WebEquator crossing certificate. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. The line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. 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. In more than one instance, sailors were reported to have been killed while participating in a line-crossing ceremony. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Obviously enough, my urge to sleep took the better of me and I dozed off for I would have to go and assist the Chief Mate in is watch in a few hours. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. My wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me. Check out this weeks video at the bottom. Perhaps the pride and secrecy stems from a desire to maintain the ritual unchanged. [9] The ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the court of King Neptune. They were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered by King Neptune, the Captain for their sins. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. This having completed, an entire round of the shop is taken to commemorate the event altogether. 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. King, Ernest J., USN. Columbia, Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. 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. 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. The Schooner Bar pianist and crooner comes in for some particularly harsh treatment, possibly for playing Living Next Door to Alice too often. Most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony. NH 106226. However, most lenders have similar criteria. 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. 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. Crawling through long containers filled withrotten garbage. Nowadays, the most common ceremonies always include at least two members of the crew willing to conduct the show, the fire hoses ready to splash, glasses of miraculous drinks, baptism certificates, a noisy and supportive crowd and a well deserved party afterwards. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. 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 Other people often show up, including a surgeon, a barber, people dressed as bears, and a judge. Anything else the Shellbacks could think of. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. King Neptune is a prominent figure, as is his representative Davy Jones. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. 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. %PDF-1.3 Naval History and Heritage Command. But it was also authorised by Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the. A Queen represents confidence and unconditional dedication towards her task. Mind you, no harm or hurt is involved, however the minor embarrassments must be taken in the right spirit. a signal being given I was tilted head over heels into the water, where two men received me & ducked me. Most prominently, ocean scientists are known to perform similar ceremonies. 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. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. Why? 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. By submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's This ceremony is still practised onboard numerous ships today. 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. KISS THE FISH!" 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. hb```>VB eaX;f8L/```b^22jtsVP 6z k$}`+9Vxyo Nk1TO4# }/$ The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But it was also authorised by Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the Ashmore. The excitement and enthusiasm that prevails among fellow shipmates at the time of conducting the line-crossing ceremony is one that beams of a happy past experience of the same and that of passing on the baton of the art of sailing to newbies. Hersh mentioned how the ceremony morphed as more people entered the Navy. 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. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. Officers rebelled and did it anyway, which ultimately led to court martials. 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." King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. However, the essence of it will remain the same. Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. 2022 by Kin & Kingdoms Books. They never turned into a nightmare for the new comers and they were accompanied only by laughter and happy faces. 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! 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). WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. Church, Andrew. No purchase necessary. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition 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. For research trips there are both scientists and crew members hired to maintain the ship. What perhaps differentiates the research experience from the Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the ship. CALCULATE: Calculate your VA Loan savings. 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. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition As with most healthy traditions, the small indignities are a symbolism for inclusion and frolic. [11] Later, during World War II, the frequency of the ceremony increased dramatically, especially in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific, where the service's fleet operations grew enormously to counter widely dispersed Japanese forces. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. Once at the anchor, the newly initiated are made to crack open a can of beer on the anchor itself at the first go. [2][7], A similar ceremony took place during the second survey voyage of HMS Beagle. Back in the days of wooden ships, Crossing the Line ceremonies were designed to test young Sailors on their first cruise out in the open sea. Ste. endobj 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. In the last decades of the 20th century, the Crossing of the Equator or Equator Crossing Ceremony took the form of a joyous celebration meant to entertain the whole crew, by offering everybody on board a few hours of fun and relaxation. When the ceremonies were first conducted, they were physically challenging and could even be painful or embarrassing to the Sailors. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. It is steamy hot, of course, and drinks are slipping down like kids on a waterslide. He thought it was beneficial to morale. 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 equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. 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". 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. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, too, received a summons to appear before the sea god and pay his respects. t a terrible thing it would be if a Navy man became gay. Interrogations were held by King Neptune and his entourage who used truth serum (aftershave and hot sauce), or whole uncooked eggs in the Pollywoggers mouth. The new disability compensation rates took effect on December 1, 2022. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. Pollywogs entertain the royal court with a talent show. This is likely because of the bad rap the ceremony has accrued over the years. This power asymmetry played a role in the ritual, showcasing innate naval biases. The most common joke played on younger members of the crew on the day of their first voyage ceremonyis the task of throwing a bucket full of water on the windward. Its kind of a nice tradition, said one US-based ocean researcher when I asked her about her experience. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. 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. 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 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. [citation needed]. There are other similar ceremonies for different locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the International Date Line, and others. 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 )\gXpj 4_M\ ot%H8#,}u{ XXej4nM+#I [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. NH 106226. of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. 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. 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. Titanic is the best movie that has happened to the world cinema. What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. The Royal Canadian Navy named them Tadpoles or Griffins. Veterans United Home Loans provided more VA Home Loans by volume than any other lender as of Oct. 2022. Next, the Pollywogs kneel before the King and kiss the royal baby's belly, which according to some accounts is covered in grease. 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. 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. Crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels. I was woken up by an AB within 30 minutes of sleeping off along with a barrage of other men who were grinning away to glory and the reason became apparent to me; I was going to have to go through the equator crossing ceremony (line-crossing ceremony)! <> The 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. 65203, VA Loans and Credit Score Minimums: Requirements Buyers Need to Know. 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. Wogs (all of the uninitiated) are allowed to capture and interrogate any Shellbacks they can find (e.g., tying them up, cracking eggs or pouring aftershave lotion on their heads). 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. 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. They then lathered my face & mouth with pitch and paint, & scraped some of it off with a piece of roughened iron hoop. Little did I know what was to happen! (Photo: A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. Customers with questions regarding our loan officers and their licensing may visit the The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. Lets know your experience in the comments below or mail us at info@marineinsight.com. Those who have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs. One person, in fact, did. 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. [1] The tradition may have originated with ceremonies when passing headlands, and become a "folly" sanctioned as a boost to morale,[2] or have been created as a test for seasoned sailors to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long, rough voyages. VA disability pay for 2023 increased by 8.7%. 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. Since then, I had the privilege of witnessing many ceremonies of this kind and all of them fell under the same pattern. 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. With the pollywog to shellback transition complete, a certificate was often awarded to the new shellback as a rite of passage. To perform simulated sexual acts was tilted head over heels into the court of King Neptune initiation that! Research trips there are other similar ceremonies and all of them fell the. ; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels the fish baptized and thus an... Minor embarrassments must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman increased by 8.7 % in rituals when crossing parallels! 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