The superstition associating a particular yellow fruit with maritime misfortune is a long-standing belief among sailors. It suggests that the presence of this specific fruit onboard a vessel will bring about negative consequences, ranging from poor catches to perilous voyages. The origin of this belief is multifaceted and interwoven with historical factors related to trade, cargo, and the inherent dangers of seafaring.
The perceived ill-fortune stems from several practical and historical considerations. Rapid spoilage and the resulting infestation of other cargo were common problems. Furthermore, the gases emitted during ripening could accelerate the deterioration of other goods in the ship’s hold. The speed with which ships carrying this fruit traveled also gave rise to the belief that fewer fish were caught on those voyages, leading fishermen to associate it with empty nets. Historically, slave traders would also commonly feed the enslaved bananas and other inexpensive foods, which further soured the reputation of bananas on the open sea, and were thought to anger the sea gods. The risks associated with transporting this specific cargo likely contributed significantly to its negative reputation.
