Hell One and All!
Being a sailor was fraught with danger and, as a result, numerous superstitions and stories became connected with a life at sea, so as to make sense of a word that was always in flux. Of course, it was the survivor's tale to tell, and as such the sailors who weathered their adventures were in the position to impart the traditions. Some, in particular, told of a particular stranger who remained on ships.
The Klabautermann
On board ships in the frigid Baltic Sea and North Sea, there is said to be a entity that was well-disposed towards sailors - the Klabautermann. They are usually described as small (approximately 60 centimeters/2 feet), dressed in a brightly coloured coat and a woollen sailor's cap, and equipped with a smoking pipe as well as a boatswain's hammer. He has crimson hair, offset by a long white beard. Their appearance could be alarming to some, because of their large green teeth and pale, aged face.
Similair to the brownie, the Klabautermann is often helpful; he is said to rescue drowning people and could help sailor's in their daily duties. The creature is also an expert musician. When a storm rages and the music continues unabated from the deck, then one can be assured that the ship would be safe. This small type of gnome watches over its ship and nothing goes unnoticed under its alert gaze. If the Klabautermann ever left its vessel then it would be destined to sink to the bottom of the ocean.
The origin of the Klabautermann starts when an unbaptized child dies and is buried outside the churchyard. If a tree grows over that grave, the soul of the deceased is absorbed by the plant. Any ship constructed from that wood would bring a Klabautermann into being. The playful and trickster nature of the being is therefore thanks to its former life as a human child.
A carved image of the being would often be attached to a ship's masthead, to ensure good luck during a voyage. For all of its active helpfulness, the Klabautermann is still shy and prefers to remain invisible to the crew. In fact, he only shows himself to crews he knows are doomed.
Later on, tales of the Klabautermann would receive a sinister bent: some returning sailors reported that they were more akin to gremlins, wreaking havoc and playing harmful pranks on crews whilst also damaging the ship. Certain sailors, who had negative experience, would cast the supernatural being in a more negative light.
Thank you for reading!
Being a sailor was fraught with danger and, as a result, numerous superstitions and stories became connected with a life at sea, so as to make sense of a word that was always in flux. Of course, it was the survivor's tale to tell, and as such the sailors who weathered their adventures were in the position to impart the traditions. Some, in particular, told of a particular stranger who remained on ships.
The Klabautermann
On board ships in the frigid Baltic Sea and North Sea, there is said to be a entity that was well-disposed towards sailors - the Klabautermann. They are usually described as small (approximately 60 centimeters/2 feet), dressed in a brightly coloured coat and a woollen sailor's cap, and equipped with a smoking pipe as well as a boatswain's hammer. He has crimson hair, offset by a long white beard. Their appearance could be alarming to some, because of their large green teeth and pale, aged face.
Similair to the brownie, the Klabautermann is often helpful; he is said to rescue drowning people and could help sailor's in their daily duties. The creature is also an expert musician. When a storm rages and the music continues unabated from the deck, then one can be assured that the ship would be safe. This small type of gnome watches over its ship and nothing goes unnoticed under its alert gaze. If the Klabautermann ever left its vessel then it would be destined to sink to the bottom of the ocean.
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| "Ship Deck, Stormy Seas" by Montague Dawson. |
The origin of the Klabautermann starts when an unbaptized child dies and is buried outside the churchyard. If a tree grows over that grave, the soul of the deceased is absorbed by the plant. Any ship constructed from that wood would bring a Klabautermann into being. The playful and trickster nature of the being is therefore thanks to its former life as a human child.
A carved image of the being would often be attached to a ship's masthead, to ensure good luck during a voyage. For all of its active helpfulness, the Klabautermann is still shy and prefers to remain invisible to the crew. In fact, he only shows himself to crews he knows are doomed.
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| Klabautermann sculpture in Bremerhaven. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Klabautermann_BHV.JPG |
Later on, tales of the Klabautermann would receive a sinister bent: some returning sailors reported that they were more akin to gremlins, wreaking havoc and playing harmful pranks on crews whilst also damaging the ship. Certain sailors, who had negative experience, would cast the supernatural being in a more negative light.
Thank you for reading!
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