Why Do Women Traditionally Name Ships?

The ceremony of naming a newly built ship is called a naming ceremony. Interestingly, a woman always serves as the namer at a ship naming ceremony. There are two theories about the origin of this tradition. One is that in the Middle Ages, the Viking people offered a virgin as a sacrifice to Poseidon, the sea god, when launching a ship, praying for its safety. Another theory is that it originated from King George III of 19th-century England, who allowed his beloved daughters to name ships. The scene of the naming ceremony is also interesting. A specially selected female namer says, "I name this ship the ㅇㅇㅇ," and lightly strikes the naming stand with a golden or silver axe. Then, the rope connecting the ship and the ceremony site is cut, and the box placed on the ship breaks open, scattering flower petals. It resembles the scene of cutting the umbilical cord when a baby is born. There is also a process where the namer smashes a bottle of champagne against the ship. This is said to have originated from the Catholic ceremony of baptism with holy water, and it is said to be a way to pray for the safety of the ship by breaking the bottle. However, there are exceptions to the tradition of female namers. In the Middle East, where male authority is strong, men still serve as namers.
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