A strange light which hovers at the tips of masts after intense thundery sea storms is known to sailors as corpuzanto or St Elmo’s fire. The appearance of St Elmo’s fire was regarded as a good omen as it usually appears after the worst of a storm has passed. The name, St Elmo’s Fire, derives ultimately from St Erasmus and early bishop and martyr whose name was shortened to Ermo and then to Elmo.
© Juliette Wood