A PAGAN RITUAL IN THE MODERN WORLD
Those Ancient Greeks Were a Creative and Volatile Bunch.
Not long ago, when I wrote about my NEMESIS (catch it here) I was admittedly unaware of that term’s Greek roots. While researching I dove into fascinating reading, God after interrelated God, and became quite intrigued. Twenty-five hundred years later many compelling characters of Greek Mythology are still permeating our lives. Is it completely myth, all those accomplishments, betrayals, and powers? Should we believe? Does anyone truly know for sure? Why risk wrath? We SPAR WITH MOTHER NATURE, and will take all the help we can get.
Poseidon, God of the Sea, brother to Zeus and Hades was second in sphere of influence and reportedly a very prolific, unpredictable guy who lived in a golden palace on the ocean floor. Married to a Sea Nymph that he was not faithful to, this bearded wild child carried a Trident and was said to reside over both calm waters and storms, whichever he deemed appropriate. As sailors, therefore, we truly want to perpetually remain in his good graces. Many resources mention that he also ruled horses and earthquakes. According to Study.com, “Poseidon had the power to shake the earth by striking the ground with his Trident, and could create tsunamis or storms with a single wave.” He is often depicted on a chariot propelled by either steeds, sea creatures or more commonly a combination thereof.
One of the best ways we water-dwellers demonstrate our respect is the Boat Renaming Ceremony. Superstitious? Yes. A must-do for boaters? Oh yes. We were scared, (well, maybe just nervous) to even motor to the next dock, just a hundred yards away, without asking permission from this powerful entity when we purchased and launched STEADFAST. We immediately planned the proceedings.
A bonus of this particular boating tradition is that it involves friends and champagne. In our case we invited all the people (both of them) from the tiny Maine marina where we were staging for the sail south. The alcoholic tonics can easily be substituted with the beverage of your choice; it’s really the Pagan Ritual in modern times that makes this captivating, refreshing and downright fun. We taped ours so that we would have proof for perpetuity that we followed the rules! West Marine stores, for your convenience, sell a bottle of faux-sparkling wrapped in netting so that the broken bottle is less of an issue for you and the planet. That’s the practical side. The not-as-practical side of you may be asking if Poseidon, when properly revered, will actually protect the things you love? Well, we certainly hope so!
This ceremony is (quite suprisingly!) recommended by the US Government; no separation of Church and State in this case! Here’s their version, which we followed.
CEREMONY
According to legend, renaming a vessel without following time-honored traditions can incur the wrath of Poseidon, the God of the Sea. Poseidon holds the name of every vessel ever launched recorded in The Ledger of the Deep. Therefore, if you want the vessel to carry a new name, you must purge it not just from the ledger, but also from Poseidon’s consciousness. Have a compass nearby if you do not already know the headings of North, South, East and West, and learn and understand the pronunciation of the archaic terms and the names of the wind gods prior to the ceremony. This ceremony requires multiple bottles of champagne.
Remove all known traces of the current vessel name
Take any and every item bearing the name off the vessel. This pertains to documents, decor items, nameboards, life rings, etc. Strike the name from every record, ranging from log books to maintenance documents. Some sailors recommend burning these, to ensure you obliterate the name, but white-out fluid may be used as well. After you have completed these steps, write the old name in water-soluble ink on a metal tag. Do not, take even one item with the new name onboard yet; you must not do this until you’ve completed all of the tasks outlined below.
Removing the old name of your vessel: The Purging Ceremony
The official ceremony calls for good champagne and good friends as witnesses. Once you are gathered together on the bow of the boat, recite the following to Poseidon himself:
“Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, I implore you in your graciousness to expunge for all time from your records and recollection the name “___________________” (mention the old boat name), which has ceased to be an entity in your kingdom. As proof thereof, we submit this ingot bearing her name, to be corrupted through your powers and forever be purged from the sea.”
Drop the metal tag over the bow into the water. Then say:
“In grateful acknowledgement of your munificence and dispensation, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court.”
Pour at least half the champagne into the water, from east to west. Share the rest among yourselves. This concludes the Purging Ceremony.
If you have already had the transom graphics changed, keep the new name covered until you finish all the steps.
The Renaming Ceremony: (you may physically add the new vessel name after the ceremony)
Address Poseidon once again:
“Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, I implore you in your graciousness to take unto your records and recollection this worthy vessel hereafter and for all time known as “___________________” (say the vessel’s new name), guarding her with your mighty arm and trident and ensuring her of safe and rapid passage throughout her journeys within your realm. In appreciation of your munificence, dispensation, and in honor of your greatness, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court.”
Have additional champagne on hand, because you will need to pour it, minus one glass for you and one for the mate, into the water, this time from west to east.
Appease the four wind gods, Boreas, Zephyrus, Eurus, Notus.
Renaming a vessel also involves asking for fair winds and calm seas for your future voyages. Recite:
“Oh mighty rulers of the winds, through whose power our frail vessels traverse the wild and faceless deep, we implore you to grant this worthy vessel “_________________” (say your vessel’s new name) the benefits and pleasures of your bounty, ensuring us of your gentle ministration according to our needs.”
Next, you will address each wind god individually.
Face north, pour champagne into a champagne flute and toss the libation to the north as you say:
“Great Boreas, exalted ruler of the North Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your frigid breath.”
Face West, repeating the champagne pour and toss while saying:
“Great Zephyrus, exalted ruler of the West Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your wild breath.”
Face East, repeating the champagne pour and toss while saying:
“Great Eurus, exalted ruler of the East Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your mighty breath.”
Face South, pouring the champagne and tossing it while reciting:
“Great Notus, exalted ruler of the South Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your scalding breath.“
Finish Off the Champagne (yes, that’s really what it says! Most fun thing ever read on a .us website)
Indulge in honor of completing the ceremony. Now, you may take your first item bearing the new name onto your vessel.
If you wish to download these instructions for the ceremony of renaming a boat, you may download them in printable PDF format via the link below:
https://unitedstatesvessel.us/Ceremony-for-renaming-a-boat.pdf
Superstion? Sure. Fun? Yep. So why risk wrath?
Here is our weekly sunrise; STEADFAST’S masts are silhouetted in the glow .
I so much appreciate you loyal readers being part of my Substack, please feel free, as always to comment, ‘like’ (that really, really does help in the realm of Substack ratings and algorithms— click the little heart—) and share. THANK YOU from the bottom of my writer’s heart.
~J
I didn’t want to risk it, so our boat name stayed the same.
Did you unstep your masts? If you did, were there any coins under them? Ours had some. Make sure to follow through on that ceremony, too.
One does not want to monkey with tradition.
When we really get down to brass tacks (and by the way, the use of that expression just took me on a rabbit trail in search of its origins!) all ceremonial rituals are an amalgam of their original purpose and whatever else we've layered in over the years. But they are an important part of our heritage in how they serve to memorialize the past. I think Americans have too few of them!
The practice for renaming a vessel is curious, In so many other examples we seem determined to preserve history rather than obliterate it. Sailors are a very superstitious bunch, aren't they (we)?
We kept the name on our boat, but previous owners had changed it before us. I wonder if they followed the rules? Are you allowed to speak of Steadfasts's former name, or have all the reccords been expunged?
Delightful to know you did this, Janice, and that the template came from a government site!