Ship christening

The christening of a ship is a ceremonial act that is traditionally performed before a ship is launched. During the naming ceremony, the ship is given its name and a bottle of sparkling wine or champagne is smashed on the ship's hull, a custom that is practised worldwide. Such ceremonies were already common in Mesopotamia in the fourth millennium BC. The ancient Greeks and Romans also had ship christenings. In Japan and China, a line connecting the ship to the land is torn during launching - similar to cutting the umbilical cord at the birth of a human being. Elsewhere, wine was simply poured over the planks, but other sometimes cruel rituals such as human sacrifice were also common. Incidents at christenings were always considered a bad omen.

To read the full text, you must be a Premium Member of wein.plus. You are currently not logged in to wein.plus. Become a Premium Member or log in with your credentials .

Become a Premium Member of wein.plus

Voices of our members

There is a vast number of sources on the web where one can acquire knowledge about wine. But none has the scope, timeliness and accuracy of the information in the encyclopaedia at wein.plus. I use it regularly and rely on it.
Sigi Hiss
freier Autor und Weinberater (Fine, Vinum u.a.), Bad Krozingen

Welcome back!

Ship christening

To read the full text, you must be a Premium Member of wein.plus. You are currently not logged in to wein.plus. Become a Premium Member or log in with your credentials .

Voices of our members

The world's largest Lexicon of wine terms.

EVENTS NEAR YOU