Making names: hints?

[Metabarca]

Upon buying a boat this spring, I promised the previous owner I'd change the vessel's name as he wants it for his new boat for regattas. I have two queries for your experienced attention:

1) - I was thinking of calling my new love 'Yemanja', which some of you may know is the goddess of the sea in the Afro-Brazilian syncretic religion. In other words, she's a 'live' deity (it's not like using 'Neptune' or 'Zephyr' as a name) and although I think it unlikely that I'll ever sail into Rio, I would not like to cause offence to anyone (or tempt fate!). Any opinions in this regard?

2) - The renaming ceremony. I've seen the advice in this regard on the sailnet site which entails libations and much embibing of champagne, etc. Does anyone out there have any personal tips, myths or experiences to share to ensure my craft sails as safely and happily as in her past incarnation?!

Thanks for all tips received.

 

[Robin2]

Is this a grown up version of "Yeh boy ya"

 

[david_e]

Re 1) I'd be careful with Yemanja, she travels around a bit, I met her in a pub near Huddersfield town center the other week.

Re 2) I hope to be doing this on Saturday, shall be imbibing the fizzy stuff quite a bit but won't be getting fancy with the words. Might give Paul Burrell a call and ask if he knows any up to date Royal phrases.

 

[Ohdrat]

Re: Apparently....

There is a ceremony/festival around the 2nd of Feb where people bring flowers down to the sea and toss them in as an offering to Yemanja... might be a thought to appease the goddess in similar manner during your naming ceremony (of course keep the imbibing of fizzy in as well) If you do incorporate the flower offering make sure you do it on at the beginning of an ebb tide with an off-shore breeze as it is not deemed a good omen if the flowers return to shore, this indicates that Yemanja has refused your offering...

P.S. Yemanja also commands the winds and can unleash tempests.. so be warned if the flowers return to land.... oh and do let us know where and when the Tempest will be unleashed just so we don't get caught in it too lol
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Ohdrat on 07/11/2002 16:42 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[david_e]

Re: Yemanja

If she releases Tempests then I think she must have beaten us to it, 'cause it was bloody windy t'other week in Wales. Just about everything blown onto the shore!

 

[heerenleed]

whatever you do

don't 'baptize' your boat the way she should have been when she was given her first name. You can rename her, but any champagne involved in the ceremony must be drunk by yourselves and should in no way touch the boat. If you do a "normal' baptizing ceremony for a second time, it is supposed to bring you bad luck.

happy sailing

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[Metabarca]

Re: whatever you do

Thank you, I'm happy to go along with that!
I also heard that there should be generous libations for Neptune (and no pouring Babycham in the drink whilst quaffing old widow Clicquot on deck!).

 

[Roberto]

Correct spelling of the name is Iemanja, not Yemanja, with a Ioruba variant Iamanja [final a's have an acute accent, cannot find it in the keyboard]

careful with her temper..

 

[Ohdrat]

Re: Careful with her temper

.... or get an extra strong set of storm sails...

 

[david_e]

Re: Yemanja

Has this person got a brother? Reason I ask is I keep seeing Guranja sprayed across many motorway bridges.

 

[heerenleed]

Re: whatever you do

i thought you might be pleased. Fortunately I have never heard of having to pour anything over the side. Anyway, one could not expect us to pollute our waters, now could one? I guess we shall have to drink it all. poor us..

Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[Roberto]

Guranja

Some family members are Oxala, Oxum, Xango, Omulu, Oxossi, Ogum... nicest is Oba, keeps resounding Oba Oba Oba

isn't Guranja an orange juice brand?

 

[Ohdrat]

Re: Guranja

Oba is of course Obi Wan Kanobi's cousin.. and is a lesser Jedi.. pretty hard to beat Obi Wan Kanobi .. uless of course you're Gandalf..