The Sea Draugr – Ghost of Drowned Sailors
In the Nordic maritime tradition that extends to Åland, the draugr or sea draug is the restless spirit of a drowned sailor. It appears as a figure in oilskins with a head of seaweed, sailing in half a boat. The sea draugr serves as an omen of impending drowning: if a fisherman sees the draug or hears its cries, his own vessel is likely to be lost. The draugr could be placated with offerings — in the old Christmas tradition, beer was left out as 'draug-beer' to keep these spirits from becoming malicious. For Åland, where seafaring has been the backbone of life for thousands of years and where e