten of the strangest, saltiest, and most enduring maritime superstitions, from cursed bananas and topless figureheads to tattoos as protection and the ghostly lights that sailors feared most. So whether you're a sailor, a land lover, or just afraid of foggy lights and folklore, this one’s for you.
Sources:
Tall Ship Providence Foundation – Women on Ships: https://tallshipprovidence.org/women-bad-luck/
Lloyd’s Register Heritage & Education Centre – Women, Ships, and the Sea: https://hec.lrfoundation.org.uk/whats-on/stories/women-ships-and-the-sea-the-dangers-of-custom-and-superstition
NZ Maritime Museum – 20 Sailing Superstitions: https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/collections/top-20-sailing-superstitions
Hubbard’s Marina – Why Are Bananas Bad Luck on Boats?: https://www.hubbardsmarina.com/bananas-bad-luck-on-a-boat/
NOAA – What causes red sky at night?: https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/weather-atmosphere/red-sky-at-night
Carl Linnaeus – Systema Naturae (18th century taxonomy reference)
Wikipedia – Line-crossing ceremony: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-crossing_ceremony
Military.com – Unofficial U.S. Navy Certificates: https://www.military.com/history/2021/10/07/5-of-rarest-unofficial-us-navy-certificates.html
USN for Life – Golden Shellback History: https://usnforlife.com/blogs/usnforlife-blog/what-it-means-to-be-a-golden-shellback
Emerging Civil War – Shellbacks and Polliwogs: https://emergingcivilwar.com/2022/07/25/shellbacks-polliwogs-and-crossing-the-equator-amid-civil-war/
National Ocean Service – Bioluminescence in the ocean: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/biolum.html
Maritime tattoo traditions compiled from various naval folklore archives
Next episode: Public Enemies: The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde