The pirate look has more of than not caught the fancy of the people for theme parties etc. For a great look, eye patches are mostly made with black construction paper, felt or foam. These are cut in a ‘diamond’ shape, with two holes poked on the side. Yarn or string is tied onto the holes, and then the ‘patch’ is tied around the head and over the eye. Pirate swords can be cut out of silver paper or cardboard. Exceptionally good hats can be made of felt, or a bandana can be used instead!
For the real ‘head pirate’ look, buy a stuffed bird, especially a parrot, and keep him on your shoulder. Use aluminum foil to curve a hook and hold onto to become Captain Hook. Wigs, long coats, beards and being really dirty are also authentic duds for pirates, but you probably want to leave the smelly part off!
Some special pirate games can also be played at a Pirate theme party. These can include ‘plank walking’. Use a piece of board or simply put a runner of tape on the floor to follow along and balance on. If someone falls, into the croc pit, he/she goes! You could also play ‘pin the hook’ on the pirate or pin the crossbones on the flag.
You can watch a pirate movie for more genuine pirate costumes and even some entertainment ideas. And, in case you did not know it, pirates aren’t just for the boys – they always had pirate girls in particular costumes too!
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Surprisingly, the pirates had certain laws which were more democratic than the societies they lived in. They elected and even replaced leaders. The captain was usually the fittest and the most vicious fighter. They even shared the booty and had a fair system of sharing in place. Those injured in battle got compensation or were given simpler jobs. These laws were written down and sometimes even used to declare them outlaws in a court of law. But the pirates’ own justice system was very harsh. For simple acts of disobedience, they could be whipped, marooned, burnt or even drowned and killed.
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Simply speaking, Pirates were robbers who used to loot mostly at sea, or sometimes in cities near the shore, without authority from any nation, and without a uniform style of dress. Most of us have a very romantic notion of pirates as - rich, rebellious and interesting, operating outside the rules of a rigid society.
Actually, most of the pirates were poor and unhealthy, and died young. Their work was hard and dangerous - they had to fight, loot and maintain a ship that was usually old. Their riches were largely spent in taverns, sometimes even in a single night. Some pirates buried their treasure, but unfortunately died before they could come back for it.
The vision of the appearance of pirates we all generally have is that of a villain with an eye patch, a steel hook for a hand or wooden leg, drunk and shouting – ‘Shiver me timbers’ or the like.
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Even the women on my ship have set attires: a ragged-edged skirt or cropped pants, peasant-style blouse, a corset, bandana for the head, boots, hoop earrings and a pistol. But laws on my ship are very strict about meddling with a woman without her consent; you shall suffer death. Most of our clothing and jewelry is from the ships we have raided. As long as you don’t break the code of conduct, you get to keep one share and a quarter of the booty. If any hand on board tries to run away or keep a secret, we maroon him with one bottle of powder, one bottle of water, one small arm and a shot. Stealing from the ship or loot always invites marooning or being shot; unless he/she is a skillful fighter.
My ship fills terror in the hearts of all captains at sea; the “jolly Rogers” or the black flag with the sign of death and destruction makes them abandon or give- up instantaneously. Did you know that we keep the sign of crossbones and skull in our logbooks for the death of sailors, that’s how it got onto those flags; and when I really mean business on sea, the hands change the flag into a red one for absolute terror!
I see a ship loaded with clothes from Paris, looks like Jean Gaultier; never can resist designer clothes. Gotta go, Amigo!
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The little loft right above my cabin is where I keep my boots, everything from buckle topped shoes to mid thigh boots. Now you would say why my picture shows me bare feet…. that’s for a better grip on deck! The sash? Sparrow made these practically a part of a pirate’s attire… but it’s just impossible to face the high winds on sea with a big sash around your head or waist. Being the man of this ship, all my leggings are solid colors: black, tan, brown…err… the red-striped ones are only for Halloween. Don’t you just wish you could partake from my amazing eye-patch collection? Oh, yes, did I mention all the tattoos I have on me? Every time we win a battle I get the name of the sunken battleship tattooed on me, pirate pride it is. A number of people on land ask me how I keep my long tresses so tangle free, well, to tell you the truth I have very little hair left on my head now that I am not young anymore. The secret behind my beautiful hair are these lovely wigs. Black, tan, brown, I even have a blonde one which I wear every time we touch shore. And if I were Sparrow my beard would be beaded with colorful stones; since I am not I simply braid it into hundreds of knots, make the women swoon for you!
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