2006-11-14 08:23:13 · 12 answers · asked by melanie e 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
They hang around your neck - see coleridge's Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner....water water everywhere, and not a drop to drink....
2006-11-14 08:25:41 · answer #1 · answered by Miss Behavin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An Albatross is good luck to sailors, but killing one is bad luck.
When a sailor dies, it is said that the Albatross carries the soul of the sailor. An Albatross following a sailing boat gives it protection, as if sailors from the past are watching over the ship and crew. For this reason, it is considered bad luck to kill or injure an albatross.
2006-11-14 16:33:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No seaman would ever harm an Albatross. Sometimes they will follow a ship for days and it is a beautiful sight. They have wingspans of over six foot, they are massive compared to an ordinary gull. Good luck to see them, very bad luck to kill them.
2006-11-15 07:42:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's only 'bad luck' to kill them (it's certainly bad luck for the albatross). Actually, there is a campaign running at the moment to save these magnificent creatures, which -in my opinion- deserves a plug here:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/international/albatross_appeal/stamps.asp
2006-11-16 06:34:57 · answer #4 · answered by notgethithatonharry 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An Albatross is a wandering soul of the high seas, the well being of the bird ensures safety for the crew. Read Coleridge's work on this theme.
2006-11-14 18:42:20 · answer #5 · answered by ED SNOW 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wasn't the bird that was the bad luck, but the killing of the bird was the source of bad luck.
2006-11-14 16:30:56 · answer #6 · answered by Hatir Ba Loon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard it is because sailors thought albatrosses made the wind blow.
2006-11-14 16:28:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Albatrosses were good luck. It was killing them that was bad luck.
2006-11-15 01:16:28 · answer #8 · answered by waycyber 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You ever seen the size of thier dumps!!
2006-11-14 16:31:39 · answer #9 · answered by Piztaker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have ever stood under one you would know why it's bad luck.........smelly too .....
2006-11-14 16:29:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋