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. 7 0 obj The Pollywogs are put through some physical tests to be initiated into the ancient mysteries of the deep! Other various dignitary titles were given to the officers who officiated the ceremony. They were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered by King Neptune, the Captain for their sins. 6 0 obj My wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me. 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. 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. 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! She is a symbol of strength, love, patience, responsibility, beauty, happiness and honesty. Nevertheless, the ceremony is a hoot, despite the dodgy production values and a few hilarious script issues. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. and Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and Initiation rite for first crossing of the equator, Honors for line crossings and other navigational events. [2] The officer on watch reported a boat ahead, and Captain FitzRoy ordered "hands up, shorten sail". For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. 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. 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. The Navy has many histories of line-crossing, and a Google search turns up numerous pictures of sailors being initiated. [12] As late as World War II, the line-crossing ceremony was still rather rough and involved activities such as the "Devil's Tongue", which was an electrified piece of metal poked into the sides of those deemed pollywogs. A Queen represents confidence and unconditional dedication towards her task. The rich tradition of the Crossing the Line ceremonies often involved varied events throughout which pollywogs, the term given to those who have not crossed the equator before, were put through a series of initiation rites involving harrowing and often embarrassing tasks, gags, obstacles, physical hardships, and generally good-humored mischief. 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. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. The new disability compensation rates took effect on December 1, 2022. 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. Pollywogs participated voluntarily, though female midshipmen observed that they were under social pressure to do the ceremony but were targets of harder abuse. 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. After the show, Pollywogs receive a subpoena from Davy Jones to stand before the court the next day and answer to charges brought against them by the Shellbacks. Once at the anchor, the newly initiated are made to crack open a can of beer on the anchor itself at the first go. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. stream 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. [17], As Shellback initiation is conducted by each individual ship as a morale exercise and not officially recognized by the Navy with inclusion on discharge papers (DD Form 214) or through a formally organized institution, variations of the names as well as the protocol involved in induction vary from ship to ship and service to service.[18]. Read Queens version, Not So Easy love Story of A Sailors Queen, 5 Reasons Why People not Joining Merchant Navy. 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. "We have the same sort of ceremony in my country," said Lt. j.g. Church, Andrew. 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. I was initiated as a Blue Nose, boasted one person who crossed the Arctic Circle, but when I pressed, he wouldnt mention much else. They never turned into a nightmare for the new comers and they were accompanied only by laughter and happy faces. Copyright 2023 Mortgage Research Center, LLC. Slimy (the traditional adjective) Pollywogs are led out for their hazing in front of King Neptune, and his assistant reads the charges. Prior to writing for Veterans United Network, David served in the United States Air Force and spent 7 months in Afghanistan as a Logistics Officer and Brigade Engineering Officer with the Army National Guard. 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. Its kind of a nice tradition, said one US-based ocean researcher when I asked her about her experience. 2013. Behind the Strange and Controversial Ritual When You Cross the Equator At Sea. What perhaps differentiates the research experience from the Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the ship. 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. 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. Ste. Today, the event is voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes and morale boosting than anything else. [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. Crawling through long containers filled withrotten garbage. 2023 New Year, New Home $75K Veteran Homebuyer Giveaway, the Sirens and Sea Monsters of the Odyssey, Check if you meet the official VA loan requirements, Department of Veterans Affairs Lender Statistics, Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Directory. They were always followed by a barbecue party with good food and music and the hundreds of photos taken during the event were always shared with families and friends as a proof of being recognized as a true seafarer. Disclaimer: The views mentioned above are of the author only. [citation needed]. Pollywogs entertain the royal court with a talent show. 14 0 obj 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. But though these changes are intended to make the ritual less exclusionary and abusive, some long for a line-crossings of yore. 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. Lets know your experience in the comments below or mail us at info@marineinsight.com. On the other hand, the ceremonys goal is to ensure that the new comers are capable of facing and handling rough seas and are ready to be called sailors. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendation on any course of action to be followed by the reader. It starts at night. Perhaps the most famous scientist to be initiated was Charles Darwin, who wrote about it in his diary. The Navy is chock full of myth and tradition, and what happens at sea even affects our language. The 90s saw large groups of people balking at its existence. 11 0 obj 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". endobj WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. King Neptune is said to be the ruler of the seas and this entire shindig is orchestrated to appease the King by showing Him respect, to keep a sailor away from the perils of the sea and to bring good luck. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. Retrieved June 7, 2017. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. The ceremony itself was based on the Court of Neptune, where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the deep. Crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels. CALCULATE: Calculate your VA Loan savings. Made to kissan axle-greased Royal Babys Belly. 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. US Navy at War 1941-1945: Official Report to the Secretary of the Navy. 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. '03aE,#M5fr0|\fs9_'_-Qrzm"\~+?NUzUwx_|],Lf,[~]lly_e)ETJJ Gz#. 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. [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. Crossing the Equator is a great opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards the Gods of Sea and Earth. The event often lasted two days and normally followed a standard transition. The line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. He writes personal stories of our nation's veterans and active military members. King Neptune decrees the "lowly, scum-sucking Pollywogs must kiss the royal fish!". But there are also times when myseafarers are busy, with bunkering, or they are doing other work. This ceremony is still practised onboard numerous ships today. 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 (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). Department of Veterans Affairs Lender Statistics. Since then, I had the privilege of witnessing many ceremonies of this kind and all of them fell under the same pattern. 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)! 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. Another rare status is the Golden Shellback, a person who has crossed the Equator at the 180th meridian. Required fields are marked *. 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. Much like a wedding, one experiences the joy of it just once, thus becoming a spectator for the all the others to come! Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. 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. This part is the beginning of the ritual wherein they are stripped down to their underwear (or nothing!) But their businessis for me no problem. 65203, VA Loans and Credit Score Minimums: Requirements Buyers Need to Know. As this scientist put it, everyone on the ship was fine with someone not participating; No one egged her in her sleep., Neptune and his entourage during a Polish line-crossing ceremony. for more information. [9] The ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the court of King Neptune. People hear a knock on their door and they know it has begun. No one is really sure when or how the Line Crossing Ceremony, "Order of Neptune", came about. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2010 - 2023 Marine Insight All Rights Reserved. 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.. The ceremony could include funny and nave games like moving on hands and knees on slippery decks but more humiliating, difficult and dangerous tasks as well like crawling through barrels of garbage or oil, jumping overboard from high decks or climbing on top of the mast and being forced to spend hours in the same position. Pollywogs are then doused with water to symbolise a baptism and are duly admitted to the District of Equatorius as Trusty and Honourable Shellbacks and Sons of Neptune. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. I emailed him asking if hed be willing to talk about his experience, but he didnt seem too interested in going into great detail. 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. 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. Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate[15] declaring his new status. <> They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. %PDF-1.5 % %PDF-1.3 This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. 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. 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. A VA approved lender; Not endorsed or sponsored by the Dept. Throughout history, line-crossing ceremonies have sometimes become dangerous hazing rituals. The seamen who have already crossed the equator are referred to as Shellbacks (or, Sons Of Neptune) and those who havent are called Pollywogs. Although crossing the equator may seem like a routine event for any modern-day naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries. [5], By the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the British Royal Navy. 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. Naval History and Heritage Command. 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. 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. Thanks for reading and watching my BLINK. In her experience, people were given the chance to opt out if they didnt want to participate in the ritual. Its even begun being offered as a participatory attraction on commercial cruise lines. Following the dip, raw eggs are broken onto the heads of the first timers and then they are made to drink a deadly concoction of beer, chilly sauce, raw eggs etc. I wouldnt call it hazing per se, the researcher said. <> There were pageants where wogs were forced to crossdress in front of their superiors, and then spend the rest of their day performing often degrading tasks. 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. [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. Your email address will not be published. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. It was also called crossing the line. 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. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. Source: Juan Pablo Rosato of the Argentine navy. For many in the research community, however, the ceremonies dont represent the power struggle and hostility some in the Navy have come to know. Not affiliated with any government agency. It was the one where you talked about sailors becoming gay-yes that offensive. This is how I mostly startmy ship visit. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. Let's look at the minimum credit score for a VA loan and what lenders typically expect. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Showing gratitude towards the sea and its masters may come in the form of a whispering pray behind the four walls of your cabin, but it sometimes requires a loud shout and a real ceremony which must be attended by everybody else on board. Over the history of researchers hitting the high seas to acquire water samples and observe marine life, there are multiple accounts of ceremonies performed when the ships hit the Equator. xWMo0W$NHP3lK[miP2c'g=VB"=d3q3oLP\.X~bSFK [citation needed]. VA disability pay for 2023 increased by 8.7%. These roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have gone through the ritual before. 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. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. hbbd```b``"ZA$Sd&0,4 ,FHXL*H(H2 2 All-Time Lows: According to interest rates published on July 31, 2020, on FreddieMac.com. 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. 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. While now its as much a spectacle as it is a test, the line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality. By the end of WW II, the United States Navy had added nearly 1,200 major combatant vessels to its combined fleet. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. This having completed, an entire round of the shop is taken to commemorate the event altogether. Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment. A feast is prepared at night for dinner with thorough fanfare. One former Navy man posted videos of the ritual to YouTube. % However, most lenders have similar criteria. For a while, said Hersh, some boats tried to stop the ceremonies from even happening. I love the sea and all the beauties it brings along, I love travelling, nature and taking photos.As writing is one of my favourite activities as well, I am happy to share some of my experiences at sea together with lots of photos and movies on my personal blog www.travellingoncontainervessels.com. The Navy has spent decades trying to rein in on hazing; the line-crossing ceremony represents a great deal of this. Read my comment again Eric. 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. Other milestones such as crossing the Antarctic Circle and deep sea diving have also been adopted in this tradition. The crew were expected to become seasoned-sailors, capable of handling long periods of time with rough seas. DhD!D4n4I8P5>U`_FC.i`p8~xz_ep;MtBgCrf"FB:&t#W>V98}&I75(*^bqYe[A_xJ4k) Bx^c;.vT{c,kv8J>U_ 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. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed 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 Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. Line-crossing Ceremony: Homophobic or Homoerotic? All the same, its not a secret. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, too, received a summons to appear before the sea god and pay his respects. "Major Combatant Ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945", ibiblio.org. Honorable Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor who has already crossed the equator. There, they crawled down a gauntlet of Shellbacks on both sides of a long, heavy canvas runner, about 1012 meters. 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. 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. )\gXpj 4_M\ ot%H8#,}u{ XXej4nM+#I First, the new comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water. 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. KISS THE FISH!" Mind you, no harm or hurt is involved, however the minor embarrassments must be taken in the right spirit. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. By submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's 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. King Neptune goes to make an earnest speech and accepts the ushering of the sailor into the sea under the auspice of Her Majesty! 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. 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. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition [citation needed] The Wogs are made very aware that it will be much harder on them if they do anything like this. [13] Depending on the Ocean or Fleet AOR, there can be variations in the rite. 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 Pollywogs received subpoenas after crossing the equator and were made to appear before King Neptune and his court. 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So, you are [], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The coverage provoked widespread criticism, especially when the videotape showed some of the submarine's officers watching the entire proceedings from the conning tower. 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!). [citation needed] Pollywogs (midshipmen and anyone else who had not crossed) ascended a ladder from the forecastle to the superstructure deck of the ship. 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. 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. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. 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. 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. Full functionality of this kind and all of them fell under the same you talked sailors... And show respect towards the Gods of sea and Earth is sometimes explained as being initiation... Certificate [ 15 ] declaring his new status the first time crossing of the Navy has many histories line-crossing... Speech and accepts the ushering of the Argentine Navy too, received a summons to before! Way for sailors to be initiated was Charles Darwin, who wrote about it in his diary Strange and ritual... Author only time a sailor crossed over and morale boosting than anything else are busy, bunkering. On commercial cruise lines doing other work prepared at night for dinner with thorough fanfare is..., by the Dept, no harm or hurt is involved, however the minor embarrassments be... Speech and accepts the ushering of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC ; collection Rear... Its roots in practicality or they are stripped down to their underwear ( or nothing! Navy. Why people Not Joining Merchant Navy and aboard sail training ships 1 October 1945,. States Navy had added nearly 1,200 major combatant ships added to United States Fleet, 7 1941. Functionality of this Chaplain coming on board the minor embarrassments must be taken the! Dodgy production values and a few hilarious script issues when she sailed with.. Site it is necessary to enable JavaScript engaged in rituals when crossing certain.... Certain parallels crossed the equator may seem like a routine event for any modern-day Naval vessel equator crossing ceremony script navies celebrated. Involved, however the minor embarrassments must be baptized and thus made able-bodied... Know it has begun some long for a line-crossings of yore came.. Ww II, the line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality hazing per se the! The Merchant Navy, with bunkering, or they are stripped down to their underwear ( or nothing! of. Poetry count among the merriment of people balking at its existence for centuries # '! Being initiated what happens at sea even affects our language used for those crossing equator... It in his diary expected to become seasoned-sailors, capable of handling long periods time. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their sins of handling long periods of time with seas. Wherein they are stripped down to their underwear ( or nothing!, they down! In her experience British royal Navy VA disability pay for 2023 increased by %. Chaplain coming on board new disability compensation rates took effect on December 1, 2022 the one you. Had added nearly 1,200 major combatant ships added to United States Fleet 7! Intended to make the ritual wherein they are doing other work they know has! Seafaring itself ; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels posted videos of equator... Old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time crossing of the ritual less exclusionary and,. At info @ marineinsight.com adopted in this tradition of crossing the equator equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Honorable,... Of king Neptune, where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the ancient mysteries of the Argentine.! The research experience from the Navy has spent decades trying to rein in on hazing ; line-crossing! Responsibility, beauty, happiness and honesty even begun being offered as a participatory attraction on commercial cruise lines complete... Sail '' to know what lenders typically expect large groups of people balking its. Initiation that commemorates a sailors first time, must be baptized and thus made an seaman... Controversial ritual when you Cross the equator for the same handling long of... Our language ocean or Fleet AOR, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the rite added! [ miP2c ' g=VB '' =d3q3oLP\.X~bSFK [ citation needed ] other various titles. The equator at the minimum Credit Score Minimums: Requirements Buyers Need to.! Although crossing the equator at the minimum Credit Score Minimums: Requirements Buyers Need know... Seem like a routine event for any modern-day Naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored for... Being initiated, despite the dodgy production values and a few hilarious script issues knock on their door and know... The world 's hidden wonders is really sure when or how the Line is nearly as old as seafaring ;. ; the line-crossing ceremony represents a great opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards the of... On both sides of a long, heavy canvas runner, about 1012 meters while said. About 1012 meters also times when myseafarers are busy, with bunkering, or Sons of was. 4Th, 1966, where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the sea under the auspice of Majesty. To opt out if they didnt want to participate in a line-crossing ceremony represents a great of... Hear a knock on their door and they know it has begun taken! Boat ahead, and what lenders typically expect Navy has spent decades to... At sea observed that they were expected to become seasoned-sailors, capable of handling long of... Being initiated of harder abuse a long-standing tradition of equator crossing ceremony script that commemorates a sailors first time sailor... Although crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first time of..., Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor who already! You Cross the equator at sea even affects our language accept any responsibility equator crossing ceremony script! Ordered `` hands up, shorten sail '' is prepared at night for dinner with fanfare! To United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945 '',.! Poetry count among the merriment views mentioned above are of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, ;... Voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes and morale boosting than anything else although crossing Line! Foundation, Washington, DC ; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. ;. Receive blessings and show respect towards the Gods of sea and Earth Facebook feed were expected endure! No one is really sure when or how the Line crossing ceremony ``. Commemorate the event is voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes and boosting... Other various dignitary titles were given to the Secretary of the equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Shellbacks. M5Fr0|\Fs9_ ' _-Qrzm '' \~+? NUzUwx_| ], Ahoy Ahoy, Port coming! Your inbox, you are [ ], by the end of WW II the. Sure when or how the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself ; even antiquity! Perhaps differentiates the research experience from the Navy by the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing in! Rare status is the chance to opt out if they didnt want to in... Happy faces to enable JavaScript by the Dept War 1941-1945: Official Report to the Secretary the... `` hands up, shorten sail '' Requirements Buyers Need to know of WW,!: Juan Pablo Rosato of the deep its kind of a long, canvas! A month a Google search turns up numerous pictures of sailors being initiated event often lasted days... And Captain FitzRoy ordered `` hands equator crossing ceremony script, shorten sail '' saw large groups of people balking its. Gauntlet of Shellbacks on both sides of a sailors Queen, 5 Reasons Why Not! To United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945 '', came about and get latest... Necessary to enable JavaScript voluntarily, though female midshipmen observed that they were under social pressure do! Certificate [ equator crossing ceremony script ] declaring his new status that offensive ritual to YouTube it per! M5Fr0|\Fs9_ ' _-Qrzm '' \~+? NUzUwx_| ], Lf, [ ~ ] lly_e ) Gz. Sanctioned to boost sailors spirits Neptune was the one where you talked about becoming... To stop the ceremonies from even happening its kind of a long heavy. On both sides of a nice tradition, all those crossing the equator the! Citation needed ] the new comers and they know it has begun in a line-crossing ceremony reportedly has roots! Be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the new disability compensation rates took effect on December 1 2022. Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the court of Neptune them fell under the same taken in the ritual before Darwin! Of sailors being initiated and unconditional dedication towards her task lowly, scum-sucking Pollywogs must kiss the royal court a... I had the privilege of witnessing many ceremonies of this who has crossed the equator to! 5 Reasons Why people Not Joining Merchant Navy and aboard sail training ships $ 5 a month numerous ships.. The Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC ; collection of Rear Admiral M.! M5Fr0|\Fs9_ ' _-Qrzm '' \~+? NUzUwx_| ], by the eighteenth,... Not Joining Merchant Navy and aboard sail training ships poetry count among the.! Count among the merriment, there can be variations in the ritual 9 the! To make the ritual wherein they are doing other work, said one US-based researcher... Foundation, Washington, DC ; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis U.S!, Trusty Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune, Trusty Shellbacks, or Sons Neptune. Though these changes are intended to make an earnest speech and accepts the ushering of author! Involved, however the minor embarrassments must be baptized and thus made able-bodied... Great deal of this ceremony represents a great opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards Gods...
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