First, the new comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water. and The new disability compensation rates took effect on December 1, 2022. Beatings were often still common, usually with wet firehoses, and several World War II Navy deck logs speak of sailors visiting sick bay after crossing the line. This said, the party doesnt end here! The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. Facts about titanic Ship are so many that people dont know much about them. 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. 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. 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. But though these changes are intended to make the ritual less exclusionary and abusive, some long for a line-crossings of yore. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. 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. 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. He writes personal stories of our nation's veterans and active military members. The eve of the equatorial crossing is called Wog Day and, as with many other night-before rituals, is a mild type of reversal of the day to come. 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. Ship passengers who have never traversed the nautical line are forced to prove they are worthy to make the transition. King, Ernest J., USN. Those credulous enough to run forward to see Neptune "were received with the watery honours which it is customary to bestow". The ship's artist, Augustus Earle, made a sketch of the scene.[5]. 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. And yes, mostly I am welcomed on board. 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. 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? It was also called crossing the line. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. I was initiated as a Blue Nose, boasted one person who crossed the Arctic Circle, but when I pressed, he wouldnt mention much else. 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). Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. Throughout history, line-crossing ceremonies have sometimes become dangerous hazing rituals. The ritual is the subject of a painting by Matthew Benedict named The Mariner's Baptism and of a 1961 book by Henning Henningsen named Crossing the Equator: Sailor's Baptism and Other Initiation Rites. Cast of characters during a Crossing the Line ceremony, DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Permitting Policy and Resource Management, The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: 20 Years Later, "Ex Scientia Tridens": The U.S. and normally, dipped in the water gathered in the save-all tray! 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. <> WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. 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. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). 12 0 obj A Queen represents confidence and unconditional dedication towards her task. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. It was designed to test the novices in the crew to see whether they could endure their first cruise at sea, senior chief aviation boatswains mate Bernard Dizontold the Navys press office. Hersh writes: Pollywogs who are disliked, or who are suspected of being gay, receive especially harsh treatment, while favored wogs or high-ranking wogs are often pulled out of the ritual early, or are permitted to go through it without too much harassment.. Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. For research trips there are both scientists and crew members hired to maintain the ship. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. 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. of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. 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. xWMo0W$NHP3lK[miP2c'g=VB"=d3q3oLP\.X~bSFK Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Directory 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. Download image. Flour and eggs are added to their humiliation; nor do they escape the fish, which by now seems like a bit of a flirt. 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. %%EOF A videotape of the ceremony was obtained by the Nine Network and aired on Australian television. But it was also authorised by Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the Ashmore. By submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's endobj The scepter is laid forth to mark this moment of truth. Check out this weeks video at the bottom. Nevertheless, the ceremony is a hoot, despite the dodgy production values and a few hilarious script issues. Naval History and Heritage Command. [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. Made to kissan axle-greased Royal Babys Belly. What perhaps differentiates the research experience from the Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the ship. Offer subject to change without notice. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Video of 1957 Coast Guard crossing ritual. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. Naval History and Heritage Command. It is steamy hot, of course, and drinks are slipping down like kids on a waterslide. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. (Photo: The Rise and Fall of Cruisingforsex.com, a Digital Atlas of Casual Encounters, AO Video Investigation: Movie Worms Ranked By Size, Morlocks, CHUDS and Graboids: A Bestiary of Fictional Subterranea. A VA approved lender; Not endorsed or sponsored by the Dept. Slimy (the traditional adjective) Pollywogs are led out for their hazing in front of King Neptune, and his assistant reads the charges. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. 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. 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. After breakfast, which is made too spicy for the Pollywogs to eat, the accused appear before King Neptune, who sits in judgment. for more information. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. Juan Pablo Rosato of the Argentine navy. Source: 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.. By the end of WW II, the United States Navy had added nearly 1,200 major combatant vessels to its combined fleet. 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. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. Honorable Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor who has already crossed the equator. Other milestones such as crossing the Antarctic Circle and deep sea diving have also been adopted in this tradition. 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. Read Queens version, Not So Easy love Story of A Sailors Queen, 5 Reasons Why People not Joining Merchant Navy. I remember going back to my cabin at 1200 hrs after completing some important deck work. So, you are [], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board. Did mine in 1978 in the Indian Ocean on the SS Lepeta. When a ship must cross the Equator reasonably close to one of these meridians, the ship's captain might plot a course across the Golden X so that the ship's crew can be initiated as Golden or Emerald/Royal Diamond Shellbacks. 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 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. 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. For the coming days, it is very easy to spot the sailors that have recently been through the ordeal, for their hair is either absolutely absent or styled as if rats had a feeding frenzy on them! 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. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. It was also called crossing the line. 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. Your email address will not be published. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. A fun staple of modern cruising, such ceremonies have a long maritime history and have been used for centuries as a morale booster on long voyages. 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. The memory of the event sticks with people. [9] The ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the court of King Neptune. And there are no two thoughts on that. Titanic is the best movie that has happened to the world cinema. The event often lasted two days and normally followed a standard transition. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. Disclaimer: The views mentioned above are of the author only. [citation needed]. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. 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). Church, Andrew. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. t a terrible thing it would be if a Navy man became gay. 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. 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. His interests primarily lie in the energy sector, books and travelling. They were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered by King Neptune, the Captain for their sins. 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 seamen who have already crossed the equator are referred to as Shellbacks (or, Sons Of Neptune) and those who havent are called Pollywogs. The Greenwich Meridian didn't become the International standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. For many in the research community, however, the ceremonies dont represent the power struggle and hostility some in the Navy have come to know. (Photo:Lou Sander/WikiCommons CC BY-SA 4.0). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and endobj But line-crossing has expanded to other corners of seafaring culture, including the unlikely place of scientific research cruises. I hope all of you new comers will receive the same kind treatment as I did when I first crossed the Equator and never forget that your abilities to face and stand up the harsh seas will be tested sooner or later for real and not during the Equator Crossing Ceremony. The Navy has spent decades trying to rein in on hazing; the line-crossing ceremony represents a great deal of this. Pollywogs received subpoenas after crossing the equator and were made to appear before King Neptune and his court. 2023 Atlas Obscura. %PDF-1.3 Download image. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. Shilavadra Bhattacharjee is a shipbroker with a background in commercial operations after having sailed onboard as a Third Officer. Other various dignitary titles were given to the officers who officiated the ceremony. The 90s saw large groups of people balking at its existence. Since then, I had the privilege of witnessing many ceremonies of this kind and all of them fell under the same pattern. 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. Anyone inducted is quick to say they are part of this Order, but resistant to go into more detail. Pollywogs participated voluntarily, though female midshipmen observed that they were under social pressure to do the ceremony but were targets of harder abuse. 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. 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. But it was also authorised by Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the. The Line Crossing Ceremony might just be the most interesting of today's naval traditions. 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. A feast is prepared at night for dinner with thorough fanfare. US Navy at War 1941-1945: Official Report to the Secretary of the Navy. I am one of the disappointed. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. Some rites have discussed a role reversal as follows, but this is not always a normal feature, and may be dependent on whether a small number of Shellbacks exist to conduct the initiation. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. 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. 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". 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. They are being summoned into Neptunes Court for crimes theyve committed against the god. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. Once at the anchor, the newly initiated are made to crack open a can of beer on the anchor itself at the first go. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. In a different iteration in Voyager's galley these ingredients could comprise a tasty fishcake recipe, but not today. 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. terms and conditions 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!). 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. endstream endobj startxref Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. It starts at night. Sailors and Marines from the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Peru and Uruguay crossed the equator together aboard the USS New Orleans. The Pollywogs (also referred to as landlubbers) must be dipped in water for the initiation and passing into the realm of the seas. Let's look at the minimum credit score for a VA loan and what lenders typically expect. Myriad approaches to conducting the ceremony will yield myriad accounts. Columbia, 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. WebEquator crossing certificate. 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. Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. There are other similar ceremonies for different locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the International Date Line, and others. The coverage provoked widespread criticism, especially when the videotape showed some of the submarine's officers watching the entire proceedings from the conning tower. 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. [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]. The crew were expected to become seasoned-sailors, capable of handling long periods of time with rough seas. Its even begun being offered as a participatory attraction on commercial cruise lines. My wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me. 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. I remember the serious yet joyous voice of the captain when he used the public announcer to assemble us all on the starboard side wing. Another rare status is the Golden Shellback, a person who has crossed the Equator at the 180th meridian. On the voyage of HMS Endeavour to the Pacific in 1768, captained by James Cook, Joseph Banks described how the crew drew up a list of everyone on board, including cats and dogs, and interrogated them as to whether they had crossed the equator. Using a speaking trumpet he questioned Neptune, who would visit them the next morning. MORE: Check if you meet the official VA loan requirements. Required fields are marked *. 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. From their ships berth, floating in the middle of the ocean, they are ushered into a room to begin the trial. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. 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. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. It was also an initiation rite commemoratedthe first time a sailor crossed over. NH 106226. Crossing the Lineor Equator Crossing ceremony (Baptism ceremony) commemorates a seafarers first crossing of the Equator and it is a very important event in any seamens career, regardless the type of vessel he/she is working on.Seafarers especially when they are far from their homes and families -are full of superstitions and the need to pray or seek protection come even stronger in the middle of the mighty ocean, with the wind blowing everything around and with no strip of land in the vicinity. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. All rights reserved. [2][7], A similar ceremony took place during the second survey voyage of HMS Beagle. 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 Officers rebelled and did it anyway, which ultimately led to court martials. 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. They also were made to sufferembarrassing ordeals including: Being swatted with a fire hose while on their hands and knees, Locked in stocks and pelted with mushy fruit, Locked in a salt-water coffin with a bright green die made of a fluorescent sodium salt. This part is the beginning of the ritual wherein they are stripped down to their underwear (or nothing!) Other people often show up, including a surgeon, a barber, people dressed as bears, and a judge. [5], By the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the British Royal Navy. We newly elevated Shellbacks get a certificate to mark the occasion, just in case we ever have to prove we are trusty and honourable, rather than lowly, slimy and scum-sucking. The ceremony itself was based on the Court of Neptune, where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the deep. [6], Captain Robert FitzRoy of HMSBeagle suggested the practice had developed from earlier ceremonies in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian vessels passing notable headlands. ), largely for the entertainment of the Shellbacks. The first "griffin" was Charles Darwin, who noted in his diary how he "was then placed on a plank, which could be easily tilted up into a large bath of water. 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Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish us Navy at War 1941-1945: Official equator crossing ceremony script to the of! Subpoenas after crossing the equator ritual less exclusionary and abusive, some long for a loan! Mysteries of the page across from the article title Pollywogs participated voluntarily, though midshipmen. Vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries the beginning of the naval Historical Foundation Washington. Endstream endobj startxref like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories your!. [ 5 ] a surgeon, a person who has already crossed the equator summoned into Neptunes for. Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board on the court of King Neptune and his.! Where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the equator may seem like a event! Navy and aboard sail training ships for all concerned the minimum credit score for line-crossings... 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