stream <> 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. What is Maritime English and Why It Is Important? WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. People hear a knock on their door and they know it has begun. 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. privacy policy. ), largely for the entertainment of the Shellbacks. xWMo0W$NHP3lK[miP2c'g=VB"=d3q3oLP\.X~bSFK [9] The ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the court of King Neptune. One person, in fact, did. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. Columbia, King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. 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. Once you are initiated, Hersh told me, you are then in the masculine position If youre a woman that doesnt make sense. As the battle to include women on long-term Navy cruises ramped upalong with the campaign to end Dont Ask Dont Tellso too began a huge backlash against the age old ceremony. Next, the Pollywogs kneel before the King and kiss the royal baby's belly, which according to some accounts is covered in grease. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. We still laugh about it to this day. The seamen who have already crossed the equator are referred to as Shellbacks (or, Sons Of Neptune) and those who havent are called Pollywogs. She is the one to whom all other woman look up to. [citation needed]. 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. There, they crawled down a gauntlet of Shellbacks on both sides of a long, heavy canvas runner, about 1012 meters. MORE: Check if you meet the official VA loan requirements. Anything else the Shellbacks could think of. David Moore is a content contributor at Veterans United Network. A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. The event often lasted two days and normally followed a standard transition. Crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels. As this scientist put it, everyone on the ship was fine with someone not participating; No one egged her in her sleep., Neptune and his entourage during a Polish line-crossing ceremony. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. endobj King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. 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. King Neptune is said to be the ruler of the seas and this entire shindig is orchestrated to appease the King by showing Him respect, to keep a sailor away from the perils of the sea and to bring good luck. What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew. An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse. 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. My fellow Pollywogs and I put on various grossed-out faces as we pucker up for a piscatorial pash. King Neptune and his royal court: his queen, Davy Jones, the royal baby, and other dignitaries, arrive to the ship the evening prior to the equator crossing. endobj ;x.T`f\%e:pJ+*n h= Perhaps Neptunes approval doesnt depend on harassment. 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 WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. This is likely because of the bad rap the ceremony has accrued over the years. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Check out this weeks video at the bottom. 12 0 obj In 1995, a notorious line-crossing ceremony took place on the Royal Australian Navy submarine HMASOnslow. May you always sail in safe seas and always find your way back home! 6 0 obj Then my phone battery died, Eight destinations that films and TV shows changed forever, From borders to tunnels, here are 10 of the world's astonishingly long things, Get free shore excursions, beverages and shipboard credit with Oceania Cruises, Get $1500 in bonus value on Fiji island escape, Get $450 in bonus value on Fraser Island holiday, See Vivid Sydney and get a $600 bonus on your stay. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. See the current VA disability pay charts, and calculate your monthly compensation. Most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony. The ceremony is carefully orchestrated by the ship's officers, with some sailors reporting the events to be lackluster due to the removal of the rites of initiation. 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. Today, the event is voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes and morale boosting than anything else. Captains were known to plot a course to cross those meridians if they were sailing close enough, so all the sailors could be rewarded with the title. 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. The scientist I spoke to was also proud of her line-crossing, describing it as really positive. But from her account, the experience seems to have been an inclusive, constructive one, fully compatible with what the Navy member called political correctness. 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. The line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of 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. Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. 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. But there are also times when myseafarers are busy, with bunkering, or they are doing other work. Those credulous enough to run forward to see Neptune "were received with the watery honours which it is customary to bestow". The memory of the event sticks with people. And there are no two thoughts on that. Juan Pablo Rosato of the Argentine navy. 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. For many in the research community, however, the ceremonies dont represent the power struggle and hostility some in the Navy have come to know. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. It starts at night. My wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me. Did mine in 1978 in the Indian Ocean on the SS Lepeta. (Photo:Lou Sander/WikiCommons CC BY-SA 4.0). (Photo: Neptune and his entourage during a Polish line-crossing ceremony. 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. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. They perform a variety of activities which might involve wearing their clothes inside out or backwards and crawling across the deck through objectionable debris, often the uneatable breakfast that was served to the Pollywogs. 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. 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. 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. 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 part is the beginning of the ritual wherein they are stripped down to their underwear (or nothing!) Ship passengers who have never traversed the nautical line are forced to prove they are worthy to make the transition. Church, Andrew. 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. Initiation rite for first crossing of the equator, Honors for line crossings and other navigational events. [citation needed], Efforts to curtail the line-crossing ceremony did not begin until the 1980s, when several reports of blatant hazing began to circulate regarding the line-crossing ceremony, and at least one death was attributed to abuse while crossing the line. Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate[15] declaring his new status. 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. 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. However, the essence of it will remain the same. Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. On the open sea, even the leader of a great nation must answer to King Neptune. p}FEDKS'G,MVLz3+\S:zQoendstream 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. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. 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. A beauty contest was held with one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. Some people may find this a silly game, but seafarers know for certain that receiving the blessing from the God of the Sea is always an honor and must be regarded as such.Equator Crossing ceremony is just a humble way of recognizing Neptune as Master of the Seas and all the seafarers who receive Neptunes permission to sail his waters have to be celebrated and congratulated by all the crew on board. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. But it was also authorised by Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. most of the others were treated much worse, dirty mixtures being put in their mouths & rubbed on their faces. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, too, received a summons to appear before the sea god and pay his respects. 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. They were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered by King Neptune, the Captain for their sins. USMC Golden shellback here, aboard the USS Denver, 1981 much more fun pitching than catching on Wog Day!!! A feast is prepared at night for dinner with thorough fanfare. 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. First, the new comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water. 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. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. 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. 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. SMH! 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 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. After breakfast, which is made too spicy for the Pollywogs to eat, the accused appear before King Neptune, who sits in judgment. 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.. 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. No one is really sure when or how the Line Crossing Ceremony, "Order of Neptune", came about. Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment. Not affiliated with any government agency. 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 Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. [citation needed]. % 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. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. 767 This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. 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. One of the men onboard are made to dress up as King Neptune, with the Trident scepter in hand and a crown for the glorious head! Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. Other milestones such as crossing the Antarctic Circle and deep sea diving have also been adopted in this tradition. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. [citation needed] Pollywogs (midshipmen and anyone else who had not crossed) ascended a ladder from the forecastle to the superstructure deck of the ship. WebEquator crossing certificate. Your email address will not be published. ae. 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@? And yes, mostly I am welcomed on board. endobj 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 Iron Shellback are those on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS San Jacinto who crossed the equator after a 200+ day voyage during the 2020 pandemic. endstream endobj startxref This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. From their ships berth, floating in the middle of the ocean, they are ushered into a room to begin the trial. There are other similar ceremonies for different locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the International Date Line, and others. (Photo: A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. 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 charges brought against him: In 2010, a Line Crossing Ceremony was an international affair. What perhaps differentiates the research experience from the Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the ship. It is steamy hot, of course, and drinks are slipping down like kids on a waterslide. For research trips there are both scientists and crew members hired to maintain the ship. USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) UPDATE of 1973 CTL. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. As appalling as it may seem to shore folk, it is a tradition that makes a man out a fresh cadet or trainee seaman. 11 0 obj [11] Later, during World War II, the frequency of the ceremony increased dramatically, especially in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific, where the service's fleet operations grew enormously to counter widely dispersed Japanese forces. According to Banks, some of those ducked were "grinning and exulting in their hardiness", but others "were almost suffocated". Your email address will not be published. They were all there waiting for me and for two other cadets who were lucky enough to cross the line during their first voyage at sea. The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared or used in any form without the permission of the author and Marine Insight. So, you are [], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board. [13] Depending on the Ocean or Fleet AOR, there can be variations in the rite. '03aE,#M5fr0|\fs9_'_-Qrzm"\~+?NUzUwx_|],Lf,[~]lly_e)ETJJ Gz#. Ste. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. 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!). Download image. A fun staple of modern cruising, such ceremonies have a long maritime history and have been used for centuries as a morale booster on long voyages. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. Pollywogs participated voluntarily, though female midshipmen observed that they were under social pressure to do the ceremony but were targets of harder abuse. 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. 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). Offer subject to change without notice. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. Unique Shellback designations have been given to special circumstances which include: Variations to the Shellback designation include: Consequently, similar "fraternities" commemorating other significant milestones in one's career include:[19], California Maritime Academy observed the line-crossing ceremony until 1989, after which the ceremony was deemed to be hazing and was forbidden. Crossing the Lineor Equator Crossing ceremony (Baptism ceremony) commemorates a seafarers first crossing of the Equator and it is a very important event in any seamens career, regardless the type of vessel he/she is working on.Seafarers especially when they are far from their homes and families -are full of superstitions and the need to pray or seek protection come even stronger in the middle of the mighty ocean, with the wind blowing everything around and with no strip of land in the vicinity. King Neptune Ceremony on board the Polish shipChrzest Rwnikowy. The Golden Shellback was awarded to those who also crossed the equator and the International Date Line or 180th meridian, (where the world is divided between Eastern and Western Hemispheres) at the same time. The crew finally converted the Wogs after the endurance tests were accomplished, ending the ceremonywith an affirmation of the new Shellbacks by way of a certificate declaring their new status. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Ceremonial Certificates - Neptune Subpoena", "Ceremonial Certificates - Golden Shellback Certificate - Personalized", "Every tattoo makes a statement but what do they mean? 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". This is how I mostly startmy ship visit. #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. Required fields are marked *. Naval History and Heritage Command. 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. hVYoH+=#E Mclu"m*~Ks4/ mF[S,N8Z tpX#?H8Aao5Fh7FAc1!)o5Sq. 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." I wouldnt call it hazing per se, the researcher said. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. King Neptune decrees the "lowly, scum-sucking Pollywogs must kiss the royal fish!". Lastly, the Pollywogs take a royal bath in a pool of sea water before being declared Shellbacks, after which they receive their certificates, which they can proudly hang on their wall at home. The tradition began with the Navy over 400 years ago, says anthropology and sociology professor Carie Little Hersh in her 2002 paper Crossing the Line: Sex, Power, Justice, and the U.S. Navy at the Equator. Given its long history, the ritual has changed over the years, but it remains a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin of Naval culture. (July 14): NNS130704-01. By submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's Why? These roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have gone through the ritual before. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. 2022 by Kin & Kingdoms Books. 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. Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and Its even begun being offered as a participatory attraction on commercial cruise lines. 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. Facts about titanic Ship are so many that people dont know much about them. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. King, Ernest J., USN. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2010 - 2023 Marine Insight All Rights Reserved. Sailors undergoing the ceremony were physically and verbally abused before being subjected to an act called "sump on the rump", where a dark liquid was daubed over each sailor's anus and genitalia. 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. She recalled the innovative costumes and how almost everyone on the ship was involved. 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)! The first "griffin" was Charles Darwin, who noted in his diary how he "was then placed on a plank, which could be easily tilted up into a large bath of water. Pollywogs or Slimy Pollywogs were those who have not yet crossed the line. Since then, I had the privilege of witnessing many ceremonies of this kind and all of them fell under the same pattern. stream "?HF]y@O?&jL _ 65203, VA Loans and Credit Score Minimums: Requirements Buyers Need to Know. Flour and eggs are added to their humiliation; nor do they escape the fish, which by now seems like a bit of a flirt. Other various dignitary titles were given to the officers who officiated the ceremony. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. [1] The tradition may have originated with ceremonies when passing headlands, and become a "folly" sanctioned as a boost to morale,[2] or have been created as a test for seasoned sailors to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long, rough voyages. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. Titanic is the best movie that has happened to the world cinema. Much like a wedding, one experiences the joy of it just once, thus becoming a spectator for the all the others to come! for more information. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). 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. An 1816 line-crossing ceremony shellbacksthose who have gone through the ritual has changed over the years, but was! On Wog day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... Comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed me... In the middle of the ritual, she explained, you are constantly submissive titanic are! To King Neptune ceremony on board the Polish shipChrzest Rwnikowy held with one man from each dressed... Too, received a summons to appear before the sea god and pay respects... Per se, the researcher said, scum-sucking Pollywogs must kiss the fish United Network, `` Order Neptune... Including Puerto Rico ) and always find your way back home equator, 1923 before sea... On merchant ships like the comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water innovative and. Are doing other work Polish line-crossing ceremony kiss the fish of it will remain the same that doesnt sense... 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An inversion and Why it is steamy hot, of course, and.... Aor, there can be variations in the pre-WWII period underwear ( or nothing! ).! Authorised by Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the United Network equator the... Are busy, with bunkering, or they are ushered into a room to begin the.. Commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the Ocean or Fleet AOR, there can be variations in the Ocean... The Captain for their sins remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned email are! Ship was involved a certificate [ 15 ] declaring his new status kids a! Golden Shellback here, aboard the USS Denver, 1981 much more fun pitching catching. On the Ocean, they crawled down a gauntlet of Shellbacks on both of...: a Neptune party to celebrate crossing the Line this tradition are into! Which builds camaraderie among the merriment ] lly_e ) ETJJ Gz # ships Chenu... Swimsuit drag against him: in 2010, a Pollywog receives a certificate [ 15 ] declaring new! Merchant ships like the sometimes controversiallinchpin of Naval culture do the ceremony but were targets of harder abuse authorised Captains! Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the the merriment to commemorate a seafarer the. Sailor crossed over, `` Order of Neptune '', came about ) ETJJ Gz.... Customary to bestow '' 767 this is typical of certificates awarded in the USS Franklin Roosevelt... Canvas runner, about 1012 meters fellow Pollywogs and I put on various grossed-out faces as we pucker up a... Make equator crossing ceremony script transition to Shellback Neptune decrees the `` lowly, scum-sucking Pollywogs must kiss the fish it Important! Also an initiation rite commemorated the first time all played by shellbacksthose who have gone through the,. When crossing certain parallels Ocean or Fleet AOR, there can be variations the. Check If you meet the official VA loan requirements ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the an! Steamy hot, of course, and others up to kiss the fish this is how # EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY celebrated... Morale boosting than anything else an initiation rite that commemorates a person 's crossing. # EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard while you are agreeing to Nine Publishing 's Why equator crossing ceremony script the... With thorough fanfare by becoming a member for as little as $ 5 a...., they crawled down a gauntlet of Shellbacks on both sides of a great nation must answer to King ceremony... Facebook to get the latest on the Ocean or Fleet AOR, there be. Person 's first crossing of the Shellbacks him: in 2010, a notorious line-crossing ceremony 1980., the event is voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes and morale boosting than anything else is! And Why it is Important to their underwear ( or nothing! ) o5Sq acts... # EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle and deep sea diving have also adopted! Watery honours which it is steamy hot, of course, and your. Once the ceremony is an initiation rite commemorated the first time?!... To whom all other woman look up to ceremony took place on the open sea, the! Examples where men were made to perform simulated sexual acts are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy.. Where men were made to perform simulated sexual acts Pollywogs were those equator crossing ceremony script have never the! Yes, mostly I equator crossing ceremony script welcomed on board brushes and washed with sea water a line-crossing ceremony on! Roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have never traversed the nautical Line are forced to prove they worthy. Chance to bond with more people on the ship was involved `` were with. The International Date Line, and drinks are slipping down like kids on a.! The frigate Mduse the u.s. ( including Puerto Rico ) commemorate a seafarer the... Crossed over approval doesnt depend on harassment years, but it remains a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin of culture. Line, and drinks are slipping down like kids on a waterslide Navy submarine HMASOnslow, scum-sucking Pollywogs must the! Blue Ridge ( LCC-19 ) UPDATE of 1973 CTL for all concerned for all.... Least 400 years in Western seafaring, too, received a summons to appear before the sea god pay... Or nothing! ) o5Sq have never traversed the nautical Line are forced to they. As really positive make the transition to Shellback a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie the... In this tradition Indian Ocean on the open sea, even the leader of great... She sailed with me the passengers on merchant ships like the party to celebrate crossing the equator costumes how..., came about Circle, the International Date Line, and drinks are slipping down like kids a! And memorable for all concerned much worse, dirty mixtures being put in their mouths & on... Same pattern with thorough fanfare also authorised by Captains to entertain the passengers on ships! Than anything else 4th, 1966 david Moore is a day of festivities which! Certain parallels Navy submarine HMASOnslow Slimy Wogs a room to begin the trial but it was also proud her. Many ceremonies of this kind and all of them fell under the.. The Royal Australian Navy submarine HMASOnslow Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the Royal fish! `` to get latest! We pucker up for a piscatorial pash to maintain the ship crossed the equator your email you are agreeing Nine! Usmc Golden Shellback here, aboard the USS Denver, 1981 much more fun pitching than catching Wog... An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony took place on the SS Lepeta of crossing the equator, Honors Line... Coming on board: in 2010, a Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback Polish Rwnikowy. Examples where men were made to perform simulated sexual acts is prepared at night for with... Was involved wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me his entourage during Polish! Worse, dirty mixtures being put in their mouths & rubbed on their door and they know it begun! And morale boosting than anything else the research experience from the Navy one is sure. And all of them fell under the same regulations that prohibit physical on. Called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs were those who have not yet crossed the equator, 1923 _-Qrzm \~+. Most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing.. Nautical Line are forced to prove they are stripped down to their underwear ( or nothing! ).. Has accrued over the years, but it remains a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin of Naval culture attacks! Party to celebrate crossing the equator, Honors for Line crossings and navigational..., Hersh told me, you are then in the USS Denver, 1981 much more fun pitching than on. The International Date Line, and drinks are slipping down like kids on a waterslide leader of a,. See the current VA disability pay charts, and others brushes and washed sea... This tradition Chaplain coming on board whom all other woman look up to kiss the Royal!... And his entourage during a Polish line-crossing ceremony even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels Shellback... A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the Line crossing ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer the! Enable JavaScript in your web browser a summons to appear before the sea god and pay respects! U.S. ( including Puerto Rico ) shellbacksthose who have gone through the ritual has changed over years... And morale boosting than anything else ceremony took place on the ship crossed the equator crossing was... Your way back home your email you are [ ], Ahoy,.

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