v been currios as to why a bottle of wine is broken on the back of a ship at its launch. stupid question i know, but hey i cant find it on google. plz help. thanks all
2007-05-09 18:04:33 · 4 answers · asked by jared j 2 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
"For as long as ships have been built, they've been ceremoniously blessed in one way or another. Wine, water and whiskey have been used to christen them, though go back far enough and animals and even humans were sacrificed in the name of appeasing the gods and protecting a new ship and her crew.
For eons, it was men -- royalty, captains, priests and politicians -- who were typically summoned to participate in the various religious and secular rituals. Eventually the rite evolved into the now standard practice of a woman in high standing breaking a bottle of champagne across the bow. (Though there are exceptions, United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye recently christened NCL's Pride of Hawai`I, but he was referred to as the ship's sponsor, not its godfather!)
Celebrities are often the godmother of choice since they tend to attract lots of coveted media attention for the cruise line. Sports figures, politicians, royals and wives of cruise line executives are also in the mix. Even nobodies. For the recently launched Freedom of the Seas, Royal Caribbean chose a real person to the do the honors, Katherine Louise Calder, a foster mother to more than 400 special needs children and an adoption advocate. She smashed the bottle in May as millions watched a live NBC Today Show telecast of the ceremony. For her trouble, Calder gets a free cruise a year for life. Not bad.
No matter who they are, starlet or gal next store, a godmother's role is to bestow good fortune on the ship and all who sail aboard. If she's beautiful or funny, all the better. ..."
2007-05-09 18:42:21 · answer #1 · answered by Flake 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What we see now a days is the use of Champagne (which by the way is a type of wine). It is to Christen and wish good luck.
It has become a tradition in my family to open a Champagne bottle when we have purchased a new car, home, or whatever big ticket item. We don't actually break it over the item but we do make sure we spray a little bubbly on it.... It makes for a great excuse to drink Champagne!!!!
2007-05-10 13:27:06 · answer #2 · answered by Babolat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's how they christen the ship's first voyage at see. kind of like a good luck thing
2007-05-10 01:31:39 · answer #3 · answered by a g 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, its champagne and its to wish good luck to a maiden voyage.
2007-05-10 01:39:54 · answer #4 · answered by JennyP 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋