Pirates wore earrings to commemorate their travels, prevent seasickness, flout stifling dress codes, and pay for their own burials if on land.

To celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day and our own beloved mascot, the Captain, let’s explore a random assortment of fun (read: not at all scholarly and definitely not peer-reviewed!)

Pirates wore eye patches to adjust to the light and darkness above and below deck during raids.

A Treasury of Pirate Facts • Southwestern University

Dude, he's Australian.

.not a pirate.

S.C. Stephens

Save yourselves!” Percy warned.

It is too late for us!”Then he gasped and pointed to the spot where Frank was hiding.

Oh, no! Frank is turning into a crazy dolphin!”Nothing happened.

I said,” Percy repeated, “Frank is turning into a crazy dolphin!”Frank stumbled out of nowhere, making a big show of grabbing his throat.

Oh, no,” he said, like he was reading from a teleprompter.

I am turning into a crazy dolphin.

He began to change, his nose elongating into a snout, his skin becoming sleek and gray.

He fell to the deck as a dolphin, his tail thumping against the boards.

The pirate crew disbanded in terror.

Rick Riordan