Beyond the South End

By TED SYLVESTER

Coastal Region Has Wealth of Boating Superstitions

This excerpt is from Ted’s column of January 14, 1972

Superstitions. Where did they originate and how seriously are they taken?

For instance, the superstition that black cats are evil stems from an ancient Greek belief when cats were worshipped as Gods. At that time, a black cat represented evil and the superstition was handed down from generation to generation.

This probably is the basis for the thought that a black cat crossing your path brings bad luck.

If this belief were true we would sure be in a peck of trouble at our house with two black felines having the run of the place.

Some old sayings and signs are taken seriously. Take the following instance, which happened to a friend at Christmas.

It seems a pair of nice scissors was purchased as a gift for an elderly relative. When presented on Christmas they were refused as a gift and would not be accepted unless the person could purchase them.

It was said that to give a loved one anything that had a sharp point was a bad sign.

Here’s another.

We know a mother who insisted that the crib of a new born baby not be made up until the infant was brought home from the hospital. Its bad luck we were told.

The parent of a baby born just recently told us that his mother-in-law strongly advised against allowing a cat near the baby. “The cat will suck the breath out of the baby,” he was told.

Along the coast there are many superstitions concerned with the sea.

Never lay the keel for a new boat on Friday.

Fishermen don’t wear dungarees on board the boat. It’s bad luck.

Don’t take a black suitcase on board a boat.

Don’t allow a woman on board on the day a boat is set to sail.

We were told that back a few years (we don’t know about now-a-days) that if a woman happened to come aboard a fishing vessel the day it was supposed to sail, the trip would be postponed. The belief was so strong that fishermen were sure they would have a bad trip and would rather wait in port an extra day.

Here’s one that is new to us.

A pig was never allowed on a boat. The reason was that if a pig fell overboard its thrashing hooves would cut its own throat and it would die thus placing a curse on the ship.

The list is almost endless. We would be interested in hearing about some of the lesser known superstitions and their origin.

(An example of the kindness of neighbors in Maine)

Returning from a Massachusetts trip recently, a Camden couple was faced with frozen pipes from unexpected cold weather.

When they went next door to a store to seek a propane tank to free the pipes, a stranger offered his help and asked the address. Sure enough, an hour later the man showed up with an industrial heater used to heat foundations and cement pourings.

In short order, the pipes were freed. They were frozen in three different places. With two small children, the family was faced with a difficult night, at best, without help.

Within 30 minutes all the faucets were running, which made for beautiful music.

When asked for a bill for his services, the neighbor declined, saying, “If you can’t do a favor for someone, what’s the use of being alive?”

He added, “Move your car and I’ll plow your driveway.”

And he did.