Caul Blimey...

[Bbbananas]

My dad is 1:80,000. I always knew he was special.

I mentioned my parents moving house last Saturday after 62 years in the same house. One of the things he unearthed was a fascinating piece of personal history of which I had no idea. Dad was born with a caul / veil covering over his face. This was removed and given to his mum as a keepsake / heirloom.

As this is now 84 years old it now looks like a brown paper-type wrapping. It doesn't crumble to the touch, but I would have thrown it out as old dried paper.

Fascinating (well, to me anyhow). Apparently it is meant to signify the person would never drown (I think we will now take him sailing next year!!) and old mariners would pay a lot of money for them as a talisman.

E-bay Dad ??!!!

[bednobs]

i don't get it -is it a bit of skin or something?

[ummmm]

Glad you said that. I don't understand it either...

[anneasquith]

its the membranes which surrounds the baby.

[grasscarp]

I was born in a caul. My mother said it covered me completely so I was like a Buxted chicken! She later found out about the story that people with one (or hopefully born in one) would not drown and sailors would buy a caul for a lot of money. She asked the midwife what she had done with it and was told she had destroyed it. Maybe she did - who knows.

[grasscarp]

Its actually the amniotic sac, which usually ruptures - and leads to the waters breaking.

[bednobs]

eewww eewww eewww

[ummmm]

Ohhhh....Yes, I've heard about babies being born in the sac.

[hc4361]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2336194/The-baby-did-know-born-The-astonishing-picture-shows-newborn-delivered-INSIDE-amniotic-sac.html

[coccinelle]

I was also born in a sac . Mam used to say I would never drown which I can quite imagine due to my fear of water... However, didn't realise that it was 1:80.000. In France they say babies born like this are blessed.

[andy-hughes]

I have also heard that sailors will carry a caul as a good luck charm - because of the belief that the carrier does not drown.

Sailors are a suspcious lot - ask the Ancient Mariner!

[Bbbananas]

Every time I go sailing from now on, I will borrow it off my dad.

I've been kept safe at sea so far, but now I know that exists... !!

[jno]

there are all sorts of traditions

http://www.caulbearer.org/

[coccinelle]

thanks jno for the link. i always thought that being born in a sac and having a veil were the same thing. My mother said I was born with a veil so not sure if she knew the difference. Sadly, she's not here to ask...