Buzz
Life on the open sea seems to give rise to a unique form of superstition. Perhaps it's because sailors are constantly at the mercy of nature’s unpredictable forces, and thus, they cling to any myth or tale that promises to offer some extra protection. Maybe it’s because sailing is one of humanity’s oldest occupations. Or maybe it’s simply the type of person that the sea attracts. Whatever the reason, many captivating nautical legends have stood the test of time for centuries.
10. The Jonah Curse
If you believe that anyone could take to the seas, you might want to reconsider. Sailors were highly selective about who they allowed on board their ships. Those deemed unlucky were often referred to as a “Jonah,” a nod to the biblical prophet who was swallowed by a massive fish, only to be spat back out later.
Women, redheads, priests, debtors, and murderers were all considered bad omens aboard a ship, although excluding murderers was likely a wise decision. Sailors strongly believed that having women on board could distract the crew and even anger the sea gods. In one infamous case from the Middle Ages, a crew tossed dozens of female passengers overboard during a storm, though most of the men perished in the wreck anyway.
However, if a pregnant woman did manage to board a ship, the child born at sea would be considered a fortunate omen. Oddly enough (and conveniently for the lonely sailors), nude women were also seen as a good luck charm. This superstition is why many ships feature carvings of naked women as figureheads at the bow.
Priests were associated with death and funerals, something nervous sailors preferred not to dwell on. If you happened to cross paths with a fiery redhead before boarding, sailors believed you could avoid their bad luck by speaking to them first, before they could speak to you.
9. The Klabautermann
The Klabautermann legend is one of the few positive myths among sailors. A Klabautermann is a benevolent water sprite from Northern European folklore that appears as a small sailor dressed in yellow attire. According to the myth, these little creatures could aid in ship repairs, rescue sailors tossed overboard, and even play music. They are often depicted with a pipe and hammer, and the sound of their voices or the clinking of their tools could be heard by sailors as they scurried around, fixing leaks aboard the ship.
Images of the Klabautermann were frequently carved into ships as symbols of good fortune. If a sailor happened to catch sight of one, it could be an omen that their ship was destined to sink, but it could also serve as a warning of impending danger. Sometimes, a Klabautermann would rearrange objects or play pranks on the crew, but generally, they were regarded as helpful spirits. A particularly kind captain might even be followed by a Klabautermann from one ship to another, providing protection and assistance.
8. The Banana Taboo
One of the most curious and enduring pieces of nautical folklore is the ban on bananas aboard ships. This superstition dates back to the 1700s in the Caribbean. The most widely accepted explanation is that banana-laden ships had to travel at high speeds to prevent the fruit from spoiling, which made fishing and safety difficult. Bananas also had a tendency to float to the surface after shipwrecks, which led sailors to associate the fruit with disaster. Additionally, the slippery peels posed a danger, leading to injuries aboard.
The banana legend may have some scientific merit. It has been suggested that the ripening fruit could release ethylene gas, which might have made the crew ill and weakened the ship's wooden hulls. Poisonous spiders and snakes have also been known to hitch rides on tropical fruits. This legend has persisted well into the modern age.
A fisherman from Florida shared a story with the news, revealing that he checks passengers on his ship for any signs of banana-related items, including Banana Republic clothing, Banana Boat sunscreen, and even Fruit of the Loom underwear — despite the fact that the Fruit of the Loom logo doesn't even feature a banana. Another captain recalled an incident in 2001 when a fellow fisherman aggressively slashed the Banana Republic logo off a man’s t-shirt. Next time you plan a fishing trip, you might want to think twice about anything banana-related, just to play it safe.
7. Davy Jones and His Locker
Davy Jones’s locker is commonly used as a metaphor for the bottom of the ocean, where shipwrecks and drowned sailors meet their end when disaster strikes. In early tales, Jones was depicted with devilish features: horns, a tail, enormous eyes, and multiple rows of sharp teeth, resembling a shark. He was said to exhale blue smoke and appear in the rigging of ships before a storm or impending shipwreck.
The name “Davy Jones” could be a fusion of two religious figures. Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, was often called upon by Welsh sailors for protection at sea. The surname “Jones” is believed to be connected to the prophet Jonah. There was a real British pirate named David Jones who caused havoc in the Indian Ocean in the 1630s, but he wasn’t widely known, and there’s no clear link between him and the legend.
Another theory suggests that the legend of Davy Jones might have originated from a pub owner in London who was known for getting sailors drunk, trapping them in a locker, and then selling them into slavery. According to one version of the story, the pub owner later stole a ship, became a pirate, captured entire crews, decapitated most of them, and imprisoned the rest aboard the ships before sinking them to the depths.
Despite his fearsome reputation, Davy Jones is not always portrayed as a villain in nautical mythology. One popular naval tradition, still celebrated today, is when a sailor crosses the equator for the first time—a ceremony known as “crossing the line.” In this ceremony, Davy Jones is often depicted as a helper to King Neptune, assisting during the festivities.
6. Mother Carey
Mother Carey was not a figure any sailor wanted to upset. Her legend, which emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries, portrayed her as a powerful sea goddess or witch. In some versions of the tale, she is even said to be married to Davy Jones (Source 14). Storm petrels, a type of bird, are often believed to be the souls of deceased sailors and are closely associated with her. These birds are sometimes referred to as Mother Carey’s geese.
In some versions of the story, Mother Carey is believed to have the ability to resurrect retired sailors, bringing them back to life at sea. She is also said to possess the powers of a siren, using her enchanting voice to lure men away from their ships and to their watery deaths. However, in most tales, Mother Carey is depicted as an evil character who can summon storms and shipwrecks, sending more souls to join her husband in the depths of the sea.
One theory suggests that the name “Mother Carey” originates from the phrase “mater cara,” meaning “precious mother,” which terrified European sailors would shout when facing perilous situations at sea. In some renditions of her myth, Mother Carey is said to reside on an iceberg in the northern seas, brushing her hair with the bones of the deceased.
5. Selkies
Gazing into the vast, mysterious ocean, it’s no wonder that many sailors’ legends revolve around the creatures lurking beneath the surface. Selkies are mythical beings that feature prominently in Celtic and Norse nautical tales. These creatures are said to dwell in the sea and have the ability to transform between the shape of a seal and that of a human being.
Much like mermaids, selkie tales are often steeped in romance, with sailors stealing the selkies’ seal skin to prevent them from returning to the ocean, hoping to keep them as wives. However, these marriages often end tragically, with the selkies either living as humans who long for their ocean homes or finding their stolen skin, then abandoning their human families to return to the sea.
While most selkie stories feature female selkies, there are also tales of handsome male selkies seducing lonely fishermen’s wives. Some versions of the myth suggest that selkies were once human but were cursed for their sins, while others believe they are fallen angels. Children born with webbed feet or toes were often thought to be the offspring of a selkie and a human. The selkie myth shares many similarities with the stories of mermaids, sirens, and even the shape-shifting swan bride that appears in European folklore.
4. The Flying Dutchman
One of the most famous nautical legends is the tale of the ghost ship known as The Flying Dutchman. This eerie, glowing ship has been reported by sailors for centuries, often seen as a bad omen or harbinger of doom. The legend likely dates back to the 17th or 18th century and typically involves a ship that disappears, its cursed crew doomed to sail the seas forever as punishment for a terrible crime.
The first written account of the Flying Dutchman, from 1790, tells the story of a Dutch captain trying to sail around the Cape of Good Hope during a violent storm. Despite his crew urging him to turn back, the captain swore to continue sailing until he reached shore, even if it took an eternity. The devil, hearing this defiant promise, cursed the captain, condemning him to wander the seas. The captain’s only hope was to find a woman who truly loved him.
Some versions of the tale suggest that the real East India Company captain, Bernard Fokke, was the one behind the legend of the Dutchman. His sailing expeditions were so remarkably fast that rival captains claimed he must have made a pact with the devil. Regardless of the true origins, stories of the ghost ship continued into the 20th century, including a first-hand sighting by future King George V. Some scientists believe that the Dutchman sightings could be explained by the Fata Morgana mirage, which creates the illusion of a ship on the horizon.
3. Tattoos
Tattoos have been a significant part of maritime culture for centuries, serving as more than just body art for sailors. The tradition is believed to have begun when explorer James Cook’s crew visited the South Pacific in the 1700s and decided to get Maori tattoos as souvenirs from their travels.
In the early 1900s, many sailors opted for tattoos of naked women, hoping it would exempt them from being drafted into the Navy. However, the issue was quickly resolved by adding clothes to the tattoos. Norman Collins, famously known as Sailor Jerry, played a key role in popularizing the classic style of American Navy tattoos through his shop in Hawaii during the mid-1900s.
Certain symbols and phrases are believed to carry protective powers. For instance, if a sailor was thrown overboard, tattoos of farm animals such as pigs and chickens were thought to trick God into thinking that a land animal had been lost at sea and thus needed to be returned to land. This idea became popular partly because farm animals were often the only survivors of shipwrecks, floating in their wooden crates.
A sailor with the phrase “Hold Fast” tattooed on their knuckles was thought to be safeguarded from falling off the ship’s rigging. Tattoos of compasses or the north star were believed to help guide sailors safely home. Other tattoos, like swallows, anchors, dragons, and turtles, were used to mark significant milestones such as crossing the equator or the international dateline.
2. St. Elmo’s Fire
St. Elmo’s fire is a type of luminous phenomenon that sailors consider a good omen. It appears as a glowing light on ship masts or other pointed objects such as church spires, airplanes, chimneys, or even the horns of bulls and blades of grass. The light takes on a blue-violet hue due to strong electrical fields, often generated during thunderstorms.
The phenomenon has been documented throughout history, with notable reports from figures such as Charles Darwin, Ferdinand Magellan, Julius Caesar, Benjamin Franklin, and Nikola Tesla. Sailors considered the light a positive sign, interpreting it as St. Elmo—the patron saint of sailors—accompanying them on their journey.
Originally known as Erasmus of Formia, St. Elmo was a revered figure. According to legend, he continued preaching even when a lightning bolt struck nearby, establishing his association with protection from storms. As a result, sailors considered him a valuable protector. In addition to his maritime connection, he is also the patron saint of intestinal diseases, cramps, colic, cattle, and labor pains.
1. The Chaleur Phantom
A phenomenon similar to the Dutchman’s ghost ship is the Fireship of Baie des Chaleurs, also known as the Chaleur Phantom. This eerie light, often seen near New Brunswick, Canada, appears as a burning tall ship, frequently visible just before a storm.
One version of the story suggests a woman was slain by pirates in the area, and with her dying breath, she cursed them: “For as long as the world is, may you burn on the bay.” Another tale recounts a Portuguese sea captain who kidnapped native Mi’kmaq people as slaves in 1501. The Mi’kmaq avenged the kidnapping by killing the captain, and when his brother came looking for him, they set his ship ablaze. As the ship burned, the men leapt into the sea, vowing to haunt the bay for a thousand years.
A different account suggests that a crew, fearful of an incoming storm, murdered a man they believed brought bad luck. In retaliation, the man’s spirit set their ship on fire, a flame that has never been extinguished. Some scientists speculate that the flash of light locals attribute to the haunting Chaleur Phantom might actually be caused by natural or marsh gas escaping from underwater.
