[Loch-Ruadh] Why did sailors wear earrings? (Alaric? Can you answer?)

[giles nemeton]

In antiquity ear-rings were worn for several reasons
for display(displaying your wealth), for purposes of
initiation, to show membership in a group,to
comemerate an important event,to indicate esteem
bestowed by peers or by the captain, or simply for
vanity

in the US Navy however, by tradition, you may wear an
ear-ring in your left ear if you have survived a
disaster at sea, altho it is seldom seen possibly due
to the specifications for the ring....ie. 'must be 1/4
inch in thickness and minimum circumference to enclose
the lobe of the ear.'.......ouch!

--- Jane Sitton <jane.sitton at radioshack.com> wrote:
> Greetings.
>
> Another email list I read has come up with a
> question:
>
> Why did sailors wear earrings?  Here are some of the
> theories:
>
> #1.  To pay for a Christian burial, should the body
> wash up on shore (though
> I would think the ears would be among the first
> parts to be nibbled off by
> fish, sorry for the visual)
>
> #2.  To indicate the sailor was married, and worn on
> the left ear (closer to
> the heart), as a ring on one's hand could get caught
> in the rigging
>
> #3.  To indicate the sailor had been past Cape Horn
> (left ear) or the Cape
> of Good Hope (right ear)
>
> Alaric, can you provide any enlightenment on this
> topic?
>
> Many thanks,
> Madelina
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