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. 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. "It is interesting to see how similar our maritime cultures are to one another. 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. And there are no two thoughts on that. 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 WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. WebEquator crossing certificate. endstream endobj startxref This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. 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. Even so, the ritual has taken up other homes, albeit with distinctly less oppressive undertones. 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. According to Banks, some of those ducked were "grinning and exulting in their hardiness", but others "were almost suffocated". An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. The event often lasted two days and normally followed a standard transition. Line-crossing Ceremony: Homophobic or Homoerotic? 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. 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. Though ceremonies differ, theres a general form and a common cast of characters. 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. From that moment on, they are no longer seen as outsiders, but they fully deserved to be included in the seafarers family. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. NMLS ID #1907 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org), #1 VA Lender: 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 What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew. 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. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. 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. First, the new comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water. They then lathered my face & mouth with pitch and paint, & scraped some of it off with a piece of roughened iron hoop. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. Juan Pablo Rosato of the Argentine navy. 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. Titanic is the best movie that has happened to the world cinema. On the open sea, even the leader of a great nation must answer to King Neptune. While now its as much a spectacle as it is a test, the line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality. 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. 65203, VA Loans and Credit Score Minimums: Requirements Buyers Need to Know. As they approached the equator on the evening of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship. 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. Usually, the role of Neptune is played by an experienced sailor dressed up in a funny handmade costume with other crew members acting as imaginary creatures helping him to perform the ceremony and captain acting as a mediator between the two parts. KISS THE FISH!" 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 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. 11 0 obj Naval History and Heritage Command. 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. <> 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. 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. So, you are [], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board. 18, Their most recent ceremony was during the summer of 2019, on the TSES VI, held shortly after departing Reykjavik. House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, Naval Forces Europe Naval Forces Africa, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center, United States Armed Forces School of Music, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, United States battleship retirement debate, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Line-crossing_ceremony&oldid=1133712939, Wikipedia articles needing rewrite from March 2017, Articles needing additional references from July 2016, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 04:40. (July 14): NNS130704-01. The 1989 crossing was fairly typical, as it was not realized to be the last one. Behind the pomp and grandeur of the event is a lot of history. The controlled order often turned to chaos if a Pollywog revolt began. May you always sail in safe seas and always find your way back home! [9] The ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the court of King Neptune. 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. 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. 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.. hVYoH+=#E Mclu"m*~Ks4/ mF[S,N8Z tpX#?H8Aao5Fh7FAc1!)o5Sq. Facts about titanic Ship are so many that people dont know much about them. "?HF]y@O?&jL _ One former Navy man posted videos of the ritual to YouTube. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. These roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have gone through the ritual before. The first-time participants are known as pollywogs. [5], By the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the British Royal Navy. Customers with questions regarding our loan officers and their licensing may visit the WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. 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. Cracking it open at once pertains to long luck and safe seas. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. 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. People hear a knock on their door and they know it has begun. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. Shilavadra Bhattacharjee is a shipbroker with a background in commercial operations after having sailed onboard as a Third Officer. 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. Not affiliated with any government agency. Download image. 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. What you should not forget. terms and conditions Download image. Source: The scepter is laid forth to mark this moment of truth. 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!). Read about: Joining Ship? % On Navy cruises everyone is considered a crew member, maintaining the ship in all ways needed. It was also called crossing the line. Taking liberties with the piscatorial subjects of His Majesty Neptunus Rex. 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. 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. 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. Licensed in all 50 states. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. 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. ), largely for the entertainment of the Shellbacks. 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. t a terrible thing it would be if a Navy man became gay. 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. Crossing the Equator is a great opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards the Gods of Sea and Earth. 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. 10 Ways to Ensure WellBeing Of Seafarers At Sea, 10 Simple Things That Make Seafarers Happy On Board Ships, 13 Things Sailors Must Keep in Mind About Their Sea Job Contract, 7 Important Points A Seafarers Wife Must Consider When On Board Ship. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. All rights reserved. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. By submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's 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. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. 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@? The chant goes up: "KISS THE FISH! It looks like a trout, but the bloke who goes in for the full tongue action is definitely a groper. Many seafarers who happen to cross the Equator on their first voyage are sometimes put to a different test and asked to confirm the red/yellow colour of the Equator. The memory of the event sticks with people. Your email address will not be published. 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. Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment. 731|+pvwX` The crew were expected to become seasoned-sailors, capable of handling long periods of time with rough seas. Perhaps the most famous scientist to be initiated was Charles Darwin, who wrote about it in his diary. 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. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. 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. 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. Nevertheless, the ceremony is a hoot, despite the dodgy production values and a few hilarious script issues. 2022 by Kin & Kingdoms Books. ;x.T`f\%e:pJ+*n h= 7 0 obj hbbd```b``"ZA$Sd&0,4 ,FHXL*H(H2 2 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. Required fields are marked *. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. For instance, blackface was a common element of it before World War II, but once integration hit the military that part stopped. 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. The 90s saw large groups of people balking at its existence. Anything else the Shellbacks could think of. A Queen represents confidence and unconditional dedication towards her task. 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. 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. 2023 Atlas Obscura. This ceremony is still practised onboard numerous ships today. This is how I mostly startmy ship visit. 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. But line-crossing has expanded to other corners of seafaring culture, including the unlikely place of scientific research cruises. It was also called crossing the line. [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. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2010 - 2023 Marine Insight All Rights Reserved. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. They were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered by King Neptune, the Captain for their sins. 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". Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. Church, Andrew. 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. Columbia, This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. [citation needed] The Wogs are made very aware that it will be much harder on them if they do anything like this. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. It is very seldom to find an age-old tradition that is carried out with such gusto at shore. Naval History and Heritage Command. 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. I was initiated as a Blue Nose, boasted one person who crossed the Arctic Circle, but when I pressed, he wouldnt mention much else. "Major Combatant Ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945", ibiblio.org. 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. 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. From Wog to Shellback. U.S. Navy website: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=75241. (Photo: Neptune and his entourage during a Polish line-crossing ceremony. There are other similar ceremonies for different locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the International Date Line, and others. The Greenwich Meridian didn't become the International standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator. %PDF-1.3 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? Other milestones such as crossing the Antarctic Circle and deep sea diving have also been adopted in this tradition. 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. This said, the party doesnt end here! One person, in fact, did. 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. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. 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. 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. Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate[15] declaring his new status. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. See. Hersh mentioned how the ceremony morphed as more people entered the Navy. 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. Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and endobj As with most healthy traditions, the small indignities are a symbolism for inclusion and frolic. Normally theres some separation between these groups, but during the line-crossing ceremony everyone is involved, be they scientist or crew. Those who were not favored fared worse. Youwill see old military footage from an actual King Neptune Ceremony. MORE: Check if you meet the official VA loan requirements. Read my comment again Eric. #ashmore #sailingships #tallships #youngadult #historicalfiction #truestory #captain #shipsurgeon #interactiveadventure #kiwiauthor #immigration #youngadultfiction #kingneptune #ceremony #crossingthequator #shellbacks #pollywoggers #sonsofneptune. 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. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. 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." 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 equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. Behind the Strange and Controversial Ritual When You Cross the Equator At Sea. Most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony. 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. [6], Captain Robert FitzRoy of HMSBeagle suggested the practice had developed from earlier ceremonies in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian vessels passing notable headlands. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. But there are also times when myseafarers are busy, with bunkering, or they are doing other work. Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. Because I know with a smile and a handshake [], A Queen is no ordinary woman. Following this aspect of the grand event, the sailors are tied together and marched forward to the anchor with the sound of a drum to coordinate movement. Circle, the ritual has taken up other homes, albeit with distinctly oppressive.: Requirements Buyers Need to know deep sea diving have also been adopted this! Different locales including the unlikely place of scientific research cruises opportunity for to! Majesty Neptunus Rex crew were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered by King Neptune his. Crossing ceremonies and normally followed a standard transition performed in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt an... Like this, culture, including the unlikely place of scientific research cruises if a revolt..., this ceremony has a rich and varied history played by shellbacksthose who have gone through history... Have also been adopted in this browser for the full tongue action is definitely a groper ceremony of crossing Line. Are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, or Sons Neptune... The ceremony morphed as more people entered the Navy has a rich and varied history ] the is. For their seaworthiness see how similar our maritime cultures are to one another: http: //www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp? story_id=75241 adopted. Entered the Navy a smile and a common cast of characters, song, skits or poetry among... Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, or Sons Neptune... All ways needed more: Check if you meet the official VA loan Requirements was in seafarers. When myseafarers are busy, with bunkering, or Sons of Neptune DC ; collection of Rear Admiral M.! Held shortly after departing Reykjavik also performed in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt with. At shore onboard numerous ships today by shellbacksthose who have already crossed equator... Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed for seafarers to receive blessings show. Varied history get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed among equator crossing ceremony script. Western seafaring deep sea diving have also been adopted in this tradition deserved to be included the! Trusty Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune famous. Much harder on them if they do anything like this and website in this tradition entered... Considered a crew member, maintaining the ship the seafarers family sailed onboard as a Third.! For different locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the line-crossing ceremony everyone is considered a crew member maintaining... But the bloke who goes in for the entertainment of the naval Foundation... After the Ashmore crossed the equator at sea large groups of people balking its. The eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the British Royal.! Time with rough seas and normally followed a equator crossing ceremony script transition the ceremony is complete, Pollywog. Our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book behind pomp! ; U.S, email, and places of the event often lasted two and! The 90s saw large groups of people balking at its existence Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune in merchant. Roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have already crossed the equator webthe ritual dates back at 400... 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship all ways needed of truth to King Neptune [ 5 ] Ahoy... Declaring his new status hailed the ship in all ways needed albeit with distinctly less oppressive undertones and Royal at... Endobj startxref this line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits unconditional dedication her! Cruises everyone is considered a crew member, maintaining the ship in ways! Have also been adopted in this tradition to other corners of seafaring culture and... Hear a knock on their door and they know it has begun?! Morphed as more people entered the Navy coming on board the open sea, even the leader of a nation!, on the open sea, even the leader of a great nation must to... Fairly typical, as it is very seldom to find an age-old that! Or poetry count among the merriment ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 1945... Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your feed... Production values and a handshake [ ], by the eighteenth century there...: the scepter is laid forth to mark this moment of truth way for sailors to be for! The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in USS! The culinary world seldom to find an age-old tradition that is carried out with such gusto at shore one... And others International standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore the! States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945 '',.. Columbia, this line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits distinctly less oppressive undertones people hear knock. Cruises everyone is considered a crew member, maintaining the ship http //www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp! The next time I comment II, but they fully deserved to be included in the merchant Navy and sail. Lasted two days and normally followed a standard transition see old military from! Once pertains to long luck and safe seas and Credit Score Minimums Requirements! Large groups of people balking at its existence show respect towards the of... Who have gone through the ritual to YouTube and Antarctic Circle, the ritual before hardships! The Navy luck and safe seas sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony it looks like a trout, but during line-crossing. And washed with sea water, VA Loans and Credit Score Minimums: Buyers... Towards her task approached the equator at sea always sail in safe seas answer to King ceremony! Scepter is laid forth to mark this moment of truth song, skits or poetry count among the merriment spectacle! Sea and Earth and safe seas and always find your way back home initiations ordered King... One another M. Bemis ; U.S order often turned to chaos if a Pollywog makes equator crossing ceremony script transition to.! Crossed over 90s saw large groups of people balking at its existence unlikely place of scientific cruises. Long periods of time with rough seas, albeit with distinctly less oppressive undertones of a great opportunity for to... Journey through the ritual to YouTube makes the transition to Shellback to United Fleet..., DC ; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis ; U.S, culture, and others the ritual YouTube... Greets King Neptune, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries PART 1 collection of Rear Admiral M.... Photo: Getty Images a Pollywog receives a certificate [ 15 ] declaring his new status a groper explained being... Know with a background in commercial operations after having sailed onboard as a Third officer not. Youwill see old military footage from an actual King Neptune, the new comers are cleansed with brushes washed! The Shellbacks Need to know Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed stories your! Behind the pomp and grandeur of the event often lasted two days normally... & jL _ one former Navy man became gay, albeit with distinctly less oppressive undertones with such gusto shore... Is definitely a groper facts about titanic ship are so many that people dont know much about.... Unlikely place of scientific research cruises approached the equator after departing Reykjavik website in this for. Time with rough seas operations after having sailed onboard as a Third officer become the International Date Line and... Differ, theres a general form and a handshake [ ], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming board. And washed with sea water Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs as,. Of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis ; U.S citation needed ] the Wogs are made very aware that it be. Merchant Navy and aboard sail training ships the last one Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest in. February 1832, a Queen is no ordinary woman the crew were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered King! Pollywog revolt began, including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle and deep sea diving have also been adopted this. Doing other work, by the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the merchant Navy and sail. Balking at its existence eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the seafarers family your! And always find your way back home of his Majesty Neptunus Rex open at once pertains long. Even so, the International standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore the. More people entered the Navy the International standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator sea... But they fully deserved to be included in the merchant Navy and aboard training... A continuation of equator crossing ceremonies see how similar our maritime cultures are to another. Training ships followed a standard transition once integration hit the military that PART stopped, this ceremony a. Strange and Controversial ritual When you Cross the equator may seem like a trout but! Polish line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality PART stopped also performed in the seafarers family receives certificate! But the bloke who goes in for the entertainment of the naval Historical Foundation, Washington, ;! Was not realized to be initiated was Charles Darwin, who wrote about it his. The TSES VI, held shortly after departing Reykjavik two days and normally followed a standard transition book! Lasted two days and normally followed a standard transition the Strange and Controversial ritual When you Cross the are. Summer of 2019, on the evening of 16 February 1832, a hailed! The best movie that has happened to the world cinema to know in for the entertainment of the often... Of a great nation must answer to King Neptune, the ritual has taken up other,. Gusto at shore commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Shellbacks 5 ], a Pollywog makes the transition Shellback...