<P> Champagne came into popular use as a christening fluid as the 19th century closed . A granddaughter of Secretary of the Navy Benjamin F. Tracy wet the bow of Maine, the Navy's first steel battleship, with champagne at the New York Navy Yard on November 18, 1890 . The effects of national prohibition on alcoholic beverages were reflected to some extent in ship christenings . Cruisers Pensacola and Houston, for example, were christened with water; the submarine V - 6 with cider . However, battleship California appropriately received her name with California wine in 1919 . Champagne returned in 1922, but only for the launch of light cruiser Trenton . </P> <P> Rigid naval airships Los Angeles, Shenandoah, Akron, and Macon were built during the 1920s and early 1930s, carried on the Naval Vessel Register, and each was formally commissioned . The earliest First Lady of the United States to act as sponsor was Grace Coolidge who christened the airship Los Angeles . Lou Henry Hoover christened Akron in 1931, but the customary bottle was not used . Instead, the First Lady pulled a cord which opened a hatch in the airship's towering nose to release a flock of pigeons . </P> <P> Thousands of ships of every description came off the ways during World War II, the concerted effort of a mobilized American industry . The historic christening and launching ceremonies continued, but travel restrictions, other wartime considerations, and sheer numbers dictated that such occasions be less elaborate than those in the years before the war . On 15 December 1941, the United States Maritime Commission announced that all formal launching ceremonies would be discontinued for merchant ships being constructed under its authority, though simple informal ceremonies could continue without reimbursement to builders . </P> <P> In recent history, all U.S. Navy sponsors have been female . In addition to the ceremonial breaking of a champagne bottle on the bow, the sponsor remains in contact with the ship's crew and is involved in special events such as homecomings . </P>

Where did the tradition of christening a ship come from