Thanks Fred That bit about crossing the equator and the payment for a burial rings a bell with me now. My Grandmother used to tell me something similar but she also told me lots of things that have turned out to be wrong. I thought there might be something specific to the Azores about boys wearing earrings. Diane Donnon
On Saturday, 13 October 2012 11:49:20 UTC+10:30, Fred Souza wrote: > Here is a description of the gold earring custom which has been around a > very long time. (wixapedia) > > Earrings became fashionable among courtiers and gentlemen in the 1590s > during the English Renaissance. A document published in 1577 by clergyman > William > Harrison <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Harrison_(clergyman)>, > *Description > of England*, states "Some lusty courtiers and gentlemen of courage do > wear either rings of gold, stones or pearls in their > ears."[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earring#cite_note-0> > Among sailors <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor>, a pierced earlobe > was a symbol that the wearer had sailed around the world or had crossed the > equator.[2] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earring#cite_note-1> In > addition, it is commonly held[*citation > needed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed> > *] that a gold earring was worn by sailors in payment for a proper burial > in the event that they might drown at sea. Should their bodies have been > washed up on shore, it was hoped that the earring would serve as payment > for "a proper *Christian* burial". Regardless of this expression, the > practice predates Christianity and can be traced back as far as ancient > Greece <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece> where the gold paid > the ferryman, Charon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charon_(mythology)>, > to provide passage across the river Styx<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styx> > to Hades <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hades>. > > On Oct 12, 2012, at 8:36 PM, Cheri Mello wrote: > > Hi Diane D, > > No, I don't know anything about gold earrings indicating someone was > working as a sailor. > > Sorry, > Cheri Mello > Listowner, Azores-Gen > Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das > Tainhas, Achada > > -- > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > azores+un...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>. Follow the confirmation > directions when they arrive. > For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail > (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the > right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my > membership." > > > Thank you, > > Frederick Souza > 19 Owen Drive > Stonington, CT 06378-1012 > 860-535-2670 mailto:...@comcast.net <javascript:> > > > > > > > > > -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
