Diana,
My "Encyclopedia of Nautical Knowledge" (Cornell Maritime Press, 1953)
says:
Christen: to give a vessel a name, as in ceremony observed when she is
started down the ways in launching. The christening rite appears to have
had a religious significance in its practice over some 3900 years [good
luck finding the "authority"!!], ceremony being thought essential to
future blessing of craft concerned. Today a ship is christened by having
a bottle of wine or champagne broken against her bow as she begins to
move down the ways. Failure to thus name or baptize a vessel, according
to popular belief, invites disaster, or, at least a career of ill fortune
is certain to follow.
I'll run this past our maritime partners (some of whom may well be 3900
years old!) and see whether they have anything more.
Amy Comeau
Haight Gardner
New York
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