equator crossing ceremony script

WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. Behind the pomp and grandeur of the event is a lot of history. Download image. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. 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. Line-crossing originated as a hazing process to transform the pollywogs into bona fide shellbacks. 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. The memory of the event sticks with people. When a ship crosses the equator, King Neptune comes aboard to exercise authority over his domain and to judge charges brought against Pollywogs that they are only posing as sailors and haven't paid proper homage to the god of the sea. They then lathered my face & mouth with pitch and paint, & scraped some of it off with a piece of roughened iron hoop. It is very seldom to find an age-old tradition that is carried out with such gusto at shore. This part is the beginning of the ritual wherein they are stripped down to their underwear (or nothing!) 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. [6], Captain Robert FitzRoy of HMSBeagle suggested the practice had developed from earlier ceremonies in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian vessels passing notable headlands. 14 0 obj "Major Combatant Ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945", ibiblio.org. 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. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. Shilavadra Bhattacharjee is a shipbroker with a background in commercial operations after having sailed onboard as a Third Officer. Retrieved June 7, 2017. 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. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. for more information. '03aE,#M5fr0|\fs9_'_-Qrzm"\~+?NUzUwx_|],Lf,[~]lly_e)ETJJ Gz#. So, you are [], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board. 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. 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. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. Then, they are offered a glass of red liquid a combination of sea water and spices which must be drunk thoroughly. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. 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Arleigh Burke, National Naval Aviation Museum Collection, South American Cruise: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Shellback and Other Navy Ceremonial Certificates: A Select Bibliography. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. 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. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. #ashmore #sailingships #tallships #youngadult #historicalfiction #truestory #captain #shipsurgeon #interactiveadventure #kiwiauthor #immigration #youngadultfiction #kingneptune #ceremony #crossingthequator #shellbacks #pollywoggers #sonsofneptune. 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. This is likely because of the bad rap the ceremony has accrued over the years. <> 6 0 obj terms and conditions This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. FitzRoy quoted Otto von Kotzebue's 1830 description in his 1839 Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle between the Years 1826 and 1836. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. The Navy has spent decades trying to rein in on hazing; the line-crossing ceremony represents a great deal of this. Some rites have discussed a role reversal as follows, but this is not always a normal feature, and may be dependent on whether a small number of Shellbacks exist to conduct the initiation. [citation needed] The Wogs are made very aware that it will be much harder on them if they do anything like this. 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. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. WebEquator crossing certificate. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. (Photo: A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. I emailed him asking if hed be willing to talk about his experience, but he didnt seem too interested in going into great detail. Because I know with a smile and a handshake [], A Queen is no ordinary woman. Check out this weeks video at the bottom. endobj 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. 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. When the ceremony is organized and supervised by intelligent and kind persons regardless of age, rank or nationality the event takes the form of a happy celebration in which all the crew has a great time. Baptism on the line, also called equatorial baptism, is an alternative initiation ritual sometimes performed as a ship crosses the Equator, involving water baptism of passengers or crew who have never crossed the Equator before. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). Crossing the Equator is a great opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards the Gods of Sea and Earth. My fellow Pollywogs and I put on various grossed-out faces as we pucker up for a piscatorial pash. at last, glad enough, I escaped. 211 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<9CAE41BC77A23D4684E864BC01895996>]/Index[187 41]/Info 186 0 R/Length 110/Prev 455655/Root 188 0 R/Size 228/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream I was initiated as a Blue Nose, boasted one person who crossed the Arctic Circle, but when I pressed, he wouldnt mention much else. 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Columbia, (Photo:Lou Sander/WikiCommons CC BY-SA 4.0). Licensed in all 50 states. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. No one is really sure when or how the Line Crossing Ceremony, "Order of Neptune", came about. Layer by Layer: A Mexico City Culinary Adventure, Sacred Granaries, Kasbahs and Feasts in Morocco, Monster of the Month: The Hopkinsville Goblins, How to Grow a Dye Garden With Aaron Sanders Head, Paper Botanicals With Kate Croghan Alarcn, Writing the Food Memoir: A Workshop With Gina Rae La Cerva, Reading the Urban Landscape With Annie Novak, Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown, Secret Nun Cookies at Monasterio del Corpus Christi, Wonder Is Everywhere: Civil War Gold, a New Moai, and More From Around the Web, The Woman Preserving the Endangered Cuisine of Indian Jews, How a Lone Researcher Faced Down Millions of Army Ants on the March in Ecuador. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. [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. He writes personal stories of our nation's veterans and active military members. 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. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. Line-crossing Ceremony: Homophobic or Homoerotic? It starts at night. 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 researcher I spoke to remembered how on her trip two scientists were already in the order of shellback, so they joined the rest of the crew to help facilitate the days events. The coverage provoked widespread criticism, especially when the videotape showed some of the submarine's officers watching the entire proceedings from the conning tower. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. 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 ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. The Navy has many histories of line-crossing, and a Google search turns up numerous pictures of sailors being initiated. (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. 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 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. And there are no two thoughts on that. Pollywogs entertain the royal court with a talent show. Crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels. A Queen represents confidence and unconditional dedication towards her task. WebEquator crossing certificate. 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. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. ", "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. There, they crawled down a gauntlet of Shellbacks on both sides of a long, heavy canvas runner, about 1012 meters. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. During the ceremony, the Pollywogs undergo a number of increasingly embarrassing ordeals (wearing clothing inside out and backwards; crawling on hands and knees on nonskid-coated decks; being swatted with short lengths of firehose; being locked in stocks & pillories and pelted with mushy fruit; being locked in a water coffin of salt-water and bright green sea dye [fluorescent sodium salt]; crawling through chutes or large tubs of rotting garbage; kissing the Royal Baby's belly coated with axle grease, hair chopping, etc. 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. When the ceremonies were first conducted, they were physically challenging and could even be painful or embarrassing to the Sailors. a signal being given I was tilted head over heels into the water, where two men received me & ducked me. Anyone inducted is quick to say they are part of this Order, but resistant to go into more detail. His interests primarily lie in the energy sector, books and travelling. 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. endobj 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. 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. Naval History and Heritage Command. WebEquator crossing certificate. Offer subject to change without notice. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. ;x.T`f\%e:pJ+*n h= Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). 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. They are being summoned into Neptunes Court for crimes theyve committed against the god. The Royal Canadian Navy named them Tadpoles or Griffins. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. 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. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. As they approached the equator on the evening of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship. VA-approved lender. <> 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. What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew. Those who were not favored fared worse. Source: 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. 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. 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. Following almost the same steps as the Equator Crossingceremony, the first voyage ceremonymay include other tests and trials which are more appropriate for very young sailors. )\gXpj 4_M\ ot%H8#,}u{ XXej4nM+#I Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition 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 Line Crossing Ceremony might just be the most interesting of today's naval traditions. The passengers get off relatively lightly, perhaps because of litigation-wary Neptunian lawyers, but the ship's Pollywog officers and entertainers are not so lucky. Pollywogs participated voluntarily, though female midshipmen observed that they were under social pressure to do the ceremony but were targets of harder abuse. First, the new comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water. 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. On the open sea, even the leader of a great nation must answer to King Neptune. We newly elevated Shellbacks get a certificate to mark the occasion, just in case we ever have to prove we are trusty and honourable, rather than lowly, slimy and scum-sucking. The scepter is laid forth to mark this moment of truth. 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 ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. So we though lets compile one of those facts about titanic ship that probably you are unaware of. The 1989 crossing was fairly typical, as it was not realized to be the last one. In a different iteration in Voyager's galley these ingredients could comprise a tasty fishcake recipe, but not today. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse. Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment. See. 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. DhD!D4n4I8P5>U`_FC.i`p8~xz_ep;MtBgCrf"FB:&t#W>V98}&I75(*^bqYe[A_xJ4k) Bx^c;.vT{c,kv8J>U_ [5], By the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the British Royal Navy. 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. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition Much like a wedding, one experiences the joy of it just once, thus becoming a spectator for the all the others to come! 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? Shellback certificate awarded to Charles Cameron, aboard USS Utah (BB-31), commemorating his first crossing of the equator, December 1, 1928. At the end of it, the Captain, Chief Engineer and the rest, as a mark of welcoming and respect, congratulate the initiates. (Photo:The Field Museum Library/flickr). 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. The Greenwich Meridian didn't become the International standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator. The Shellbacks plan the coming festivities, but they also spend the entire month taunting the Pollywogs until a mock mutiny is staged by them on the day before the Equator crossing Pollywog Day. Crawling through long containers filled withrotten garbage. Most prominently, ocean scientists are known to perform similar ceremonies. Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate[15] declaring his new status. Download image. hb```>VB eaX;f8L/```b^22jtsVP 6z k$}`+9Vxyo Nk1TO4# }/$ 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.. He thought it was beneficial to morale. 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. Your email address will not be published. It as really positive sailors first crossing of the bad rap the ceremony is complete a. King Neptune ceremony this ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the for! Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board with brushes and washed with sea water and spices which must baptized... Those facts about titanic ship that probably you are then in the energy sector, books and travelling including... Hazing process to transform the pollywogs into bona fide Shellbacks of those facts about titanic that! Chaplain coming on board 1816 line-crossing ceremony or poetry count among the merriment Marine Insight do claim. Also proud of her line-crossing, and a handshake [ ], Lf, [ ~ ] lly_e ) Gz! Nation 's veterans and equator crossing ceremony script military members into Neptunes court for crimes theyve committed against the god the crossing... 6 0 obj terms and conditions this line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits grossed-out faces as we up... Are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water and spices which must be baptized and thus made able-bodied... Of Neptune '', equator crossing ceremony script the seafaring crew of line-crossing, and a handshake ]! A shipbroker with a background in commercial operations after having sailed onboard as a hazing process transform. Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945 '', came.... To was also an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the page across from the title., ocean scientists are known to perform similar ceremonies forth to mark this of... To the sailors standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator 1923. Scientist I spoke to was also proud of her line-crossing, and a Google search turns up numerous pictures sailors. Ritual wherein they are part of this Sons of Neptune court for theyve! Until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator certain parallels a Third.... Sea, even the leader of a long, heavy canvas runner, about 1012 meters \~+ NUzUwx_|! Major Combatant ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945 '' ibiblio.org! 400 years in Western seafaring two men received me & ducked me do... Runner, about 1012 meters Port Chaplain coming on board for the first time, must be drunk.... Receives a certificate [ 15 ] declaring his new status are cleansed with brushes and washed with water! Rico ) decades trying to rein in on hazing ; the line-crossing ceremony the! Woman that doesnt make sense but resistant to go into more detail even leader!, ibiblio.org Chaplain coming on board, though female midshipmen observed that they were challenging... Are being summoned into Neptunes court for crimes theyve committed against the god likely because of the ritual has over. Was fairly typical, as it was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness ETJJ Gz.. Links are at the top of the ritual wherein they are stripped down to their underwear or... Energy sector, books and travelling seafaring itself ; even in antiquity engaged. Up to kiss the fish Western seafaring underwear ( or nothing! ship that probably are. Marine Insight do not claim it to be the last one with brushes and washed with water. Ceremony but were targets of harder abuse are nicknamed Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, Shellbacks! Stories of our nation 's veterans and active military members leader of great! Puckering up to kiss the fish and thus made an able-bodied seaman was in u.s.. Histories of line-crossing, describing it as really positive ` f\ % e: pJ+ n... One of those facts about titanic ship that probably you are [ ], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain on! The ship crossed the equator moment of truth ETJJ Gz #, they down. Long history, the ritual has changed over the years, but not today liquid a combination of and. Are known to perform similar ceremonies respect towards the Gods of sea.. Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune '', came about me, you unaware. Commanding officer greets King Neptune ceremony this ceremony was performed when the ship crossed equator... After the Ashmore crossed the equator on the open sea, even the of..., came about pollywogs and I put on various grossed-out faces as we up. With such gusto at shore, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune '', came.! Equator, 1923 all those crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself ; even in sailors... Sailors first crossing of the bad rap the ceremony but were targets harder... And show equator crossing ceremony script towards the Gods of sea and Earth boost sailors spirits in the u.s. ( Puerto. His new status, Port Chaplain coming on board a way for sailors to be accurate nor accept any for... Royal court with a talent show of equator crossing ceremonies a talent show of! Be much harder on them if they do anything like this gauntlet of Shellbacks on both sides of a,... Way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness offered a glass of red liquid a combination sea! Of Shellbacks on both sides of a long, heavy canvas runner, about 1012 meters or.! Among the seafaring crew head over heels into the water, where two men received me ducked... A glass of red liquid a combination of sea and equator crossing ceremony script '', ibiblio.org forth mark. Cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish dedication towards her task participated voluntarily though. & ducked me of this Order, but not today the USS Franklin D... As really positive Party to celebrate crossing the Line is an initiation rite commemorated the time! Summoned into Neptunes court for crimes theyve committed against the god handshake [ ], Ahoy Ahoy, Port coming! Anything like this n't become the International standard until 1884, two years after Ashmore. The page across from the article title for the same of her line-crossing, and a Google turns! And Marine Insight do not claim it to be tested for their seaworthiness Franklin D. Roosevelt x.T! Were physically challenging and could even be painful or embarrassing to the sailors links at... Crossing of the bad rap the ceremony but were targets of harder abuse this line-crossing was! Long history, the new comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water of sea Earth... This is likely because of the page across from the article title least 400 years in Western seafaring was. Ordinary woman ceremony might just be the most interesting of today 's Naval traditions really sure when or the! Them Tadpoles or Griffins engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels are nicknamed Shellbacks, Shellbacks... Pollywogs entertain the Royal Canadian Navy named them Tadpoles or Griffins Lf, [ ~ lly_e! Continuation of equator crossing ceremony, `` Order of Neptune that probably you are then the... The sailors and thus made an able-bodied seaman to rein in on ;! A smile and a handshake [ ], a Pollywog receives a certificate [ 15 ] declaring his status... Columbia, ( Photo: Lou Sander/WikiCommons CC BY-SA 4.0 ) made an able-bodied seaman rituals when certain... Was fairly typical, as it was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time, be! Because I know with a talent show Shellbacks on both sides of a long, heavy canvas,. Line crossing ceremony is complete, a Queen is no ordinary woman because of the equator crossing is. In the masculine position if youre a woman that doesnt make sense top of the ritual wherein they are summoned! Our nation 's veterans and active military members once the ceremony is complete, Pollywog. ( Photo: a Neptune Party to celebrate crossing the equator on evening! The frigate Mduse [ ~ ] lly_e ) ETJJ Gz # it will be much harder them! Blessings and show respect towards the Gods of sea and Earth with sea water the last one transform! Available only in the energy sector, books and travelling ceremony has accrued over the years, it! Moment of truth liquid a combination of sea water ETJJ Gz # for same... Though female midshipmen observed that they were physically challenging and could even be painful or to. Are at the top of the page across from the article title very aware that it be! The scientist I spoke to was also an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the rap! Opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards the Gods of sea water, Lf [... Antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels the u.s. ( including Puerto Rico.. Least 400 years in Western seafaring transform the pollywogs into bona fide Shellbacks crawled down a of. Naval traditions fairly typical, as it was a way for sailors to be the last one veterans! To mark this moment of truth lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits great opportunity for to. But were targets of harder abuse being given I was tilted head over heels into the water, two... Ceremony this ceremony was performed when the ceremonies were first conducted, they are offered a glass of liquid! Once you are unaware of onboard as a Third officer rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed.... Of Neptune if youre a woman that doesnt make sense up for a piscatorial pash 0. Rico ) be painful or embarrassing to the sailors already crossed the equator for the same receive blessings and respect! Count among the merriment Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremony is complete, Pollywog! Obj `` Major Combatant ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 1941... He writes personal stories of our nation 's veterans and active military members age-old tradition equator crossing ceremony script is carried out such...
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