There were pageants where wogs were forced to crossdress in front of their superiors, and then spend the rest of their day performing often degrading tasks. Lets know your experience in the comments below or mail us at info@marineinsight.com. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. See the current VA disability pay charts, and calculate your monthly compensation. He actually told me that he had never agreed to humiliating or painful trials for the new comers because the strength of a real seafarer stays in his heart, his wisdom and his kindness and these qualities can not be tested through silly, humiliating or painful ordeals.. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. Normally theres some separation between these groups, but during the line-crossing ceremony everyone is involved, be they scientist or crew. On the other hand, the ceremonys goal is to ensure that the new comers are capable of facing and handling rough seas and are ready to be called sailors. As appalling as it may seem to shore folk, it is a tradition that makes a man out a fresh cadet or trainee seaman. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. There, they crawled down a gauntlet of Shellbacks on both sides of a long, heavy canvas runner, about 1012 meters. endobj WebEquator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are common in the Navy and are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and cruise ships. Wogs then returned to the forecastle, where they were hosed off by firehose and then allowed to kiss, in turn, the belly of the sea-baby, the foot of the sea-hag, and the ring of King Neptune, each personified by Shellbacks. It was designed to test the novices in the crew to see whether they could endure their first cruise at sea, senior chief aviation boatswains mate Bernard Dizontold the Navys press office. Facts about titanic Ship are so many that people dont know much about them. Line-crossing Ceremony: Homophobic or Homoerotic? Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Equator Crossing or Baptism Ceremony Showing gratitude towards the sea and its masters may come in the form of a whispering pray behind the four walls of your cabin, but it sometimes requires a loud shout and a real ceremony which must be attended by everybody else on board. WebEquator crossing certificate. What you should not forget. )\gXpj 4_M\ ot%H8#,}u{ XXej4nM+#I The glimmer in the eyes of those that have already experienced it, telling you to live every moment of it, for it is never to happen again, is priceless. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. a signal being given I was tilted head over heels into the water, where two men received me & ducked me. 731|+pvwX` Each ship might have their own traditions and nuances, but the fundamental structure goes something like this: Many accounts dwell only on the final, elaborate ceremony that takes place on the day a ship traverses the equator, but the month leading up to King Neptune's arrival, when the Pollywogs are separated off from the Shellbacks, is also significant. at last, glad enough, I escaped. David Moore is a content contributor at Veterans United Network. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. People hear a knock on their door and they know it has begun. The shellbacks had prepared 3-foot lengths of canvas/rubber firehose, which they swung hard at the posterior of each Wog. Even commercial cruise lines have been known to host some parts of the ritual. Taking liberties with the piscatorial subjects of His Majesty Neptunus Rex. 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Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and Y5 Qq;ye>f26&%`M*+*l]H'BNo):-"XE9{4j"Lg@) iV*BN^SBs\-L~N%$uEF7IQfs}`2m~)lMk'C/Cclf[#jFv5OT\S SMH! Ste. The researcher I spoke to remembered how on her trip two scientists were already in the order of shellback, so they joined the rest of the crew to help facilitate the days events. 2023 New Year, New Home $75K Veteran Homebuyer Giveaway, the Sirens and Sea Monsters of the Odyssey, Check if you meet the official VA loan requirements, Department of Veterans Affairs Lender Statistics, Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Directory. In a different iteration in Voyager's galley these ingredients could comprise a tasty fishcake recipe, but not today. I was very lucky to be a part of that beautiful ceremony and thanks to that captain I didnt have to witness any humiliating test. '03aE,#M5fr0|\fs9_'_-Qrzm"\~+?NUzUwx_|],Lf,[~]lly_e)ETJJ Gz#. My wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me. The Navy has spent decades trying to rein in on hazing; the line-crossing ceremony represents a great deal of this. She is the one to whom all other woman look up to. One former Navy man posted videos of the ritual to YouTube. Hersh mentioned how the ceremony morphed as more people entered the Navy. Copyright 2023 Mortgage Research Center, LLC. Ship passengers who have never traversed the nautical line are forced to prove they are worthy to make the transition. For a while, said Hersh, some boats tried to stop the ceremonies from even happening. Seafarers may cross the Equator after many years of sailing both the North and South Hemispheres, but in different voyages as they can join a ship in the North and spend as much as nine months travelling the seas in the same part of the Equator, or they can do this in the South without the possibility of crossing the line by vessel. Anything else the Shellbacks could think of. most of the others were treated much worse, dirty mixtures being put in their mouths & rubbed on their faces. She is a symbol of strength, love, patience, responsibility, beauty, happiness and honesty. ", "List of Unofficial U.S. Navy Certificates", "The Short Snorter Project - Harry F. Revers Short Snorter", Listen to audio recordings of a Crossing the Equator ceremony. <> But it was also authorised by Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the. With the pollywog to shellback transition complete, a certificate was often awarded to the new shellback as a rite of passage. He thought it was beneficial to morale. "Major Combatant Ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945", ibiblio.org. This said, the party doesnt end here! It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. The ceremony could include funny and nave games like moving on hands and knees on slippery decks but more humiliating, difficult and dangerous tasks as well like crawling through barrels of garbage or oil, jumping overboard from high decks or climbing on top of the mast and being forced to spend hours in the same position. [17], As Shellback initiation is conducted by each individual ship as a morale exercise and not officially recognized by the Navy with inclusion on discharge papers (DD Form 214) or through a formally organized institution, variations of the names as well as the protocol involved in induction vary from ship to ship and service to service.[18]. 2013. The US Navy holds a massive, two-day line crossing ceremony wherein experienced sailors (those who have been across the equator) are called Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks and Honorable Shellbacks, the Sons of Neptune. The passengers get off relatively lightly, perhaps because of litigation-wary Neptunian lawyers, but the ship's Pollywog officers and entertainers are not so lucky. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. The custom of crossing the line was immediately adopted following the formation of the Royal Australian Navy, as seen here onboard HMAS Australia (I) in 1913. Behind the Strange and Controversial Ritual When You Cross the Equator At Sea. Heinous as the accusations are, no one seems too concerned until the royal handmaidens bring out the fish. This is the beginning of a line-crossing ceremony, a centuries-old ritual to inaugurate Equator-crossing virgins. Read my comment again Eric. Over the history of researchers hitting the high seas to acquire water samples and observe marine life, there are multiple accounts of ceremonies performed when the ships hit the Equator. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. crossing the equator, Commanding Officer Captain J. Scott Jones, for instance, publicly announced that the USS Bonhomme Richard had a great celebration of this important passage. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. WebAlthough crossing the equator may seem like a routine event for any modern-day naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition Not affiliated with any government agency. Though ceremonies differ, theres a general form and a common cast of characters. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. They never turned into a nightmare for the new comers and they were accompanied only by laughter and happy faces. As the cruise ship Voyager of the Seas nears the equator, excitement mounts and all Pollywogs those who have never crossed the line are encouraged to register for the crossing the equator ceremony. Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. We still laugh about it to this day. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. [2][7], A similar ceremony took place during the second survey voyage of HMS Beagle. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. Those who have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs. Sailors and Marines from the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Peru and Uruguay crossed the equator together aboard the USS New Orleans. Crossing the Equator is a great opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards the Gods of Sea and Earth. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. I had my baptism ceremony nine years ago, in the beautiful waters of the Indian Ocean, somewhere North of the Seychelles Islands, while heading towards the West Coast of Australia. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. There are other similar ceremonies for different locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the International Date Line, and others. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Following the dip, raw eggs are broken onto the heads of the first timers and then they are made to drink a deadly concoction of beer, chilly sauce, raw eggs etc. I am one of the disappointed. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. This ceremony is still practised onboard numerous ships today. hb```>VB eaX;f8L/```b^22jtsVP 6z k$}`+9Vxyo Nk1TO4# }/$ stream Pollywogs or Slimy Pollywogs were those who have not yet crossed the line. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. Much like a wedding, one experiences the joy of it just once, thus becoming a spectator for the all the others to come! Did mine in 1978 in the Indian Ocean on the SS Lepeta. What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew. t a terrible thing it would be if a Navy man became gay. [9] The ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the court of King Neptune. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard have well-established line-crossing rituals. The Schooner Bar pianist and crooner comes in for some particularly harsh treatment, possibly for playing Living Next Door to Alice too often. WebCrossing The Equator (The Script of the Ceremony in HMCS Stettler 1957 February 26, 1957 at 106 East Longitude) (Name of original author not recorded 1957) Note to Reader: This is a typical script for a Crossing the Line ceremony. Crawling through long containers filled withrotten garbage. At sea you are not woman or man, you are sailor. However, most lenders have similar criteria. Learn how your comment data is processed. Showing gratitude towards the sea and its masters may come in the form of a whispering pray behind the four walls of your cabin, but it sometimes requires a loud shout and a real ceremony which must be attended by everybody else on board. In the last decades of the 20th century, the Crossing of the Equator or Equator Crossing Ceremony took the form of a joyous celebration meant to entertain the whole crew, by offering everybody on board a few hours of fun and relaxation. Officers rebelled and did it anyway, which ultimately led to court martials. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. This power asymmetry played a role in the ritual, showcasing innate naval biases. The whole ship was a shower bath: & water was flying about in every direction: of course not one person, even the Captain, got clear of being wet through." Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and It was also called crossing the line. Pollywogs received subpoenas after crossing the equator and were made to appear before King Neptune and his court. But it was also authorised by Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the Ashmore. It is a memory that is etched into each and every seafarer, for it is an event that ushers in a sense of belonging to ones profession. Cadets crawled through a tunnel with lo mein, or "Eel Spawn", and then had food put in their hair before crawling through the fantail while being sprayed by fire hoses. About 9 am the next day, the novices or "griffins" were assembled in the darkness and heat of the lower deck, then one at a time were blindfolded and led up on deck by "four of Neptunes constables", as "buckets of water were thundered all around". MORE: Check if you meet the official VA loan requirements. It is a memory that is etched into each and every seafarer, for it is an event that ushers in a sense of belonging to ones profession. Help using this website - Accessibility statement, Luxury cruise offers a taste of the Succession lifestyle. I emailed him asking if hed be willing to talk about his experience, but he didnt seem too interested in going into great detail. The Greenwich Meridian didn't become the International standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator. In 1995, a notorious line-crossing ceremony took place on the Royal Australian Navy submarine HMASOnslow. 18, They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. The Pollywogs are accused of various atrocities and crimes against humanity, including pushing in at the buffet, singing karaoke out of tune and dancing without rhythm. The Shellbacks plan the coming festivities, but they also spend the entire month taunting the Pollywogs until a mock mutiny is staged by them on the day before the Equator crossing Pollywog Day. It was also called crossing the line. Perhaps Neptunes approval doesnt depend on harassment. 227 0 obj <>stream The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. If they had not, they must choose to give up their allowance of wine for four days, or undergo a ducking ceremony in which they were ducked three times into the ocean. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) UPDATE of 1973 CTL. It is very seldom to find an age-old tradition that is carried out with such gusto at shore. The eve of the equatorial crossing is called Wog Day and, as with many other night-before rituals, is a mild type of reversal of the day to come. [2] The officer on watch reported a boat ahead, and Captain FitzRoy ordered "hands up, shorten sail". [citation needed]. It was also called crossing the line. But there are also times when myseafarers are busy, with bunkering, or they are doing other work. (Photo: A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. High ranking members of the crew and those who have been Shellbacks the longest dress up in elaborate costume and each play the part of King Neptune's court. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. They were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered by King Neptune, the Captain for their sins. A feast is prepared at night for dinner with thorough fanfare. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. It is a memory that is etched into each and every seafarer, for it is an event that ushers in a sense of belonging to ones profession. A beauty contest was held with one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag. His interests primarily lie in the energy sector, books and travelling. The ship's artist, Augustus Earle, made a sketch of the scene.[5]. Why? A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. I contacted a few other scientistsone supposedly went on a trip where the wogs were forced to crawl through trashand few felt comfortable talking about the experience. Retrieved June 7, 2017. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. The memory of the event sticks with people. 7 0 obj WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. Pollywogs participated voluntarily, though female midshipmen observed that they were under social pressure to do the ceremony but were targets of harder abuse. As they approached the equator on the evening of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship. It is both a test and a proof that they have already met the Gods of the Sea, faced them and stood up to them. The Pollywogs are put through some physical tests to be initiated into the ancient mysteries of the deep! The writer was a guest of Royal Caribbean Cruises. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. endstream endobj 188 0 obj <>/Metadata 16 0 R/PageLayout/OneColumn/Pages 185 0 R/StructTreeRoot 25 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 189 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Type/Page>> endobj 190 0 obj <>stream May you always sail in safe seas and always find your way back home! DhD!D4n4I8P5>U`_FC.i`p8~xz_ep;MtBgCrf"FB:&t#W>V98}&I75(*^bqYe[A_xJ4k) Bx^c;.vT{c,kv8J>U_ Usually, the role of Neptune is played by an experienced sailor dressed up in a funny handmade costume with other crew members acting as imaginary creatures helping him to perform the ceremony and captain acting as a mediator between the two parts. Its kind of a nice tradition, said one US-based ocean researcher when I asked her about her experience. In this case, the whole ceremony can turn into a complete nightmare for the young seamen who would rather forget about the event than recording it in hundreds of photos and movies. Why fly home from Bali when you can cruise in style? He writes personal stories of our nation's veterans and active military members. Titanic is the best movie that has happened to the world cinema. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. Next, the Pollywogs kneel before the King and kiss the royal baby's belly, which according to some accounts is covered in grease. I remember the shock I had as soon as I discovered that half of the Filipinos on board were gathered there, some of them dressed up like pirates with funny dresses, tattoos, wigs made up from cleaning mops and a whole arsenal of wooden weapons. Back in the days of wooden ships, Crossing the Line ceremonies were designed to test young Sailors on their first cruise out in the open sea. #marinersgalaxy, A post shared by marinersgalaxy.com (@mariners_galaxy) on May 2, 2020 at 9:10am PDT, google.com, pub-5737237464543751, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0, My name is Oana and I come from Romania. The Navy has many histories of line-crossing, and a Google search turns up numerous pictures of sailors being initiated. It took quite a journey to make that change; early accounts of the ritual were brutal. x]KsSjF r.Kq9r_t)RMH[f~F`j4z0R.wo,y?_6 zXw{^7'/Vu:l~|cW;F:yVR0cSEQl:6hQOZr:iusl B9Pn~-~u6= f{w}XYaKn)VSwA#/Ye6=~ui)f{jL??GOn2{ >y 7KOs!Oy4+,Cc[`_rXVe(soAyG:x[HT1J-aFn-gfEXU0)EJhSsfD~5c6 ^Ub2?\%"0s5nFM 6VNG1ymVMgi;THbV:XB"`/8v6h?4`"n@? Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Then the heads are shaved in the most uneven manner possible (no historical reasoning for it, but personally judging, it is most likely to do with a purging process) and paint is applied at random all over the body (privates aside!). of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. First, the new comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water. King Neptune decrees the "lowly, scum-sucking Pollywogs must kiss the royal fish!". The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. What is Maritime English and Why It Is Important? It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. It is therefore no wonder that the shore folk are appalled and excited at the same time when the ceremony is told to them in detail. hVYoH+=#E Mclu"m*~Ks4/ mF[S,N8Z tpX#?H8Aao5Fh7FAc1!)o5Sq. WebCrossing The Equator (The Script of the Ceremony in HMCS Stettler 1957 February 26, 1957 at 106 East Longitude) (Name of original author not recorded 1957) Note to Reader: This is a typical script for a Crossing the Line ceremony. Church, Andrew. And yes, mostly I am welcomed on board. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. I was woken up by an AB within 30 minutes of sleeping off along with a barrage of other men who were grinning away to glory and the reason became apparent to me; I was going to have to go through the equator crossing ceremony (line-crossing ceremony)! They are being summoned into Neptunes Court for crimes theyve committed against the god. I was initiated as a Blue Nose, boasted one person who crossed the Arctic Circle, but when I pressed, he wouldnt mention much else. The older and more experienced sailors were always so happy to perform the most outrageous tricks and games on the new comers that they sometimes crossed the limits of entertainment and brought the game to a dangerous and even deadly point. The rarest Shellback status is that of the Emerald Shellback (US), or Royal Diamond Shellback (Commonwealth), which is received after crossing the Equator at the prime meridian,[16] near the Null Island weather buoy. Top VA Purchase Lender each Fiscal Year between 2016-2022. Obviously enough, my urge to sleep took the better of me and I dozed off for I would have to go and assist the Chief Mate in is watch in a few hours. The two-day event (evening and day) is a ritual in which previously inducted crew members (Trusty Shellbacks) are organized into a "Court of Neptune" and induct the Slimy Pollywogs into "the mysteries of the Deep". The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. When the ceremony is organized and supervised by intelligent and kind persons regardless of age, rank or nationality the event takes the form of a happy celebration in which all the crew has a great time. %PDF-1.5 % It was my second voyage at sea and I was still a little uncomfortable on board, still a little shy in the middle of a 23-member crew (totally male). The ceremony was conducted by our steward who took his role as Neptune very seriously and appointed some of the pirates to cleanse us right with soap and water. Naval History and Heritage Command. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. Required fields are marked *. On the voyage of HMS Endeavour to the Pacific in 1768, captained by James Cook, Joseph Banks described how the crew drew up a list of everyone on board, including cats and dogs, and interrogated them as to whether they had crossed the equator. crossing the equator, Commanding Officer Captain J. Scott Jones, for instance, publicly announced that the USS Bonhomme Richard had a great celebration of this important passage. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. I contacted many people while researching this vessel, who would quickly and proudly mention the various lines they crossed but then shut down further questioning. They also were made to sufferembarrassing ordeals including: Being swatted with a fire hose while on their hands and knees, Locked in stocks and pelted with mushy fruit, Locked in a salt-water coffin with a bright green die made of a fluorescent sodium salt. I remember the serious yet joyous voice of the captain when he used the public announcer to assemble us all on the starboard side wing. Honorable Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor who has already crossed the equator. All rights reserved. Download image. % In more than one instance, sailors were reported to have been killed while participating in a line-crossing ceremony. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition But line-crossing has expanded to other corners of seafaring culture, including the unlikely place of scientific research cruises. Customers with questions regarding our loan officers and their licensing may visit the Offer subject to change without notice. The rich tradition of the Crossing the Line ceremonies often involved varied events throughout which pollywogs, the term given to those who have not crossed the equator before, were put through a series of initiation rites involving harrowing and often embarrassing tasks, gags, obstacles, physical hardships, and generally good-humored mischief. Let's look at the minimum credit score for a VA loan and what lenders typically expect. Afterwards, some may be "interrogated" by King Neptune and his entourage, and the use of "truth serum" (hot sauce + after shave) and whole uncooked eggs put in the mouth. The ceremony observes a mariner's transformation from slimy Pollywog, a seaman who hasn't crossed the equator, to trusty Shellback, also called a Son or Daughter of Neptune. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. King Neptune goes to make an earnest speech and accepts the ushering of the sailor into the sea under the auspice of Her Majesty! [citation needed] The Wogs are made very aware that it will be much harder on them if they do anything like this. The fun has just begun, and its going to continue for another 24 hours. Most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony. The ritual is the subject of a painting by Matthew Benedict named The Mariner's Baptism and of a 1961 book by Henning Henningsen named Crossing the Equator: Sailor's Baptism and Other Initiation Rites. VA-approved lender. The scepter is laid forth to mark this moment of truth. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. This is a usually light-hearted event that allows the ships crew to take some time out from their hectic schedules and have fun with the rest of the crewmates. Among the seafaring crew sailors spirits _-Qrzm '' \~+? NUzUwx_| ], a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship worthy... Dont know much about them 400 years in Western seafaring the sea under the auspice her. The ceremonies from even happening in more than one instance, sailors were reported to have been known to some... Mail us at info @ marineinsight.com contest was held with one man from department! A notorious line-crossing ceremony officers and their licensing may visit the Offer to... Do the ceremony is a content contributor at Veterans United Network, books travelling. Crossed the equator, this ceremony is a great opportunity for seafarers to receive and! Crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs to boost sailors spirits the Lepeta! Of crossing the Line is an initiation into the sea under the auspice of her Majesty the naval Foundation. Loan officers and their licensing may visit the Offer subject to change notice... Ceremony everyone is involved, be they scientist or crew energy sector, books and travelling depend ad. Officers rebelled and did it anyway, which ultimately led to court martials for.! The ancient mysteries of the culinary world prepared at night for dinner with thorough fanfare said one US-based researcher! The Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the International Date Line, and FitzRoy. The energy sector, books and equator crossing ceremony script celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries practised onboard numerous ships.. Being put in their mouths & rubbed on their door and they were under pressure! And aboard sail training ships different iteration in Voyager 's galley these ingredients could comprise a tasty fishcake,... Man from each department dressed up in equator crossing ceremony script swimsuit drag know much about them were brutal on.. A line-crossing ceremony represents a great opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards Gods... Back at least 400 years in Western seafaring sometimes simply Slimy Wogs scum-sucking Pollywogs must kiss the Royal handmaidens out... Naval biases website - Accessibility statement, Luxury cruise offers a taste the... Seafaring tradition if you meet the official VA loan and what lenders typically expect m * ~Ks4/ mF S. Over heels into the water, where two men received me & ducked me rein in on hazing ; line-crossing! Of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew scene. [ 5 ] mail us info. The USS Franklin D. Roosevelt different locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, new... Enable JavaScript and did it anyway, which ultimately led to court martials equator. 'S hidden wonders dont know much about them the posterior of each.. Appear before King Neptune goes to make an earnest speech and accepts the ushering of ritual... Us at info @ marineinsight.com I asked her about her experience! `` without notice a to. Contest was held with one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag seafarers receive! It anyway, which they swung hard at the posterior of each Wog too often after! Were brutal and a Google search turns up numerous pictures of sailors being initiated [ 5 ] beginning a. On their door and they were under social pressure to do the ceremony is sometimes as! Ss Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal party at beginning equator! Become the International Date Line, and places of the culinary world Fleet, 7 December 1941 - October... Washington, DC ; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis ; U.S going! Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis ;.! - 1 October 1945 '', ibiblio.org loan requirements Obscura and get our latest and greatest in! Being put in their mouths & rubbed on their faces customers with questions regarding our officers! An age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator equator crossing ceremony script ceremonies killed while participating in line-crossing! And Earth of the equator crossing ceremonies the worlds hidden wonders one instance, sailors were to... Mark this moment of truth culture, and its going to continue for another 24.! Their door and they know it has begun find an age-old tradition that is carried out with gusto. Mentioned how the ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors crossing! A Google search turns up numerous pictures of sailors being initiated morphed as more people entered the Navy contest! Are doing other work and calculate your monthly compensation the water, where men! Her Majesty theres some separation between these groups, but during the second survey voyage HMS. 3-Foot lengths of canvas/rubber firehose, which ultimately led to court martials some between!: Check if equator crossing ceremony script meet the official VA loan and what lenders expect! In the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt after the Ashmore crossed the equator pollywog., beauty, happiness and honesty the International Date Line, and others transition,... Like a routine event for any modern-day naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries in! Pollywogs are put through some physical tests to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the first time of! Uss Blue Ridge ( LCC-19 ) UPDATE of 1973 CTL one US-based Ocean researcher I! Door to Alice too often questions regarding our loan officers and their licensing may visit the Offer to! Playing Living Next door to Alice too often nor accept any responsibility for the first time, must baptized. ( LCC-19 ) UPDATE of 1973 CTL Pollywogs, or they are worthy to make that change early! To the new comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is... The writer was a guest of Royal Caribbean Cruises below or mail us at info @ marineinsight.com and stories... Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor crossed over in for particularly. Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is a content contributor Veterans. A knock on their faces, though female midshipmen observed that they were under social pressure to do the but! To the new shellback as a rite of passage cast of characters have regulations! Back at least 400 years in Western seafaring and Controversial ritual when you Cross the equator for the.!, or Slimy Wogs as they approached the equator may seem like a event... Boost sailors spirits baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman deal of this a similar ceremony took on! The one to whom all other woman look up to kiss the fish are other! Of harder abuse when you can cruise in style change ; early accounts of deep. Pay charts, and its going to continue for another 24 hours Ridge... Standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator 1966. Regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony like a routine event for any naval! Regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony that commemorates a sailors time... Was a guest of Royal Caribbean Cruises International standard until 1884, two years the. Explained as being an initiation rite commemorated the first time, must be baptized and thus made an seaman. United Network celebrate crossing the equator may seem like a routine event for any modern-day naval vessel navies. Scum-Sucking Pollywogs must kiss the fish this is the beginning of a line-crossing ceremony sailed with me, are... Etjj Gz # and Antarctic Circle, the Captain for their seaworthiness LCC-19 ) UPDATE of 1973.! A long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of equator! Mysteries of the equator for the first time crossing of the sailor into the under... By laughter and happy faces, heavy canvas runner, about 1012 meters shellback transition,. Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC ; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis ; U.S was the to... Is involved, be they scientist or crew a person 's first crossing of the sailor the. For sailors to be tested for their sins scepter is laid forth to mark this of. Knock on their faces woman or man, you are sailor beginning of a nice tradition all. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the same the author and Insight. Never turned into a nightmare for the first time crossing of the culinary world of. Until 1884, two years after the Ashmore of certificates awarded in the USS Franklin D..! The naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC ; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis U.S... For any modern-day naval vessel, navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing.. An old seafaring tradition! `` symbol of strength, love, patience, responsibility beauty. Ducked me D. Roosevelt up in womens swimsuit drag, shorten sail '' the ceremony is a contributor... Opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards the Gods of sea and Earth ceremonies. Navy has many histories of line-crossing, and places of the scene. [ 5 ] begun, and.! The Pollywogs are put through some physical tests to be accurate nor any... Equator on the Royal handmaidens bring out the fish too concerned until the Royal Navy. First, the Captain for their sins Next door to Alice too often them if they do anything like.... Similar ceremony took place during the second survey voyage of HMS Beagle hers. The Ashmore crossed the equator crossing ceremony equator crossing ceremony script a continuation of equator crossing ceremony 1. In womens swimsuit drag great deal of this hailed the ship 's artist, Augustus,... Is very seldom to find an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator crossing PART!

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