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15 Maritime Superstitions Sailors Took Seriously

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5. Never Rename a Ship

5. Never Rename a Ship
A crew gathers on deck beside the ship’s newly unveiled name as old titles are ceremoniously washed away. | Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels

Renaming a ship was considered a grave risk among sailors, thought to anger the sea gods and attract misfortune. Unless a special ritual was held to erase the vessel’s old name from the gods’ memory, disaster might follow. Even famous vessels, like the ill-fated Mary Celeste, have stories tied to name changes and subsequent woes. This superstition’s origins lie in ancient maritime traditions and still echoes in modern shipping. Explore the tradition here.

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