Sailor Superstitions

Question 1

Eating a banana on a ship was ______!

Accepted Answer

Unlucky! Bananas get rotten quickly and attract spiders.

Question 2

A figurehead at the front of the ship was good luck. What was USS Constitution's first figurehead?

Accepted Answer

Hercules

Question 3

Having a cat on board was lucky because it could catch rats.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 4

USS Constitution has coins hidden under the mast! This was for the tradition of _____.

Accepted Answer

Payment to pass to the afterlife

Question 5

Tattoos had different meanings for sailors. A compass tattoo symbolized:

Accepted Answer

find your way home if you get lost

Question 6

Whistling is bad luck because it brings a strong wind.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 7

Mascots are good luck for a ship! USS Constitution has had a few throughout history. Which has NOT been one?

Accepted Answer

Dolphin

Question 8

Breaking a bottle on a ship before it launches is good luck.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 9

Sailors believed many things were either lucky or unlucky. Seeing a shark meant_____.

Accepted Answer

Bad luck! Someone would die soon

Question 10

Seeing a mermaid was considered lucky or unlucky, depending on what country you are from.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 11

Chicken or pig tattoos also were good luck because if the ship sank, those animals were often found alive.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 12

Sailors believed in superstitions, meaning they thought certain things brought good or bad luck while at sea.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 13

If you are called a "Jonah", that means you are blamed for all the things going wrong on a ship.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 14

A ship mascot can bring good luck and create identity, just like a mascot for a football team.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 15

Seeing an albatross bird was _____.

Accepted Answer

Unlucky! You are being haunted by souls of drowned sailors

Question 16

Tattoos are thought of as good luck and are still common today on sailors. What does a 'Hold Fast' tattoo mean?

Accepted Answer

Hold tightly to the ropes and rigging so you don't fall

Question 17

A red sky at night would mean_____!

Accepted Answer

Sailors Delight! A good weather day

Questions 17