| Nelson & His World http://www.nelsonandhisworld.co.uk/forum/ |
|
| An Old Spanish Custom http://www.nelsonandhisworld.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=61 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | tycho [ Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | An Old Spanish Custom |
I read an interesting account, on another forum, of an event that was recorded in the Naval Chronicle of July 1810 (Vol 24). It was apparently the custom on Spanish ships, to suspend an effigy of Judas Iscariot during Good Friday and the following day. At sunset, it was thrown into the sea, whereupon a sailor with a knife would plunge in and rip the effigy to pieces. On this occasion, the man was drowned. The Spanish were a pious people so such a ceremony is not surprising. It set me wondering whether any similar ceremonies took place on Royal Navy ships, other than the services of the Established Church. The British are not so devout, so maybe they confined themselves to rites like 'Crossing the Line' with pagan characters such as Neptune and Amphitrite. |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC [ DST ] |
| Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|