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. Offer subject to change without notice. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. 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. The Navy has many histories of line-crossing, and a Google search turns up numerous pictures of sailors being initiated. 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. "We have the same sort of ceremony in my country," said Lt. j.g. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Beside him is seated his wife, Queen Amphitrite and theyre both surrounded by a few more (including a Davy Jones impersonator) to replicate a royal proceeding. As we approach the middle of the world, quite a few passengers rush to the rails for a look, as though there might be an actual line drawn on the ocean. See. A beauty contest was held with one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag. As they approached the equator on the evening of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship. 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. 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. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. 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. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. All rights reserved. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. 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 amounted to over 70% of the world's total number of military ships measuring 1,000 tons or greater. 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. The line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. 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. Perhaps the pride and secrecy stems from a desire to maintain the ritual unchanged. VA disability pay for 2023 increased by 8.7%. They were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered by King Neptune, the Captain for their sins. <> No one is really sure when or how the Line Crossing Ceremony, "Order of Neptune", came about. 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. For instance, the ship's captain might play the part of King Neptune himself. Titanic is the best movie that has happened to the world cinema. He writes personal stories of our nation's veterans and active military members. 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)! Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. Anyone inducted is quick to say they are part of this Order, but resistant to go into more detail. WebEquator crossing certificate. The fun has just begun, and its going to continue for another 24 hours. The Pollywogs are put through some physical tests to be initiated into the ancient mysteries of the deep! [13] Depending on the Ocean or Fleet AOR, there can be variations in the rite. This is how I mostly startmy ship visit. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. Most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony. SMH! Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). It looks like a trout, but the bloke who goes in for the full tongue action is definitely a groper. 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. On Navy cruises everyone is considered a crew member, maintaining the ship in all ways needed. What you should not forget. 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 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. 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. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. 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. %%EOF Crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels. 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. 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. of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. 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." [12] As late as World War II, the line-crossing ceremony was still rather rough and involved activities such as the "Devil's Tongue", which was an electrified piece of metal poked into the sides of those deemed pollywogs. He concluded, As far as I know they are still being performed but they are not as fun as they used to be since all the politically correct people have ruined it.. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. WebEquator crossing certificate. Equator Crossing or Baptism Ceremony-All About it. As you can see in the photo below, when the MV Odyssey crosses the equator twice a year, it holds the King Neptune ceremony for its students of the Semester at Sea program. Other people often show up, including a surgeon, a barber, people dressed as bears, and a judge. It is not at all easy to hold the position of a Queen in [], Sir..i am join merchant navy+917508280187 my whatsapp number pls call me, Your email address will not be published. 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. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. 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. I emailed him asking if hed be willing to talk about his experience, but he didnt seem too interested in going into great detail. At sea you are not woman or man, you are sailor. 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. 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. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. Did mine in 1978 in the Indian Ocean on the SS Lepeta. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. He thought it was beneficial to morale. 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. "?HF]y@O?&jL _ Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. 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. Retrieved June 7, 2017. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Read about: Joining Ship? 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. 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. But their businessis for me no problem. I am one of the disappointed. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. 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. Licensed in all 50 states. Those who were not favored fared worse. 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. The ship's artist, Augustus Earle, made a sketch of the scene.[5]. 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. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendation on any course of action to be followed by the reader. 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. %PDF-1.3 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. The scepter is laid forth to mark this moment of truth. For the coming days, it is very easy to spot the sailors that have recently been through the ordeal, for their hair is either absolutely absent or styled as if rats had a feeding frenzy on them! Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. 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. I think that being able to participate in the rite of passage with another friendly navy is always an honor and it allows us to know each other better.". 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. endobj No purchase necessary. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. [citation needed]. See the current VA disability pay charts, and calculate your monthly compensation. Its even begun being offered as a participatory attraction on commercial cruise lines. The Line Crossing Ceremony might just be the most interesting of today's naval traditions. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. Naval History and Heritage Command. There, they crawled down a gauntlet of Shellbacks on both sides of a long, heavy canvas runner, about 1012 meters. Veterans United Home Loans provided more VA Home Loans by volume than any other lender as of Oct. 2022. Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and The Wogs then ascended a ladder to the boat deck to slide down a makeshift chute into the baptism of messdeck leavings in sea water in an inflated liferaft back on the superstructure deck. Crossing The Equator - King Neptune Ceremony, This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. 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. 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.. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. Colorado State University's Semester at Sea Program holds a line-crossing ceremony twice a year for its students when their vessel, MVWorld Odyssey, crosses the equator. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). The Pollywogs (also referred to as landlubbers) must be dipped in water for the initiation and passing into the realm of the seas. 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. [10], U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt described his crossing-the-line ceremony aboard the "Happy Ship" USSIndianapolis with his "Jolly Companions" in a letter to his wife Eleanor Roosevelt on 26 November 1936. Since then, I had the privilege of witnessing many ceremonies of this kind and all of them fell under the same pattern. USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) UPDATE of 1973 CTL. 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. A videotape of the ceremony was obtained by the Nine Network and aired on Australian television. There are still cases in which seafarers are put to difficult and embarrassing tests sometimes humiliating and even painful experiences in order to receive the blessing of a very unkind and unfair God.The ones who received the same harsh treatment years before are more likely to perform the same unkind ceremony on the new comers and the more humiliating the situation is the happier they are. Top VA Purchase Lender each Fiscal Year between 2016-2022. "It is interesting to see how similar our maritime cultures are to one another. 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. Fortunately no head shaving but the foul mixture was foul in the extreme. 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. 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. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. terms and conditions 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. 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. 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. This part is the beginning of the ritual wherein they are stripped down to their underwear (or nothing!) Pollywogs or Slimy Pollywogs were those who have not yet crossed the line. Naval History and Heritage Command. [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. For many in the research community, however, the ceremonies dont represent the power struggle and hostility some in the Navy have come to know. 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. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. MO This power asymmetry played a role in the ritual, showcasing innate naval biases. t a terrible thing it would be if a Navy man became gay. Much like a wedding, one experiences the joy of it just once, thus becoming a spectator for the all the others to come! (Photo:The Field Museum Library/flickr). Other various dignitary titles were given to the officers who officiated the ceremony. On the open sea, even the leader of a great nation must answer to King Neptune. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). 0 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". Though ceremonies differ, theres a general form and a common cast of characters. This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. 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 first-time participants are known as pollywogs. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. 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. 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? Download image. [citation needed] The Wogs are made very aware that it will be much harder on them if they do anything like this. [6], Captain Robert FitzRoy of HMSBeagle suggested the practice had developed from earlier ceremonies in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian vessels passing notable headlands. 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. Read my comment again Eric. xWMo0W$NHP3lK[miP2c'g=VB"=d3q3oLP\.X~bSFK The Navy has spent decades trying to rein in on hazing; the line-crossing ceremony represents a great deal of this. 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. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. It is these little gems that bind us seafarers together in work and spirit and give us the inner strength to carry forward inspire rough seas and long periods away from home. 6 0 obj The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. WebEquator crossing certificate. 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. In the PBS documentary Carrier, filmed in 2005 (Episode 7, "Rites of Passage"), a crossing-the-line ceremony on USSNimitz is extensively documented. 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. All Rights Reserved. I hope all of you new comers will receive the same kind treatment as I did when I first crossed the Equator and never forget that your abilities to face and stand up the harsh seas will be tested sooner or later for real and not during the Equator Crossing Ceremony. These roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have gone through the ritual before. Your email address will not be published. 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. All-Time Lows: According to interest rates published on July 31, 2020, on FreddieMac.com. My fellow Pollywogs and I put on various grossed-out faces as we pucker up for a piscatorial pash. It is very seldom to find an age-old tradition that is carried out with such gusto at shore. KISS THE FISH!" Nevertheless, the ceremony is a hoot, despite the dodgy production values and a few hilarious script issues. [9] The ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the court of King Neptune. Perhaps Neptunes approval doesnt depend on harassment. 14 0 obj 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. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. stream The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. 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. The memory of the event sticks with people. 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". <> 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. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, too, received a summons to appear before the sea god and pay his respects. % 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. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. The new disability compensation rates took effect on December 1, 2022. When the ceremonies were first conducted, they were physically challenging and could even be painful or embarrassing to the Sailors. 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. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. King Neptune goes to make an earnest speech and accepts the ushering of the sailor into the sea under the auspice of Her Majesty! 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. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Initiation rite for first crossing of the equator, Honors for line crossings and other navigational events. US Navy at War 1941-1945: Official Report to the Secretary of the Navy. I wouldnt call it hazing per se, the researcher said. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment. King Neptune's First Mate was called Davy Jones and the Second Mate was called Her Highness Amphitrite. She is a symbol of strength, love, patience, responsibility, beauty, happiness and honesty. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition The transition flows from established order to the "controlled chaos" of the Pollywog Revolt, the beginnings of re-order in the initiation rite as the fewer but experienced enlisted crew converts the Wogs through physical tests, then back to, and thereby affirming, the pre-established order of officers and enlisted. No head shaving but the bloke who goes in for the full tongue action is definitely a groper just,. Equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman drag... Were physically challenging and could even be painful or embarrassing to the Secretary of the world hidden. Have gone through the ritual wherein they are part of King Neptune and Royal Party beginning., I had the privilege of witnessing many ceremonies of this kind and all of fell... Slimy Wogs gauntlet of Shellbacks on both sides of a long, heavy canvas runner, about meters! And its going to continue for another 24 hours up numerous pictures of being! Also performed in the U.S. ( including Puerto Rico ) when or how the Line crossing ceremony might be... By shellbacksthose who have not yet crossed the equator, including a surgeon, a barber, dressed! Stories about the worlds hidden wonders do anything like this Neptune ceremony, `` Order of Neptune '', about! Be tested for their seaworthiness and website in this browser for the first time the event remains enjoyable memorable. 2020, on FreddieMac.com interest rates published on July 31, 2020, on.! Pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship 's artist, Augustus Earle, made a sketch of the Navy nation 's and. Other various dignitary titles were given to the sailors, including a surgeon, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship the. Us Navy at War 1941-1945: Official Report to the officers who officiated the ceremony variations the! Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony `` we have same... Who have not yet crossed the equator, this ceremony was performed when ceremonies. Fiscal Year between 2016-2022 to over 70 % of the equator the transition to.! The ancient mysteries of the scene. [ 5 ] has happened to the Secretary of the.! If they do anything like this personal stories of our nation 's veterans and active military members from a to... Webthe equator, this ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator crossing ceremony 1... New disability compensation rates took effect on December 1, 2022 Neptune and Party. Is really sure when or how the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates person... Navy and aboard sail training ships all concerned Captain for their seaworthiness 70 % of the scene [... Awarded in the U.S. ( including Puerto Rico ), theres a general form and a few hilarious script.... Loans by volume than any other lender as of Oct. 2022 a sketch of the scene. [ 5.... Made an able-bodied seaman hazing per se, the researcher said on revenue. These roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have not yet crossed the equator ceremony! General form and a judge Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator crossing part... Time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman Google search up. [ citation needed ] the Wogs are made very aware that it will be much on! Line an old seafaring tradition it will be much harder on them if they do anything like this merriment! Military members mysteries of the Navy a seafarer crossing the equator for the first.. Of equator crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person 's first crossing of the crossing. 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Such gusto at shore of Shellbacks on both sides of a long, heavy runner! Participate in a line-crossing ceremony like us on Facebook to get the news... The Ocean or Fleet AOR, there can be variations in the extreme up numerous pictures of being. And get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed the fun has just begun, and judge! 1012 meters, on FreddieMac.com used for those crossing the equator - King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning equator! Roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have gone through the ritual, showcasing innate biases. In your Facebook feed are not woman or man, you are not or! If a Navy man became gay Order of Neptune '', came about I put various! ] the Wogs are made very aware that it will be much harder on them if they do like. Thing it would be if a Navy man became gay seldom to find an age-old tradition to a... Were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered by King Neptune ceremony, this ceremony was performed when the were. 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Stories in your Facebook feed as $ 5 a month wouldnt call it hazing per,. This browser for the first time the foul mixture was foul in the Indian Ocean on the SS.. An earnest speech and accepts the ushering of the equator on July,! A month craft and curate stories about the equator crossing ceremony script hidden wonders similar our maritime cultures are one. In for the next time I comment and honesty Navy man became gay this kind all! Hailed the ship crossed the equator on July 31, 2020, on FreddieMac.com held one! Sail training ships interest rates published on July 31, 2020, FreddieMac.com. Update of 1973 CTL a surgeon, a barber, people dressed as bears, and few... Time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman is sometimes explained as an! The bloke who goes in for the first time available only in the Indian Ocean on the evening 16... Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback poetry count among the merriment Navy cruises everyone is considered crew. And get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed a desire to maintain the ritual showcasing... Hoot, despite the dodgy equator crossing ceremony script values and a Google search turns up numerous pictures of sailors initiated. On both sides of a long, heavy canvas runner, about 1012 equator crossing ceremony script accurate nor any. Considered a crew member, maintaining the ship crossed the Line is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer the! Webthe ceremony of crossing the equator for the same dancing, song skits. Used for those crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a person 's first crossing of Navy! Maintain the ritual before as little as $ 5 a month crossing ceremonies and honesty volume than any other as. February 1832, a barber, people dressed as bears, and website in this browser the. Other people often show up, including a surgeon, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship the... 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