It was also called crossing the line. ae. 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. Pollywogs entertain the royal court with a talent show. "It is interesting to see how similar our maritime cultures are to one another. WebEquator crossing certificate. t a terrible thing it would be if a Navy man became gay. The 1989 crossing was fairly typical, as it was not realized to be the last one. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. [2] The officer on watch reported a boat ahead, and Captain FitzRoy ordered "hands up, shorten sail". %PDF-1.3 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2010 - 2023 Marine Insight All Rights Reserved. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. The Navy is chock full of myth and tradition, and what happens at sea even affects our language. 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. The coverage provoked widespread criticism, especially when the videotape showed some of the submarine's officers watching the entire proceedings from the conning tower. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The ceremony was conducted by our steward who took his role as Neptune very seriously and appointed some of the pirates to cleanse us right with soap and water. Naval History and Heritage Command. They never turned into a nightmare for the new comers and they were accompanied only by laughter and happy faces. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. (Photo: Shellback certificate awarded to Charles Cameron, aboard USS Utah (BB-31), commemorating his first crossing of the equator, December 1, 1928. Church, Andrew. The Navy has many histories of line-crossing, and a Google search turns up numerous pictures of sailors being initiated. (Photo: An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse. According to Banks, some of those ducked were "grinning and exulting in their hardiness", but others "were almost suffocated". The older and more experienced sailors were always so happy to perform the most outrageous tricks and games on the new comers that they sometimes crossed the limits of entertainment and brought the game to a dangerous and even deadly point. 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.. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. Much like a wedding, one experiences the joy of it just once, thus becoming a spectator for the all the others to come! On the voyage of HMS Endeavour to the Pacific in 1768, captained by James Cook, Joseph Banks described how the crew drew up a list of everyone on board, including cats and dogs, and interrogated them as to whether they had crossed the equator. Even so, the ritual has taken up other homes, albeit with distinctly less oppressive undertones. As is with all cadets, sleep is the all-engulfing element that overpowers the necessity to change ones boiler suit and go in for a shower! 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. (Photo: Neptune and his entourage during a Polish 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. 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. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. So, you are [], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. Cast of characters during a Crossing the Line ceremony, DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Permitting Policy and Resource Management, The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: 20 Years Later, "Ex Scientia Tridens": The U.S. 18, Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. Perhaps the most famous scientist to be initiated was Charles Darwin, who wrote about it in his diary. 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. [citation needed] The Wogs are made very aware that it will be much harder on them if they do anything like this. 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. The Navy has spent decades trying to rein in on hazing; the line-crossing ceremony represents a great deal of this. 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. One by one, all the older and more experienced seafarers take their turn in congratulating the newly anointed sailors, glasses are raised in their honor and even a party can be thrown to emphasize the event. As they approached the equator on the evening of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship. This part is the beginning of the ritual wherein they are stripped down to their underwear (or nothing!) It was also called crossing the line. Facts about titanic Ship are so many that people dont know much about them. 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. 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. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. Pollywogs received subpoenas after crossing the equator and were made to appear before King Neptune and his court. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition p}FEDKS'G,MVLz3+\S:zQoendstream Fortunately no head shaving but the foul mixture was foul in the extreme. USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) UPDATE of 1973 CTL. [citation needed]. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. The Line Crossing Ceremony might just be the most interesting of today's naval traditions. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. 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". For instance, the ship's captain might play the part of King Neptune himself. Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition 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.". Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. 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. 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. Throughout history, line-crossing ceremonies have sometimes become dangerous hazing rituals. Check out this weeks video at the bottom. 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. We still laugh about it to this day. The writer was a guest of Royal Caribbean Cruises. WebAlthough crossing the equator may seem like a routine event for any modern-day naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries. At that time, the ceremony was regarded as an initiation rite and, like all initiation rituals which are still performed among different tribes around the world,it sure made the adrenaline pumping harder especially for those in question. I remember going back to my cabin at 1200 hrs after completing some important deck work. 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. 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). There are other similar ceremonies for different locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the International Date Line, and others. Pollywogs participated voluntarily, though female midshipmen observed that they were under social pressure to do the ceremony but were targets of harder abuse. 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. On the open sea, even the leader of a great nation must answer to King Neptune. 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 Those who have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs. As the cruise ship Voyager of the Seas nears the equator, excitement mounts and all Pollywogs those who have never crossed the line are encouraged to register for the crossing the equator ceremony. At the end of it, the Captain, Chief Engineer and the rest, as a mark of welcoming and respect, congratulate the initiates. 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. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. and Other various dignitary titles were given to the officers who officiated the ceremony. People hear a knock on their door and they know it has begun. 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. Other people often show up, including a surgeon, a barber, people dressed as bears, and a judge. The Greenwich Meridian didn't become the International standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator. 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. Copyright 2023 Mortgage Research Center, LLC. What perhaps differentiates the research experience from the Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the ship. These roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have gone through the ritual before. Cracking it open at once pertains to long luck and safe seas. Thanks for reading and watching my BLINK. In the end, Neptune reads out the certificates stating the names of the seafarers, their new names after the ceremony, the date and the place where the event took place and welcomes into the family. [5], By the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the British Royal Navy. Another rare status is the Golden Shellback, a person who has crossed the Equator at the 180th meridian. Many naval traditions, from the Sirens and Sea Monsters of the Odyssey to the boatswain's call, date back hundreds and even thousands of years. 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. He thought it was beneficial to morale. Hersh mentioned how the ceremony morphed as more people entered the Navy. It was also called crossing the line. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Disclaimer: The views mentioned above are of the author only. 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. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). at last, glad enough, I escaped. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. It was also called crossing the line. WebEquator crossing certificate. Reflecting the popularity of tattoos among sailors, some people choose to get tattoos to mark that they have participated in a ceremony, such as an image of a shellback turtle or King Neptune. 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 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. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. There, they crawled down a gauntlet of Shellbacks on both sides of a long, heavy canvas runner, about 1012 meters. 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@? As appalling as it may seem to shore folk, it is a tradition that makes a man out a fresh cadet or trainee seaman. [3][4], In the Royal Canadian Navy, those who have not yet crossed the equator are nicknamed Tadpoles, or Dirty Tadpoles; an earlier nickname was griffins. 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. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. WebAlthough crossing the equator may seem like a routine event for any modern-day naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries. 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. [citation needed] Pollywogs (midshipmen and anyone else who had not crossed) ascended a ladder from the forecastle to the superstructure deck of the ship. The chant goes up: "KISS THE FISH! [13] Physical hardship, in keeping with the spirit of the initiation, is tolerated, and each Pollywog is expected to endure a standard initiation rite in order to become a Shellback. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. 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! 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. and normally, dipped in the water gathered in the save-all tray! Ship passengers who have never traversed the nautical line are forced to prove they are worthy to make the transition. 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)! All Rights Reserved. Retrieved June 7, 2017. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Read Queens version, Not So Easy love Story of A Sailors Queen, 5 Reasons Why People not Joining Merchant Navy. 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. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. 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!). Video of 1957 Coast Guard crossing ritual. Myriad approaches to conducting the ceremony will yield myriad accounts. Honorable Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor who has already crossed the equator. 0 <> hb```>VB eaX;f8L/```b^22jtsVP 6z k$}`+9Vxyo Nk1TO4# }/$ This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. "We have the same sort of ceremony in my country," said Lt. j.g. 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 90s saw large groups of people balking at its existence. 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. Required fields are marked *. [13] Depending on the Ocean or Fleet AOR, there can be variations in the rite. NH 106226. 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. What is Maritime English and Why It Is Important? Perhaps the pride and secrecy stems from a desire to maintain the ritual unchanged. 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. Equator Crossing or Baptism Ceremony-All About it. 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 (July 14): NNS130704-01. This said, the party doesnt end here! The fun has just begun, and its going to continue for another 24 hours. Crossing the Equator is a great opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards the Gods of Sea and Earth. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. This ceremony is still practised onboard numerous ships today. 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. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. In the PBS documentary Carrier, filmed in 2005 (Episode 7, "Rites of Passage"), a crossing-the-line ceremony on USSNimitz is extensively documented. 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. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. 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. Nevertheless, the ceremony is a hoot, despite the dodgy production values and a few hilarious script issues. 2023 Atlas Obscura. 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. 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.

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